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23 Jul Zebra Heliconians in Atlantic Beach [] 22 Jul Upstate SC Trip 7/17-19 night and day [] 22 Jul Backyard butterflies Charlotte ["Jules Fraytet" ] 21 Jul Message to Members Of Carolina Butterfly Society [Dennis Burnette ] 21 Jul Cox Ferry Recreation Area on 7-21 ["Jack" ] 21 Jul Are Giant Swallowtails our next looming extinction [Nathan Dias ] 21 Jul Wilkes (P) and Ashe Counties, NC 07/19-20/08 ["Ted Wilcox" ] 20 Jul Zebra Heliconians at Ft. Macon, NC [] 20 Jul Aiken Co., SC butterflies 19 July 2008. ["Dennis Forsythe" ] 18 Jul Garden Walk Report Greensboro Arboretum [Dennis Burnette ] 17 Jul Roan Mtn TN/NC butterfly count [] 17 Jul Re: Butterflies in Buncombe/Haywood Cos. [Alex Netherton ] 17 Jul Butterflies in Buncombe/Haywood Cos. ["Richard Stickney" ] 17 Jul RE: July 12-16 in Pitt [Alex Grkovich ] 17 Jul Re: July 12-16 in Pitt [Alex Grkovich ] 16 Jul RE: July 12-16 in Pitt ["Abdulali, Salman" ] 16 Jul Re: July 12-16 in Pitt [ROBERT CAVANAUGH ] 16 Jul Re: July 12-16 in Pitt [Harry LeGrand ] 16 Jul Re: July 12-16 in Pitt [Alex Grkovich ] 16 Jul July 12-16 in Pitt [Salman Abdulali ] 16 Jul 5 Juniper Hairstreaks backyard, Central Forsyth Co. NC ["Lois Schneider" ] 15 Jul Re: Amazing NC mountain butterfly record [Nathan Dias ] 14 Jul butterflies at Punchpole Landing RD ["Jack" ] 14 Jul Wilkes and Ashe Counties 07/12-13/08 ["Ted Wilcox" ] 13 Jul Harvester in Central Forsyth Co. ["Lois Schneider" ] 13 Jul Worth Mountain WMA, York County SC ["Jules Fraytet" ] 13 Jul Berkeley Co., SC leps 13 July 2008. ["Dennis Forsythe" ] 13 Jul Third herd of Zebras on Bogue Banks! [Harry LeGrand ] 13 Jul Diana Frit and other NC mtn leps [] 13 Jul Herds of Zebras on Bogue Banks, NC [Harry LeGrand ] 13 Jul Augusta-Aiken Butterfly Count ["Lois Stacey" ] 13 Jul Photos: Butterflies at Penny's Bend (and others) [] 13 Jul Good day at PeeDee NWR, Anson County, NC CBS/NABA count, July 12th ["Jules Fraytet" ] 12 Jul H.B.S.P. on 7-10 ["Jack" ] 12 Jul MBSP on 7-9 ["Jack" ] 12 Jul Berkeley CO., SC 12 July 2008 ["Dennis Forsythe" ] 12 Jul Re: Amazing NC mountain butterfly record ["Alex Netherton" ] 12 Jul Madison Co. ["Harry...Ruthie" ] 12 Jul Zebra Heliconians in numbers at Ft. Macon SP, NC [Harry LeGrand ] 10 Jul Some Robeson County, NC, butterflies [Harry LeGrand ] 10 Jul Amazing NC mountain butterfly record [Harry LeGrand ] 08 Jul Some Warren County, NC, butterflies [Harry LeGrand ] 08 Jul Weymouth Woods Butterfly Count [Scott Hartley ] 7 Jul Falls Lake, wake county ["birdranger" ] 7 Jul Butterfly Count date for the newsletter [Ruth Young ] 7 Jul Cabbage butterflies in Central Forsythe Co. ["Lois Schneider" ] 7 Jul Outer Banks leps -- 6/29 - 7/4 [Jim Hengeveld ] 7 Jul Alleghany and Ashe Counties, NC 07-05/06-08 ["Ted Wilcox" ] 7 Jul Wilkes County (P), NC 07-04-08 ["Ted Wilcox" ] 7 Jul Gossamer wings (fwd) [] 7 Jul Fw: ...And why are some called "gossamerwings?" ["Jules Fraytet" ] 7 Jul Donnaha Park, Yadkin River Access, Yadkin Co. ["Lois Schneider" ] Subject: Zebra Heliconians in Atlantic Beach From: DorothyPugh AT aol.com Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:10:22 EDT Karl D. Gottschalk and I decided to go down to Atlantic Beach to see the Zebra Heliconians, and it turned out that we saw more members of this species than we had seen all summer of all butterfly species except for Eastern Tailed Blues. Other than a few Palamedes Swallowtails and Cloudless Sulphurs, Zebras were about all we saw! We saw about 10 at Fort Macon SP at about 10:30 am on 7/22, all flying frantically around. One landed for a few seconds, long enough for me to get a decent photo; all other photos were of Zebras in flight. Around noon on 7/23, we went down the Hoop Pole Creek Trail leading off the east end of the Atlantic Station Shopping Center in Atlantic Beach and saw even more (around 20), mostly near the entrance. Again, they were flying frantically around, not settling anywhere. As at Fort Macon, there were no flowers where we went. We'll get back in town tomorrow afternoon and I'll start getting the photos on my website then. Dorothy Pugh **************Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for FanHouse Fantasy Football today. (http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020)Subject: Upstate SC Trip 7/17-19 night and day From: p51mustnb AT aim.com Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:56:21 -0400 Hey all, Just thought I'd share the results of our trip to upstate SC. The drought seems to be dramatically effecting butterfly populations in this region.? Despite seeing many species, the biomass was very low and areas with plenty of nectar had little going on.?As I said nectar?doesn't seem to be?a problem with many black-eyed susans and lots of Queen Anne's Lace and other white stuff, purple stuff, and various other plants.? This all lined the roads. We crisscrossed Sumter NF in Oconee Cnty?the first and second days and then hit Pickens Cnty?on the third day.? We also fired up the MV light at the sheet.? 7/17 North of Clemson 2 Great Spangled Fritillaries - oddly enough one of the few we came across all weekend Many Summer Azures - lots of these all over the place 1 Red Admiral 1 Duskywing - oddly marked but may be Horace's 1 Pearl Crescent Few Tiger Swallowtails 2 Cloudless Sulphurs Sumter NF ETB - very numerous RBH - very numerous, easily the most common hairstreak Pearl Crescents - fairly common but not close to coastal plain numbers, all appreared to be "classic" Pearls 5 Hoary Edges - new for me 3+ Duskywings - Zarucco, Horaces, or Wild Indigos Summer Azures - very common Red-spotted Purples- several of these 2?Pipevine Swallowtail SSS - very common, especially near water Field in S. Sumter NF - the best site of the day 4+ Orange Sulphurs 1 American Lady Buckeye - dozens Sachem - dozens, the most common field skipper BY FAR 1 Black Swallowtail 1 Gray Hairstreak SSS - more of them 7/18 Sumter NF - we hit the field, Rich Mtn Rd?and some northern sites hoping for Golden-banded Skippers, Mottled Duskywings, roadside Skippers, Meadow Frits, Aphrodite Frits?and Dianas. 1 Common Wood Nymph 3 Northern? Pearly Eye 1 GULF FRITILLARY - up here? 2 Pearl Crescents 1 Great Spangled Frit 1 DIANA male - the only Diana we spotted the whole trip 3 Variegated Frit - in open field, I confused one with a Meadow Frit ETB - lots RBH - lots, no Satyrium at all SSS - lots Azure - lots Buckeye - very common in open areas 3 Orange Sulphur 3 Cabbage Whites 2?COMMON ROADSIDE SKIPPER - first for me 1 Lacewinged Roadside Skipper 2 Southern Cloudywing Sachem - numerous 1 Skipperling 7/19 Pickens Co. and Sassafras Mtn. and several sites approaching 26 Red-spotted Purples - many 2 Great Spangled Frits 3 Clouded Skippers 1 SOOTYWING - a first for me 1 Hayhurst's Scallopwing - didn't get a good look but it had all the looks of one SSS - everywhere Sachem - common Tiger Swallowtails - several 1 Harvester 1 Pearl Crescent Despite the impressive list, we were disappointed in the trip as we saw?none of the prime target species of the trip.? These were?female Dianas, Aphrodite Frits, Meadow Frits, Silvery Checkerspots, Mimic Crescents, Coral HS, Banded/Hickory HS, Goldbanded Skipper, Dusky/Bells/Carolina/Reversed/Pepper and Salt RS Skippers, Clouded Sulphur, Mottled Duskywing, Peck's Skipper, American Copper, Juniper HS, Baltimore Checkerspot, Green Comma, Mourning Cloak, European Skipper, Goatweed Leafwing, and Early Hairstreak.? Some, if not most were longshots but I'm really surprised we didn't get?a few?of these species in three days of careful searching! Night collecting was VERY good however, especially the second night, with 5 Saturniids at the light the 2nd night and 4 Sphingids.? There were also 5-6 species of Catocala.? The smaller stuff was all over the sheet.? I must have got >50 specimens over the two nights.? Lots of geos and notodontids and a rich micro fauna. Ray Simpson Charleston, SCSubject: Backyard butterflies Charlotte From: "Jules Fraytet" <jlfray AT ix.netcom.com> Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:59:33 -0400 Landed on hackberry tree...Hackberry Emperor...did not oviposit though Landed on spicebush and "sawed" it's little tails in subterfuge for me...Red Banded Hairstreak Feeding on Sweet Pepperbush: fresh Silver-spotted Skipper beat up Gray Hairstreak many bumble bees and assorted wasps Cabbage White flying through Jules Fraytet Charlotte, Mecklenburg countySubject: Message to Members Of Carolina Butterfly Society From: Dennis Burnette <deburnette AT triad.rr.com> Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:52:54 -0400 Dear Carolina Butterfly Society Members, We have had a minor glitch in our membership database that I want to make you aware of. The last update in the "dues paid" status seems not to have been saved. When I ran a set of mailing labels today, I noticed that there are several that say "Membership Expired" for people who I'm reasonably sure paid their 2008 dues. In a few days the latest issue of our newsletter, "The Chrysalis," will be going into the mail. Please check the mailing label. If it doesn't say "Member Through 2008," and you know that you paid your dues, please let me know and I'll correct our records. It's possible, of course, that you actually forgot to pay your dues. It isn't too late; just pop a check in the mail for $15.00 (Individual and Family memberships are the same amount now). There are some fun activities this summer that you won't want to miss. We have our annual butterfly symposium coming up in August, and there are several field trips and other outings on the calendar. While I'm on the topic of activities, remember that we now have two active chapters, the Midlands Chapter in the center of South Carolina, and the Triad Chapter in the middle of North Carolina. Paid up members in those areas are automatically members of nearby chapters. However, all CBS members are invited to take part in any chapter activities. Contact me for a calendar of chapter events. By the way, if you're interested in getting a chapter started in your area, we can help in several ways. Let me know. Thanks, Dennis Burnette 7 Brownstone Lane Greensboro, NC 27410 (336) 299-4342 deburnette AT triad.rr.comSubject: Cox Ferry Recreation Area on 7-21 From: "Jack" <jp5810 AT sccoast.net> Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:05:20 -0500 Hi Carolinabutterfliers, Today (7-21) at about 9:30AM I went to the Cox Ferry Recreation Area (a part of the Waccamaw NWR) to do some birding and butterflying. Very dull for the first hour. I took the blue trail out to the 100 yard boardwalk being constructed. At the end of the boardwalk Ifound a life butterfly. Details below. A total of six species. 1. E. Tiger Swallowtail 1 black form 2. Palamedes Swallowtail-4 3. I have never had a more cooperative butterfly. It flew by me and I knew it was a satyr type. It then perched on a limb just above the water and was motionless about 8 minutes, so I could really study the underside. Ground color was a light brown. The eye spots each surrounded with a yellow circle. The forewing had four or five eye spots which were smaller and very subtle all but one which was a bit more prominent were without the yellow circles. The top eye spot on the hind wing was noticeably out of line with the others inclining toward the middle of the wing. A narrow brown band went along the eye spots and around the out of line eye spot and continued on the forewing. The ground color was a pale brown on both wings. I was puzzled but I had Glassberg with me and there it was on plate 41. An APPALACHIAN BROWN. You could have knocked me over with a feather. Too bad I didn't have my camera with me. The habitat was a cypress swamp. 4. Horace's Duskywing-1 male very fresh 5. Fiery Skipper-2 6. Whirlabout-1 The last three butterflies were nectoring on vervane. Great butterflying even if it was only six species. Jack Peachey Conway, SCSubject: Are Giant Swallowtails our next looming extinction From: Nathan Dias <diasn AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:16:58 -0700 (PDT) After our beloved Palamedes Swallowtails? http://www.yumasun.com/news/citrus_43071___article.html/industry_threatens.html Wooly Algeids, Ambrosia Beetles, Cactus Moths, Asian citrus psyllid - the list is growing far too quickly. The harm from 'global trade' without proper safeguards is becoming unbearable. If only some invasive species or pathogen would show up (from off-planet I suppose) that wipes out Homo sapiens but leaves all other species intact. Nathan Dias - Charleston, SCSubject: Wilkes (P) and Ashe Counties, NC 07/19-20/08 From: "Ted Wilcox" <ncwings AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:55:15 -0400 My wife and I spent Saturday in the piedmont section of Wilkes and yesterday here in Ashe looking for butterflies. If you are interested in viewing some photographs from this past weekend, here is a link: http://www.ncwings.com/daily/07-20-08.html 07/19/08 Wilkes County (P), NC 1 Pipevine Swallowtail 6 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails 3 Spicebush Swallowtails 1 Cabbage White 5 Orange Sulphurs 2 Sleepy Oranges 6 Gray Hairstreaks 2 Red-banded Hairstreaks 16 Eastern Tailed-Blues 22 Summer Azures 7 Variegated Fritillaries 1 Diana Fritillary (female) 4 Great Spangled Fritillaries 2 Silvery Checkerspots 19 Pearl Crescents 1 Eastern Comma 3 American Ladies 25 Common Buckeyes 3 Red-spotted Purples 1 Creole Pearly-eye 3 Carolina Satyrs 5 Common Wood-Nymphs 15 Silver-spotted Skippers 2 Hoary Edges 1 Southern Cloudywing 2 Horace's Duskywings 6 Clouded Skippers 1 Least Skipper 3 Fiery Skippers 75+ Sachems (most at WCC on Lantana and Butterfly Bush) 3 Common Roadside-Skippers (3 different locations - 2 males and 1 female) 07/20/08 Ashe County, NC 7 Pipevine Swallowtails 4 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails 6 Cabbage White 2 Orange Sulphurs 1 Coral Hairstreak (female) 1 Gray Hairstreak 18 Eastern Tailed-Blues 7 Summer Azures 8 Great Spangled Fritillaries 18 Aphrodite Fritillaries 2 Meadow Fritillaries 1 Silvery Checkerspot 4 Pearl Crescents 1 Viceroy 3 Common Wood-Nymphs 43 Silver-spotted Skippers 2 Common Sootywings 2 Clouded Skippers 1 Little Glassywing 3 Sachems 1 Dun Skipper -- Ted Wilcox http://www.ncwings.com/Subject: Zebra Heliconians at Ft. Macon, NC From: jspippen AT duke.edu Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:50:25 -0400 (EDT) Butterfliers, The Zebra Heliconians (AKA Zebra Longwings, Heliconius charithonius) continue to thrive at Ft. Macon in Carteret Co., NC. On Friday 18 July, Derb Carter, Susan Campbell, and I spent a couple of hours at the Fort observing the butterflies. We estimated 20 individuals were seen including several laying eggs on Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea). A few young caterpillars were also found. I couldn't locate any mature caterpillars, but Will Cook found some earlier in the week and will likely post his photos soon. Later in the day after Derb and I left, Susan found 10 more at another location, so the total count for the day would be 30. While this species is unable to survive the NC winters, it appears that they will be around until then! Here's a photo account of the butterflies, egg-laying, eggs, and caterpillars: http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/butterflies/zebraheliconian.htm While there or along the way in Carteret Co., we also saw the following with mostly sunny skies and temps in the 80s: Palamedes Swallowtail, 4 Cabbage White, 6 Juniper Hairstreak, 2 Gray Hairstreak, 2 Zebra Heliconian, 30 (including Susan's other sightings) crescent sp., 1 (didn't land, probably Phaon) Variegated Fritillary, 2 Common Buckeye, 5 Silver-spotted Skipper, 1 cloudywing sp., 1 Fiery Skipper, 3 Whirlabout, 3 Sachem, 1 Crystal Skipper, 2 You won't find "Crystal Skipper" in any of your field guides yet. It's a population of skippers in the genus Atrytonopsis, related to Dusted Skipper, which is being intensively studied by folks at NC State including Allison Leidner, Steve Hall, Nick Haddad and others. It may turn out to be a subspecies of Dusted Skipper or Loammi Skipper, or it may turn out to be a new undescribed species endemic to the central North Carolina Coast. http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/butterflies/crystalskipper.htm Good Butterflying! Jeff ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jeffrey S. Pippen Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences Rm A-241 LSRC Bldg, Box 90328 Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 PH: (919) 660-7278 http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/nature.htm ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Subject: Aiken Co., SC butterflies 19 July 2008. From: "Dennis Forsythe" <dennis.forsythe AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:57:52 -0400 Hi All, Yesterday I did the Augusta-Aiken Butterfly count. I did the the South Carolina portion not including Silver Bluffs Audubon Sanctuary. It was hot and dry with few nectar sources. Here is my list with approximate numbers. E. Tiger Swallowtail-5 Spicebush Swallowtail-3 Palamedes Swallowtail-3 Zebra Swallowtail-5 Sleepy Orange-15 Gulf Fritillary-5 Variegated Fritillary-7 American Lady-3 Red Admiral-2 Common Buckeye-3 Pearl Crescent-4 Red-spotted Purple-5 Hackberry Emperor-60+ many were "nectaring' on a road-killed Armadillo. Tawny Emperor-7 Silver-spotted Skipper-7 Long-tailed Skipper-3 Hoary Edge-1 Southern Cloudywing-1 Northern Cloudywing-1 Horace's Duskywing-2 Common/White Checkered-Skipper-2 Fiery Skipper-17 Whirlabout-3 Little Glasssywing-1 Zabulon Skipper-1 Cheers, Dennis -- Dennis M. Forsythe PhD Charleston, SC 29412 843.795.3996-home 843.953.7264-fax 843.708.1605-cell dennis.forsythe AT gmail.comSubject: Garden Walk Report Greensboro Arboretum From: Dennis Burnette <deburnette AT triad.rr.com> Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:51:36 -0400 Garden Walk Report Greensboro Arboretum Sunday, July 13, 2008, 1:30 pm The July butterfly outing of the Triad Chapter, Carolina Butterfly Society, was a garden walk at the Greensboro (NC) Arboretum on Sunday, July 13, beginning at 1:30. Seven people participated: John Barlow, Margaret Barlow, Dennis Burnette, Gregg Morris, Gene Schepker, Lois Schneider, and George Wheaton. There were plenty of flowerbeds with what appeared to be good nectar sources, but butterflies were unusually scarce as they seem to have been all summer in Greensboro. This may be a result of the long drought in the area that was particularly severe at the end of the butterflying season last summer and fall. Unfortunately, the limited ³natural² area along the creek that has milkweed and other native nectar and host plants had been mowed recently. The best species of the day was a Gulf Fritillary, which was a life butterfly for several of the participants. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - 3 Cabbage White - 2 Cloudless Sulphur - 1 Sleepy Orange - 1 Colias sp. - 1 Gray Hairstreak - 2 Eastern-tailed Blue - 1 Gulf Fritillary - 1 Pearl Crescent - 5 American Lady - 1 Silver-spotted Skipper - 2 Horace's Duskywing - 1 Common Sootywing - 1 Fiery Skipper - 3 Little Glassywing - 1 Sachem - 5 Zabulon Skipper 1 Total species 17; total butterflies 32 One participant reported a possible Hoary Edge Skipper, as well, but was uncertain of the identification. Guests and friends are always welcome on our butterfly excursions. The remaining butterfly walks and field trips for the rest of the summer include: August 23, Sat. 9:30 am Butterfly Walk: Historic Bethabara, Winston-Salem (Leader: Lea Nading) September 6, Sun., 1:30 pm Butterfly Walk: Bryan Park area (Leader: Kathy Schlosser) September 27-28 Field Trip: Blue Ridge Parkway (Leader: Dennis Burnette) Dennis Burnette Greensboro, NC deburnette AT triad.rr.comSubject: Roan Mtn TN/NC butterfly count From: dnldhlt AT aol.com Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:39:17 -0400 The 2008 Roan Mtn. Butterfly Count will be held Saturday, July 19. We will meet at 10 am at the Visitors Center (green waterwheel) in Roan Mtn. State Park. We will drive to Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area to count during the morning hours, with possibly another group going to Dave Miller Homestead. Lunch can be at Mad Martha's Restaurant in Roan Mtn. Village, or folks can bring a picnic lunch. After lunch we will drive to the Rhododendron Gardens at the top. Other areas can be explored as well. My cell # is (423) 483-0470. Don Holt Johnson City, TNSubject: Re: Butterflies in Buncombe/Haywood Cos. From: Alex Netherton <danetherton AT charter.net> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:46:23 -0400 Richard Stickney wrote: > It’s going to be a really long detour if you’re trying to get from > Asheville to Boone. Not really: The Parkway is the long way to Boone IMHO. From Asheville, take I-40 to Old Fort. Take 70 from Old Fort to US 221. Turn left on 221. Follow the signs. Now, if you want back on the Parkway before Boone, you can either turn left off 70 at Pleasant Gardens and go past Lake Tahoma, or go on up to Linville Falls on 221, and get back on there. Any way to Boone, on whatever route you take, is scenic, and lots of birds and butterflies. -- Alex Netherton An Appalachian Field Biologist http://blueridgediscovery.com danetherton AT charter.net Asheville, NCSubject: Butterflies in Buncombe/Haywood Cos. From: "Richard Stickney" <Richard.Stickney AT ncmls.org> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:07:29 -0400 Monday and Tuesday (7/14-15) I was in Asheville and on the BRP around there (15 miles N and S). I was mostly looking at plants but noted some leps as well: Great Spangled Fritillary only 3 worn ones (!); Pipevine ST's numerous; Orange Sulphur numerous; Sachem mucho numerous, all over NC Arboretum; Tiger ST 2; Silver-Spotted Skipper numerous; Cloudywing 1; Comma 1; ETB 3; Gray Hairstreak 1; Cabbage White 5. Looked for Dianas but saw none (is it too late?). For those wanting to do the Parkway, it's closed for 12 miles between the Craggy Gardens picnic area and Mount Mitchell entrance due to rockslides and road repair. May be closed for another 8 to 10 months as well. It's going to be a really long detour if you're trying to get from Asheville to Boone. Richard Stickney NC Museum of Life and ScienceSubject: RE: July 12-16 in Pitt From: Alex Grkovich <agrkovich2003 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:41:05 -0700 (PDT) Well, again, I saw them both in Greenville, Pitt Co., during late spring and summer 1977... Alex --- On Wed, 7/16/08, Abdulali, SalmanSubject: Re: July 12-16 in Pitt From: Alex Grkovich <agrkovich2003 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:39:31 -0700 (PDT) That's interesting, Bob, because we frequently had them both around our condo complex in Greenville... Alex Peabody, MA --- On Wed, 7/16/08, ROBERT CAVANAUGHSubject: RE: July 12-16 in Pitt From: "Abdulali, Salman" <ABDULALIS AT ecu.edu> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:28:29 -0400 The NBNC (15th) has no records for either emperor from either Carteret County, or any county neighbouring either Carteret or Pitt. Salman -----Original Message----- From: ROBERT CAVANAUGH [mailto:papilio28570 AT yahoo.com] Sent: Wed 7/16/2008 10:16 PM Saw a Hackberry butterfly here in Carteret County perhaps 15 years ago. It was feeding on a rotting persimmon on the ground. About 10 years ago, I planted a grove of four 12 to 16 feet tall hackberry trees in one of my landscape projects hoping to eventually attract some snout or Emperors. None seen yet. Bob --- On Wed, 7/16/08, Harry LeGrandSubject: Re: July 12-16 in Pitt From: ROBERT CAVANAUGH <papilio28570 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:16:37 -0700 (PDT) Saw a Hackberry butterfly here in Carteret County perhaps 15 years ago. It was feeding on a rotting persimmon on the ground. About 10 years ago, I planted a grove of four 12 to 16 feet tall hackberry trees in one of my landscape projects hoping to eventually attract some snout or Emperors. None seen yet. Bob --- On Wed, 7/16/08, Harry LeGrandSubject: Re: July 12-16 in Pitt From: Harry LeGrand <harry.legrand AT ncmail.net> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:06:20 -0400 Neither emperor is rare IN BROWNWATER RIVER FLOODPLAINS (caps for emphasis). But, this incorporates only about 3-5% of the Coastal Plain -- meaning mostly the floodplains of the Roanoke, Tar (Greenville area), Neuse, and Cape Fear. I would invite someone to come down to Robeson County and try to find either emperor anywhere in the county, as all rivers/creeks are blackwater. Ditto for quite a few other counties, and even most of the land in counties like Pitt. Harry LeGrand Alex Grkovich wrote: > > Salman, > > > > From my experiences in 1977, I don't think either Emperor is that rara > in the Coastal Plain, at least not in Pitt Co. I found thm regularly > there... > > > > Alex > > --- On *Wed, 7/16/08, Salman Abdulali /Subject: Re: July 12-16 in Pitt From: Alex Grkovich <agrkovich2003 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:19:46 -0700 (PDT) Salman, From my experiences in 1977, I don't think either Emperor is that rara in the Coastal Plain, at least not in Pitt Co. I found thm regularly there... Alex --- On Wed, 7/16/08, Salman AbdulaliSubject: July 12-16 in Pitt From: Salman Abdulali <abdulalis AT ecu.edu> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:37:20 -0400 Butterflies seen over the past few days in Pitt County. I saw both the Hackberry and Tawny Emperors at River Park North today. Both of these are supposed to be rare in the Coastal Plain - however I see them regularly in the Greenville area in late Summer and early Fall. Black Swallowtail (1 - Pitt County Arboretum, 2008-07-16) Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1 - River Park North, 2008-07-16) Spicebush Swallowtail (1 - Winterville, 2008-07-12) Sleepy Orange (1 - Pitt County Arboretum, 2008-07-16) Variegated Fritillary (a few, River Park North, 2008-07-16) Tawny Emperor (1-River Park North, 2008-07-16) Hackberry Emperor (1-found dead but fresh, River Park North, 2008-07-16) Red Admiral (1-ECU campus, 2008-07-12) Common Buckeye (1-ECU campus, 2008-07-16) Silver-spotted Skipper (1 - ECU campus, 2008-07-16) Horace's Duskywing (1 male and 1 female - ECU campus, 2008-07-16) Fiery Skipper (abundant, Pitt County Arboretum, 2008-07-16) Salman Abdulali Greenville, NCSubject: 5 Juniper Hairstreaks backyard, Central Forsyth Co. NC From: "Lois Schneider" <loissch AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:08:00 -0400 We had a big day in our backyard while gardening: 5 Juniper Hairstreaks , 6 Silvery heckerspots, 3 fresh Great Spangled Fritillaries, 1 Zebra Swallowtail, 2 Easter Tiger Swallowtails, 1 Spicebush Swallowtail, 8 Eastern Tailed-blues, 1 Red-banded Hairstreak, several Pearl Crescents, Sachems, Fieries, and some u/i Skippers that I haven't had time to look at the photos. Gene Schepker and Lois SchneiderSubject: Re: Amazing NC mountain butterfly record From: Nathan Dias <diasn AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:56:50 -0700 (PDT) I know of Horse Sugar stands in the Saluda, NC (Polk County) area, if anyone is interested. Older members of my family probably know even more. Nathan Dias - Charleston, SC ----- Original Message ---- From: Harry LeGrandSubject: butterflies at Punchpole Landing RD From: "Jack" <jp5810 AT sccoast.net> Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:37:15 -0500 Hi Carolinabutterfliers, Late this morning into early afternoon I birded and looked for butterflies along Punchbowl Landing Rd in Southern Horry County. Only four species which is poor but the best area had been mowed recently. Very few nector sources-only a few patches of frog fruit, a few Morning Glory, and one lone Butterfly weed. Jack Peachey Conway, SC E. Tiger Swallowtail-5 including a black form Palamedes Swallowtail-3 Sleepy Orange 2 Fiery Skipper 1Subject: Wilkes and Ashe Counties 07/12-13/08 From: "Ted Wilcox" <ncwings AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:47:46 -0400 My wife and I spent several hours on Saturday (07/12/08) in the piedmont section of Wilkes looking for butterflies. Yesterday (07/13/08), in between rain showers, we butterflied a couple of hours in Ashe. If you are interested in viewing some photos from the last two days, here is a link: http://www.ncwings.com/daily/07-13-08.html 07/12/08 Wilkes County (P), NC 1 Pipevine Swallowtail (worn) 9 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails 3 Spicebush Swallowtails 3 Cabbage Whites 2 Orange Sulphurs 1 Cloudless Sulphur 5 Sleepy Oranges 3 Harvesters 1 Banded Hairstreak (worn) 25 Eastern Tailed-Blues 15 Summer Azures 4 American Snouts 12 Variegated Fritillaries 1 Diana Fritillary (male - showing wear) 6 Great Spangled Fritillaries 38 Pearl Crescents 1 Question Mark 3 Eastern Commas 2 American Ladies 34 Common Buckeyes 6 Red-spotted Purples 1 Pearly-Eye (in flight) 2 Gemmed Satyrs 6 Carolina Satyrs 1 Common Wood-Nymph 1 Monarch 20 Silver-spotted Skippers 1 Horace's Duskywing 1 Common Sootywing 4 Clouded Skippers 2 Fiery Skippers 2 Little Glassywings 33 Sachems 2 Dun Skippers 1 Common Roadside-Skipper 1 Eufala Skipper 07/13/08 Ashe County, NC 6 Pipevine Swallowtails 2 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails 1 Spicebush Swallowtail 2 Cabbage Whites 1 Clouded Sulphur 1 Striped Hairstreak 22 Eastern Tailed-Blues 8 Summer Azures 6 Great Spangled Fritillaries 8 Aphrodite Fritillaries 5 Pearl Crescents 6 Appalachian Browns 2 Common Wood-Nymphs 1 Monarch 16 Silver-spotted Skippers 1 Little Glassywing 1 Sachem -- Ted Wilcox http://www.ncwings.com/Subject: Harvester in Central Forsyth Co. From: "Lois Schneider" <loissch AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:52:07 -0400 I had a Harvester, a Juniper Hairstreak, a Silvery Checkerspot, Carolina Satyr, Sachem, Fieries and u/i Skippers this morning while birding in Central Forsyth Co. Gene SchepkerSubject: Worth Mountain WMA, York County SC From: "Jules Fraytet" <jlfray AT ix.netcom.com> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:13:46 -0400 Brief look at Worth Mountain right before the "gully washer" we are getting right now in Mecklenburg County and surrounding area. On almost finished Thistle and Verbena bonarenisis near barn area and front gate. In other areas of Worth Mtn not seeing anything. Still suffering from drought here. Spicebush Swallowtail 1 Pipevine ST 2 Buckeye 4 Fiery Skipper 1 Wood Nymph 2 Also a very worn folded wing skipper and a fast moving unid'd Sulphur. Jules Fraytet CharlotteSubject: Berkeley Co., SC leps 13 July 2008. From: "Dennis Forsythe" <dennis.forsythe AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:29:25 -0400 Hi All, I spent 2 hours mid-day today along Bennett Bridge Road (FS 182, 182A and 182B), in the Berkeley Co., SC section of the Francis Marion NF. Leps were scarce but I had 1 good one. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail-7 Spicebush Swallowtail-1 Palamedes Swallowtail-10 CASSIUS BLUE-1 fresh, nectaring on Rattlesnake Master. Variegated Fritillary-1 Common Wood-Nymph-1 Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper-1 Cheers, Dennis -- Dennis M. Forsythe PhD Charleston, SC 29412 843.795.3996-home 843.953.7264-fax 843.708.1605-cell dennis.forsythe AT gmail.comSubject: Third herd of Zebras on Bogue Banks! From: Harry LeGrand <harry.legrand AT ncmail.net> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:27:01 -0400 Ricky Davis called me an hour ago. After visiting Hoop Pole Creek preserve on Bogue Banks, NC, he headed west to the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. What did he find in the woods there -- you guessed it. He said he saw about SIX more Zebra Heliconians! Thus, as Tom Howard and I count all records for a single county on a single date as just one report (not three in this case), at least if by the same party of people, we have a grand total of 15 + 14 + 6 = 35 Zebra Heliconians for Carteret County on July 13. With this many Zebras running loose on Bogue Banks, surely adults will be around for a bit. Plus, we (Ricky, Will, and I) saw some caterpillars at Fort Macon, as has Randy Newman, who works at Ft. Macon SP and keeps almost daily track of such things. So, adults should be forthcoming from another brood later in summer or fall. For a brief bit this morning, I could have sworn we were in south Florida, like along a hammock in Everglades NP, almost expecting a Julia to fly by. Alas, only a Gulf Fritillary! Harry LeGrand RaleighSubject: Diana Frit and other NC mtn leps From: jspippen AT duke.edu Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:29:36 -0400 (EDT) Butterfliers, Yesterday (7/12/2008), Kristin Vaughan, Julia Gruber, Grant Firel and I birded/butterflied the Blue Ridge Pkwy near Deep Gap, NC, including Julian Price Park and Moses Cone Park. While the weather was supposed to be ideal, as one typically encounters in the mountains, the skies were overcast by noon and it rained for about a half hour mid afternoon. Conditions before and after the rain, however, were excellent for butterflying and there were lots of Common Milkweed patches providing nectar for fritillaries and others. Our target was to find and photograph male and female Diana Fritillaries. While no females showed up for us, we achieved half of the target with 3 males photographed: http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/butterflies/diana.htm Here are estimated numbers of other butterflies we found: Ashe Co., NC Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 5 Spicebush Swallowtail 1 Cabbage White 10 Orange Sulphur 1 Clouded Sulphur 2 Eastern Tailed-Blue 15 Summer Azure 6 Variegated Fritillary 1 Great Spangled Fritillary 75 Aphrodite Fritillary 8 Diana Fritillary 3 Pearl Crescent 1 Common Wood-Nymph 1 Silver-spotted Skipper 30 Common Sootywing 2 Little Glassywing 1 Dun Skipper 1 Watauga Co., NC Pipevine Swallowtail 10 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 4 Cabbage White 25 Orange Sulphur 8 Clouded Sulphur 6 Eastern Tailed-Blue 140 Summer Azure 70 Great Spangled Fritillary 115 Aphrodite Fritillary 10 Diana Fritillary 1 Meadow Fritillary 5 Pearl Crescent 1 Red Admiral 1 Common Buckeye 1 Common Wood-Nymph 12 Monarch 5 Silver-spotted Skipper 20 Clouded Skipper2 Good Butterflying! Jeff ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jeffrey S. Pippen Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences Rm A-241 LSRC Bldg, Box 90328 Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 PH: (919) 660-7278 http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/nature.htm ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Subject: Herds of Zebras on Bogue Banks, NC From: Harry LeGrand <harry.legrand AT ncmail.net> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:31:56 -0400 OK -- Zebras (mammals) occur in herds, but basically what Will Cook, Ricky Davis, and I witnessed today (July 13) at two sites on Bogue Banks, NC, would qualify as herds. The most common butterfly we saw today? Yep, Zebra Heliconians! We followed Randy Newman's directions to the best spot, though they probably occur all over the park right now. We spent 1-2 hours at Fort Macon SP, and Will and Ricky went over to Hoop Pole Creek Preserve, just west of Atlantic Beach. We had little diversity, but what we did see was quite amazing. Under sunny and very warm skies -- perfect for butterflying, here is what we had (Fort Macon first, then Hoop Pole): Palamedes Swallowtail 5, - Cabbage White 2, - Juniper Hairstreak 1, 1 Gray Hairstreak 1, - ZEBRA HELICONIAN 15, 14 record NC counts; some larvae seen at Fort Macon Gulf Fritillary 1, - HAYHURST'S SCALLOPWING -, 1 very rare on coastal islands Whirlabout 2, - LOAMMI SKIPPER 1, - not rare at Fort Macon, but a tad early for second brood; very fresh male I had thought that maybe a gravid female arrived at Ft. Macon a few months ago, laid eggs, and produced this brood. But, such does not seem to be the case. These two sites are 5-6 miles apart. We figure that Zebras must be at other coastal maritime areas, such as Fort Fisher. We shall see. Will Cook is planning to check there tomorrow. We studied the whites very carefully, trying to see if they might be Great Southerns; but ... Harry LeGrand RaleighSubject: Augusta-Aiken Butterfly Count From: "Lois Stacey" <croakie AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 07:49:44 -0400 Just a reminder that the Augusta-Aiken Audubon Society butterfly count is next Saturday, July 19. If you would like to join us please feel free. One group will count on the South Carolina side of the river beginning at 9am at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center near Jackson. If you would like to continue into the afternoon please bring lunch. Contact Paul Koehler (pkoehler AT audubon.org). A second group will count on the Georgia side of the river beginning at 9am at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. We will eat lunch at a local restaurant and continue in the afternoon at Merry Brickyard Ponds and Lover's Lane. You can contact me for more information on doing the Georgia side of the count. Lois Stacey North Augusta, SC (Aiken Cnty) www.augustaaikenaudubon.orgSubject: Photos: Butterflies at Penny's Bend (and others) From: DorothyPugh AT aol.com Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 07:17:15 EDT We haven't seen many butterflies in our part of Durham this year, mostly Eastern Tailed Blues. But Karl Gottschalk and I had a different experience at Penny's Bend Nature Preserve in Durham on 7/9/08: we saw a variety butterflies and I photographed those of five species: Common Wood Nymph (we saw 3), Little Wood Satyr, American Lady, Silvery Checkerspots (we saw at least 5), and a Gemmed Satyr. I also photographed a Painted Lady at Duke Gardens on 7/1/08. (www.dpughphoto.com/latest_photos) Earlier I photographed a Banded Hairstreak in my neighborhood in Durham on 6/10/08. (june_2008, click on link on Latest Photos page) Dorothy E. Pugh **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)Subject: Good day at PeeDee NWR, Anson County, NC CBS/NABA count, July 12th From: "Jules Fraytet" <jlfray AT ix.netcom.com> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:08:25 -0400 The foggy skies finally burned off about 10:15 Saturday and with the excellent help of the dynamic duo team of Jim Nottke and Gene Schepker, we found 31 species and 202 individuals at the refuge looking over four different areas (fields, pond edge, woods and wetland) The wetland edge of a flooded low ground with buttonbush near the US 52 wildlife drive gave us our best finds. As we began our search in the grass field near the parking lot we were joined temporarily by Jonathan Phillips, the young and affable editor of the Anson Record in Wadesboro, that had announced the count activity and was there to take pictures and interview us. He was able to photograph close up a beautiful Red Admiral and Buckeye. He will be posting a small article about us and the NABA count next week. Thanks to the refuge manager, Jeffrey Bricken for hosting us and for the press release and his staff, the volunteers and Friends of the Peedee who help maintain and protect this important conservation site. Welcome and thanks to Jesse Fielder the new Wildlife Officer,recently transferred from Mississippi, who I met making his rounds. The temps rose to the 90's and was sunny and very humid, but it was great to see how the recent rains have made the refuge lush again. Two avian highlights were a Great Egret at Sullivan's Pond I saw earlier almost hidden in the fog and about 7 immature White Ibis that we all saw later near the same area in the low ground meadow. Heard numerous Wood Thrushes and Arcadian Flycatchers and a Yellow Throated Vireo. 3 hummingbirds kept coming back to the feeder at the office building. There were many odes flying also including Widow Skimmers, Pondhawks Halloween Pennants and Amberwings. Butterflies: Spicebush Swallowtail 8 plus 2 caterpillars Red Admiral 6 Buckeye 4 Red Spotted Purple 11 Pearl Crescent 12 Clouded Skipper 1 Silver Spotted Skipper 10 Hoary Edge Skipper 1 on butterfly bush at the refuge office Black Swallowtail 1 Monarch 1 looking like he had encountered a bird or two Question Mark 2 Zebra Swallowtail 1 Gemmed Satyr 5 Carolina Satyr 2 Common Checkered Skipper 2 Appalachian Brown 2 one which landed on Jim American Snout 10 also like landing on Gene and hanging around. Sachem 1 Pipevine Swallowtail 4 Fiery Skipper 4 Crossline Skipper 1 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 5 Orange Sulphur 7 Cloudless Sulphur 9 Variegated Fritillary 3 Tawny Emperor 1 Hackberry Emperor 2 Eastern Tailed Blue 4 Sleepy Orange 50 plus among the large fields of soybean growing in the low ground near the river and that was just in a few rows so if you extrapolate the numbers could be much larger Horace Duskywing 17 Zarucco Duskywing 11 Jules Fraytet Charlotte, NCSubject: H.B.S.P. on 7-10 From: "Jack" <jp5810 AT sccoast.net> Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:29:47 -0500 Hi Carolinabutterfliers, I was at Huntington Beach S.P., Murrells Inlet, Georgetown County, SC on July 10, mostly looking for birds with Bob Maxwell but there were a few butterflies. E. Tiger Swallowtail-3 Palamedes Swallowtail-2 Red-spotted Purple-1 Jack Peachey Conway, SCSubject: MBSP on 7-9 From: "Jack" <jp5810 AT sccoast.net> Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:52:50 -0500 Hi Carolinabutterfliers, Friday, July 9 I went birding and butterflying at Myrtle Beach State Park, Horry County, SC. Some butterflies on the Fire-wheel Gaillardia only a few other things in bloom. A number of Mound-lilly Yucca but no Giant Yucca Skippers Here goes: E. Tiger Swallowtail-1 Palamedes Swallowtail-1 Gulf Fritillary-1 Common Buckeye-3 Whirlabout-2 Jack Pechey Conway, SCSubject: Berkeley CO., SC 12 July 2008 From: "Dennis Forsythe" <dennis.forsythe AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:15:55 -0400 Hi All, I spent from 0900-1200hrs EDT along Hoover, Brick Church and French Quarter Creek roads in the Berkeley Co., SC portion of the Francis Marion National Forest. I had the following butterflies: Pipevine Swallowtail-1 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail-6 Spicebush Swallowtail-2 Palamedes Swallowtail-15 Cloudless Sulfur-2 Little Yellow-3 Common Buckeye-1 Pearl Crescent-4 Common Wood-Nymph-10 Southern Cloudywing-1 Northern Cloudywing-2 Horace;s Duskywing-4 Fiery Skipper-1 Whirlabout-2 Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper-4 REVERSE ROADSIDE-SKIPPER-1 worn Cheers, Dennis -- Dennis M. Forsythe PhD Charleston, SC 29412 843.795.3996-home 843.953.7264-fax 843.708.1605-cell dennis.forsythe AT gmail.comSubject: Re: Amazing NC mountain butterfly record From: "Alex Netherton" <danetherton AT charter.net> Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:21:06 -0400 Harry, Horse Sugar, Symplocus tinctoria, is found over much of the mountains; I have seen it in Henderson County at Green River Preserve. I have seen Hairstreaks there too, but was unable to get an ID. Horse Sugar is probably in the richer forests of the Blue Ridge Escarpment in the Southern Mountains. Interesting... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harry LeGrand"Subject: Madison Co. From: "Harry...Ruthie" <hking22 AT triad.rr.com> Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:59:22 -0400 First picture I have been able to get of the female Diana. I was thrilled to take this photo. I saw no others and this one was off down the Mountian side after the photo shoot. Harry _____ Female Diana Fritillary, Rich Mountain Road, July 11, 2008Subject: Zebra Heliconians in numbers at Ft. Macon SP, NC From: Harry LeGrand <harry.legrand AT ncmail.net> Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:22:44 -0400 Randy Newman has found decent numbers (a colony) of Zebra Heliconians at Ft. Macon. He saw and photographed one or two in June, but he has had up to 10 individuals there as late as yesterday. Must have hatched from a "clutch" of eggs laid by a single female earlier, as I'd be surprised if that many showed up all randomly by moving up the coast. Whatever, that's by far a record number for NC. I'm planning a run down there tomorrow to see one or more (hopefully), and look around for other things, maybe an early Loammi-type Skipper, any whites (can't one of those Great Southerns in SC move into NC?) or other potential strays, etc. Anyone interested in joining me from Raleigh, to save gas money? To beat the summer crowds at the park and get a parking spot (smallish parking lot, and forecast is perfect for a big crowd), I'm planning to arrive by 8:30, meaning a start from Raleigh by 5:30. Harry LeGrand RaleighSubject: Some Robeson County, NC, butterflies From: Harry LeGrand <harry.legrand AT ncmail.net> Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:45:20 -0400 Folks:
Some wetland skippers are still on the wing as of July 10 (end of
flight periods). In fact, I got a first July record (see below). I spent
time in two clay-based Carolina bays, with at least some nectar --
mostly redroot (Lachnanthes). I had some butterflies along a sand rim,
though plants there were mostly weedy (Richardia, etc.). Considering it
is the skipper doldrums, it wasn't too bad of a day today (July 10);
weather was p.c., warm, and humid, and we have had some good rains lately.
E. Tiger Swallowtail 2
Spicebush Swallowtail 6
Palamedes Swallowtail 2
Cloudless Sulphur 10
Sleepy Orange 4
Little Yellow 2 my first in the county in 2008
Red-banded Hairstreak 1
Variegated Fritillary 12
Pearl Crescent 2
Common Buckeye 15
Red-spotted Purple 1
Viceroy 1
Silver-spotted Skipper 1 low number
Hoary Edge 3 good number for the date; very fresh, start of second
flight period
Southern Cloudywing 1 fresh
Horace's Duskywing 1
Byssus Skipper 1 worn female; first NC record for July; extends the
flight period of first brood into July
Dion Skipper 2 very worn male, and medium wear female
Eufala Skipper 1
Harry LeGrand
Raleigh
Subject: Amazing NC mountain butterfly recordFrom: Harry LeGrand <harry.legrand AT ncmail.net> Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:27:55 -0400 Bob Cherry (Blue Ridge Parkway) sent me photos taken by BRP staff person Lillian McElrath, from the parkway just north of Blowing Rock, Watauga County, NC, on July 8. They are of a King's Hairstreak!! NC's only previous mt. record of King's is from 50 or more years ago from Transylvania County, along the SC border; and the only Piedmont record is of a colony I had in Gaston County, also very close to SC, in Crowders Mountain SP. But, the Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas DOES show Symplocos in Watauga and all other counties to the east and south. So, assuming that is the hostplant (it is elsewhere in NC), maybe it is a surprise that NC doesn't have other mt. and Piedmont records. Harry LeGrandSubject: Some Warren County, NC, butterflies From: Harry LeGrand <harry.legrand AT ncmail.net> Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:20:14 -0400 I was back again at work in Warren County, on a different former International Paper tract now owned by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. This one is in the upper portion of Shocco Creek. Weather was muggy but mostly cloudy and warm, no problem for butterflies. There aren't many nectar plants now, so I did well considering. Here's the list for today (July 8): E. Tiger Swallowtail 2 Spicebush Swallowtail 1 Red-banded Hairstreak 1 E. Tailed-Blue 1 Summer Azure 2 Pearl Crescent 10 mostly fresh; none could be turned into a Silvery Checkerspot or a Harvester! Common Buckeye 3 American Lady 1 Question Mark 1 fresh Red-spotted Purple 2 fresh Viceroy 1 Creole Pearly-eye 2 worn I guess Appy Brown between broods; prime habitat Gemmed Satyr 1 Carolina Satyr 6 Little Wood-Satyr 6 mostly fresh; type II Silver-spotted Skipper 1 Southern Cloudywing 3 very fresh; second brood Horace's Duskywing 1 Least Skipper 1 I've been trying to pay attention to the Little Wood-Satyrs, as there are two Brood Types in NC. The one flying now in Warren County is Type II, the "second brood". The habitat appears identical to the first type, which I saw a lot in late May to about mid-June, then a gap in mid-late June. Type II might be a tad lighter brown/buff than Type I, but I'm not sure. I do know that a few Type I can look a bit like Viola's, with some fairly rich yellow color on the rings around the eye-spots. But, I DO think that Type II barely makes it south to Raleigh, if at all. I don't think it occurs in the C.P. Off the top of my head, I do not recall seeing Little Wood-Satyrs in Wake County, Johnston, Pender (Holly Shelter, etc.) after about mid-June. Type I occurs statewide, but Type II seems to have the same range as Great Spangled Frit. I assume that Type II is the one being seen lately in Forsyth County. Obviously, the state range of Type II is open for much research/data collection. But, if I am correct, then these would have to be two separate species; the same species isn't going to have one brood in the Coastal Plain and southern Piedmont (May-June), and yet have two broods in the cooler northern Piedmont. Harry LeGrand RaleighSubject: Weymouth Woods Butterfly Count From: Scott Hartley <picoides AT alltel.net> Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:52:56 -0400 Hi - The Weymouth Woods count has been rescheduled and will be held on July 23. Meet at Weymouth Woods at 9:00am. We will spend the morning covering the park trails. Then for those interested we will hit a few other good spots outside the park in the afternoon to look for things not found at the park, especially Hessel's Hairstreak. We will be off trail and ticks are, well as bad as I have seen them in a while. Bring your favorite repellent. Poison oak, sumac and cottonmouth's are often encountered but we also see a lot of other cool insects, plants and birds. Its worth a little discomfort to me! Contact me for more information. Have a good day. Scott Hartley Aberdeen, NC 910.638.5225 Mobile 910.692.2167 WorkSubject: Falls Lake, wake county From: "birdranger" <cbockhahn4 AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 17:52:22 -0400 7/6 I'm pretty sure I saw a Little Yellow in Sandling Beach, never landed though. I only have one fall record for very near the same area. 7/7 a lone Great Spangled Frit in flew by in Woodpecker Ridge while I was marking box turtles. It was quickly nabbed by a Great Blue Skimmer that dispatched it with a vicious bite to the neck while I took pictures. Despite the rain the button bush and other doldrum bloomers don't look too good. Brian Bockhahn Falls Lake State Park Ranger Falls & Kerr Lake CBC Compiler cbockhahn4 AT earthlink.netSubject: Butterfly Count date for the newsletter From: Ruth Young <reyoung1227 AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 16:42:29 -0400 The Transylvania Butterfly Count will be held on Wednesday, July 30 with a rain date for Thursday, July 31. Meet in front of the Bilo Grocery Store at the intersection of US 64, 276, and NC 280 (Forest Gate Shopping Center) in Brevard, NC at 9:00 AM. There is a Subway store open for sandwiches and the Bilo Deli has been open in the past to prepare sandwiches if needed. Much of our time is spent in the Pisgah Forest area in locations such as the Fish Hatchery, Pink Beds, and horse stables. With luck we may find Dianas on the forest service road that comes into the fish hatchery. We usually butterfly until late afternoon, about 4 or 4:30. Contact Ruth Young, (828)-687-7537 or reyoung1227 AT bellsouth.net for more information.Subject: Cabbage butterflies in Central Forsythe Co. From: "Lois Schneider" <loissch AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 13:25:15 -0400 Two of us spent 2.5 hours in central Forsyth Co. and had the following buttterflies: Pearl Crescents 12 Silvery Checkerspots 3 Variegated Fritillaries 13 American Ladies Red Admiral 1 Cabbage Whites 20 (or more) Eastern Tailed-blues 2 Buckeyes 8 Dun Skippers 3 Hayhurst Scallopwings 2 Zabulon Skippers 3 Sachem Skippers 6 Fiery Skippers 5 Least Skipper 1 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails 3 Carolina Wood Satyrs 12 Checkered Whites 6 (two females) Clouded Sulphur 1 Gene Schepker, Jim NottkeSubject: Outer Banks leps -- 6/29 - 7/4 From: Jim Hengeveld <jhengeve AT indiana.edu> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 11:22:39 -0400 Susan & I vacationed on the Outer Banks with her family last week. While we didn't do much active searching for butterflies, we did see some in the course of other activities. We were staying in Nags Head (NH) and took side trips to Pea Island NWR, to the Nature Conservancy property (NC), and to the Currituck Lighthouse (CL), stopping at the city park in Duck (D) on our way back south. Our lep list for the week - all Dare Co.: -7 E. Tiger-Swallowtails -3 Spicebush Swallowtails -8 Black Swallowtails -20 Palamedes Swallowtails -5 Cabbage Whites -3 Clouded Sulphurs -2 Cloudless Sulphurs -1 Gray Hairstreak - D -13 Red-banded Hairstreaks -8 Pearl Crescents -4 Red Admirals - CL -3 American Ladies - CL -18 Common Buckeyes -1 Red-spotted Purple -NC -4 Viceroys - CL -1 American Snout - NH -2 Monarchs -18 Common Wood-Nymphs -2 Long-tailed Skippers - D -4 Horace's Duskywings - CL -1 Erynnis sp. - D -very worn -7 Fiery Skippers - D -7 Sachems - D -3 Whirlabouts - D -1 Least Skipper - CL -1 Clouded Skipper - D -10 Broad-winged Skippers - CL Jim & Susan Hengeveld Unionville, IN Alan Blackledge Carlisle, PASubject: Alleghany and Ashe Counties, NC 07-05/06-08 From: "Ted Wilcox" <ncwings AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 09:42:30 -0400 Saturday and Sunday (07-05/06-08) were both rainy, but my wife and I spent about a half an hour each day looking for butterflies before the storms washed us out. Yesterday, we did find a new location for the Striped Hairstreak in Ashe County, NC. I photographed a fresh female Striped Hairstreak before the down pours came. If you are interested in viewing a few of my photos from this past weekend, including the Striped Hairstreak, here is a link: http://www.ncwings.com/daily/07-05-08.html Alleghany County, NC 07/05/08 1 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 3 American Coppers 7 Eastern Tailed-Blues 3 Summer Azures 4 Great Spangled Fritillaries 3 Aphrodite Fritillaries 1 Meadow Fritillary 4 Pearl Crescents 1 Peck's Skipper 3 Northern Broken-Dashes 2 Little Glassywings Ashe County, NC 07-06-08 2 Pipevine Swallowtails 2 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails 1 Cabbage White 1 Orange Sulphur 1 Striped Hairstreak (fresh female - new location) 3 Summer Azures 7 Great Spangled Fritillaries 5 Aphrodite Fritillaries 3 Pearl Crescents 2 Common Wood-Nymphs (fresh) 12 Silver-spotted Skippers 5 Little Glassywings -- Ted Wilcox http://www.ncwings.com/Subject: Wilkes County (P), NC 07-04-08 From: "Ted Wilcox" <ncwings AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 09:34:36 -0400 My wife and I spent most of the 4th in Wilkes County looking for butterflies. We were fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to witness Diana Fritillaries copulating. At about 9:55am, a female Diana Fritillary came out of the woods, flying at about treetop level. She circled around at that height before landing in high grass on a common milkweed leaf. She then flew to a nearby common milkweed bloom to nectar. We were able to get a couple of photographs before she flew to another nearby common milkweed bloom where a mostly fresh Diana male was nectaring. They instantly copulated. When the pair was disturbed, the female would fly, but never far. They continued to mate for the next two hours in the small opening next to the woods before finally flying into the woods and alighting high in a tree. We lost sight of the still mated pair at 12:05pm. If you are interested in viewing some of our photos of the Diana Fritillaries, here is a link: http://www.ncwings.com/daily/07-04-08.html If you want to see some of our other photos from the 4th, here is another link: http://www.ncwings.com/daily/07-4-08.html Wilkes County (P), NC 07-04-08 2 Pipevine Swallowtails 8 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails 4 Spicebush Swallowtails 7 Cabbage Whites 5 Orange Sulphurs 2 American Coppers 1 Coral Hairstreak 15 Eastern Tailed-Blues 12 Summer Azures 1 American Snout 29 Variegated Fritillaries 4 Diana Fritillaries (1 female, 3 males) 17 Great Spangled Fritillaries 23 Pearl Crescents 2 American Ladies 10 Common Buckeyes 1 Northern Pearly-eye 1 Carolina Satyr 8 Silver-spotted Skippers 1 Hoary Edge (very worn) 1 Southern Cloudywing (worn) 1 Common Sootywing 9 Little Glassywings 2 Dun Skippers -- Ted Wilcox http://www.ncwings.com/Subject: Gossamer wings (fwd) From: jspippen AT duke.edu Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 08:15:21 -0400 (EDT) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 06:52:46 -0400 From: "Kessler, Clyde"Subject: Fw: ...And why are some called "gossamerwings?" From: "Jules Fraytet" <jlfray AT ix.netcom.com> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 07:54:00 -0400 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kessler, Clyde"Subject: Donnaha Park, Yadkin River Access, Yadkin Co. From: "Lois Schneider" <loissch AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 07:05:46 -0400 Two of us stopped in at Donnaha Park (just across the river on Rt 67 from NW Forsyth Co) under cloudy skies with sporadic clearing just before a large rain storm. In about 1.5 hours we saw: Carolina Satyrs 20 (or more) Delaware Skipper 2 Silver-spotted Skipper 3 Hayhurst Scallopwing 7 Pearl Crescent 9 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 5 Hackberry Emperor 2 Clouidless Sulphur 1 Tawny Emperor 1 Eastern Tailed-blue 6 Red-spotted Purple 2 Vaiegated Fritillary 2 Fiery Skipper 2 Gene Schepker, Lois Schneider |