Butterfly sightings for May 2006

Seen while out pulling Garlic Mustard (GM) in evening. One White was seen on GM (some references infer that Mustard Whites may incorrectly lay their eggs on GM). The area was adjacent to the same wetland where M Whites have been seen in previous years.

This one is sitting on my wife's shoe.

Eastern/Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (1)
1st Meadow Fritillary of the year.

1st Pearl Crescents this year.

1st Harvesters of the year. (early)
Also Tiger Swallowtail sp. (2)

Overcast Day but nice to be out. Saw several Duskywings but have to positively id it before I can include it.

These were seen between May 6 and May 8. I'm also including a photo of a Great Spangled Fritillary caterpillar, which I found on May 8 on the stalk of a Birds Foot Violet.

1st of the year!

Feeding on some over ripe bannanas.

A few were seen flying at Muralt Bluff Prairie State Natural Area

1st American Copper
1st Folded Wing Skipper

1st Giant Swallowtails

Spotted two Harvesters mating at a height of about 15 feet.

My first American Copper Sporting Teal colored lower spots.

1st Hobomok Skipper and 1st Arctic Skippers of the year.

First Vicerory and Silver Spotted Skipper

I saw group after group of Pearl Crescents with each group numbering between 10 and 30. I also photographed my first Harvester.

Had a female Monarch laying eggs. This is the second Monarch of the season that I have seen.

found numerous clusters puddling by river

My first Juniper Hairstreak. A very tattered individual, but with good color.

Harvester was a lifer!

Only seen and photographed (in a honeysuckle shrub -- resting) for a brief time. Long enough to take this photo. It's the earliest I've seen this species in Madison.

First Red Spotted Purple and Question Mark

First little Wood Satyr
First Little Yellow

The temperature was in the high 80's.