Butterfly sightings for June 2008

We also saw four species of tiger beetles.

First Karner Blues of the year.

One male, first of the year, reported in garden by landowner. More are sure to come. Lupine area was expanded in recent years by USFWS to encourage a small population of Karners here.

Quick roadside stop about 9 am.

June 1 sightings
Sunny, 75 degrees, NW wind at 10-15 mph
Lupine will be in full flower this week.

Cloudy but warm so I couldn't pass up looking for the three spring skippers I always see here, the Arctic, Hobomok, and the Pepper and Salt Skippers. I am still looking for my first Pepper and Salt Skipper of the year.

Both of the Swallowtails were incredibly bright yellow, my camera didn't come close to reproducing the color. The temperature was good today, but the sky was overcast. Both of the Elfins were very worn.

No sun again today. Walking along the vegetation chased out a few butterflies.

Somewhat sunny until I got out of my car. The Giant Ichneumon (Megarhyssa atrata?), with its long ovipositor, is very impressive flying in front of one's face.

I found this exquisite Giant Swallowtail along the UWM Field Station property, St. Augustine Rd, Town of Saukville, Ozaukee County. It is about 1 mile south of my house, where I photographed Giant Swallowtail caterpillars in the fall of 2007.
On Friday, June 6, I found my first viceroy and pearl crescent in the same area.
Kate

Very brief periods of sun today. Saw these while doing yard work.

On cow manure pile

Very windy and mostly cloudy. This was the first time I have seen a Yellow Lady's Slipper.

Temps in the low 80's with some sun, but very windy. Lots of Bee Flies nectaring on Hoary Puccoon.

Some sun but very windy.

Late in the day, around 6:30pm. The wind had died down some. The resident pair of loons had 2 babies with them today.

The Eyed Click Beetle slammed into me, so I couldn't help but notice it. The rains put an end to butterflying.

Beautiful and sunny when I left to go there, but thundering and cloudy when I got there.

Lots of duskywings on the roads. Brown elfins were in a bog on the Namekagon Trail.

Probably our first day over 80 degrees all year. Had more duskywings, likely Juvenal's, that I couldn't ID.

The sun came out briefly so I made a quick trip to the bog. The swallowtails were seen along the highway just before the bog. Lots of dragonfly activity here today.

also a tiger swallowtail but couldn't determine species.

There was about 2 hours of sun and the butterflies took advantage of it. The elfin was very worn with just its pattern showing, the colors were all faded. The skippers were nectaring on Blackberry on the side of a hill, which is also a favorite spot for the ringlets.

Park closed due to flooding. A carp shimmied across the road in the current of the overflowing creek. Boardwalk submerged. Every blade of grass and shrub was a liferaft for grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, spiders, caterpillars and especially thousands of ants. Not a good week for the flightless. One lep flying was a relief to see.

Cecropia Moth emerged from its cocoon today.

Road to preserve flooded. Could approach from north. Flowers are gorgeous; lots of spiderwort.

Windy, but who cares? The sun was shining.

Flooding made parts of several trails inaccessible.

Henry's Elfins were found on Swamp Creek Road off of Swamp Lake Road. Many of my field trip participants got pics. Small brown butterfly with mottled dark forewings and lighter hindwings. White cells separating dark and light. Hairy wings. Very surprised to see this bug!

Lousy weather: gray, 64 degrees, about to rain. But one female Karner on lupine.

Eight of the monarchs were tiny caterpillars on common milkweed.

Juvenal's Duskywing was very worn and one of the Hobomok Skippers was form pocohontas.

The boat launch is mostly under water, but there is a utility trail on the back side of the dam, that's where I found all of these.

Found along trails, both in open grasslands.

Just coming back from a vacation in Arizona and had to stop at one of my favorite places the Cicindela patruela huberi were out in force along with scutellaris lecontei, sexguttata and tranquebarica. Spring Green was still flooded!

Just checking the profusion of wild lupine, hoary puccoon etc. on my way home

Rained on the way there this morning but it cleared and we saw a few butterflies including the very worn duskywings! Watched a Pink-edged Sulphur lay an egg on blueberry and saw my first Blandings Turtle. Lots of robber flies!

The sun finally came out late this morning.

It was breezy but with full sun. I was attempting to count the Harris' Checkerspots, but gave up when I reached a big cloud of them.

The day was sunny and warm. Time 10-11:30 am. Observed a female white form of the Clouded Sulphur laying eggs.

1-2:30pm. Warm and sunny. Lots of Little Wood-Satyrs.

This was mostly along the Albany Wildlife Area section of the Trail.

Two days in a row with sunshine!

My young helpers really like dragonflies. They lasted until there got to be too many deer flies.

Also had 2 fritillaries that were either Frigga or Bog but never got even a decent look. This site is a remote but large black spruce muskeg/bog.

The Viceroy was "perched" on a "pike" on a sign displaying pictures of local fish. Purple Martin being banded by park rangers had dragonfly prey in mouth. Eight-spotted Forester moth.

This lovely creature was flying through our yard and was kind enough to give me this lovely photo opportunity.

The skipper ws seen at the Shopko garden center at South Towne.

We couldn't stay too long as the mosquitoes were out in force!!

Mid-day sunny. Many lovely Ctenucha virginica also. Too bad we don't have a place to enter sightings for pretty day-flying moths. Also saw many dragonflies and a beautiful tiger beetle, the cicindela sexguttata.

This was the most Baltimore Checkerspots we've ever seen at one time. A number of them were nectaring on grey dogwood.

We also saw several Eastern Red Damsels and a couple Red-headed woodpeckers.

This also includes the trail by the landing going all the way back to Brodhead.

Still not a lot of butterflies around.

Lots of tiger beetles here today.

The American Copper was very worn. I also saw a Duskywing that I couldn't get a good look at to identify.

Showy Ladyslipper Orchids, one Yellow Ladyslipper Orchid one of the few areas to see these gorgeous flowers.

There was a distinct lack of butterflies even in areas with lots of nectar sources. I did see several hognose snakes including this little one on the path.

Made a quick stop on the way home and saw my first Appalachian Brown of the year.

Breezy today with periods of sun and showers.

I was disappointed that there were not more butterflies in this beautiful prairie. Also saw beautiful male and female Ebony Jewelwing damselflies.

My first of the year!

Many, many Hobomok Skippers, including several Pocahontas form. Most unusual was the Jutta Arctic, as there is not a black spruce or tamarack bog within miles of this location (my yard).

9:30-11 am Sunny and warm.
Besides the butterflies, I saw another Ctenucha virginica moth.

I also saw a couple of tiger swallowtails but I never got a good look at them. One of them was chased by a very worn Mourning Cloak. The Pepper and Salt Skipper was also very worn.

Mosquitoes were the insect of the day, but it was fun seeing a few butterflies.

Nearly eaten alive by mosquitos. Besides the butterflies, saw some pretty dragonflies including a Calico Pennant and some sort of golden-colored Meadowhawk. But the real treat of the day were two Coyote pups exploring out on their own

Also saw several small "Blues" - could not definitively ID to species.

lots of deer flies, mosquito and ticks! Plus a Downpour to finish off the mourning hikes.

Nice breeze kept mosquitoes down. Cabbage Whites were abundant as were European Skippers. There seemed to be little skippers everywhere, and individual that I could focus on seemed to be a European Skipper. Dragonflies were very lovely too; including Halloween Pennant,Eastern Pondhawk, Widow Skimmer, and Dot-tailed Whiteface.

Sunshine and butterflies in between thunder showers today.

Pretty good diversity, with some new species just appearing. Also many dragonflies, highlighted by relatively good numbers of both Arrowhead and Twin-spotted Spiketails.

Most of the butterflies were seen on the trail leading back to the dam.

Very little sun today. Saw these while working in the field.

Many Cabbage Whites and Clouded Sulphurs. Lovely prairie flowers in bloom on this sunny day, but the high winds and cool temperatures probably kept the number of butterflies down.