Butterfly sightings for July 2008

Only the second time I have seen a Dainty Sulphur in Wisconsin. C.patruela where out in numbers also.

Also saw and was lucky to photograph my first Williamson's Emerald

7:30-11:30

They love my garden. I see them in my yard all the time. My daughters and I love it.

My daughter caught 3 caterpillars and they did their thing and this afternoon she saw that two had emerged. One has already manged to be set free, we are still waiting for the other to decide to climd out of the bug catcher to freedom. The third has yet to emerge.

The weather cooperated nicely for this year's count, not too hot, cloudy, or windy, (or too many skippers to drive me crazy). We also saw a very worn Tiger Swallowtail but weren't able to determine the species. The Baltimore Checkerspots and Least Skippers were more than I've ever previously seen in one day.

Just a quick look, but found these on milkweed.

The hairstreaks and mourning cloak were seen where I live near Rimrock Road. The remainder are all from Olbrich Gardens.

The Eastern Comma was nectaring on thistle.

Milkweed was barely in flower. I went looking for skippers and only saw a single Least Skipper!

Also flying many rusty holomelinas, urola nivalis and Reversed Haploas. Cicindela splendida, C. formosa and C. punctulata also seen.

All species seen in the tornado blowdown area south of Hwy 64.

The Swallowtail had a chunk of it's right side tail missing.

Saw a robber fly chasing a Meadow Fritillary.

Pink-edged Sulphur was a surprise in this non-barrens habitat. Also surprised by the Baltimore Checkerspots in this northwoods habitat.

This was the most Tawny Emperors that I have seen in one day. Despite lots of milkweed in flower, there were not many butterflies flying. I was most amazed at not seeing a single grass skipper.

Clear skies turned cloudy and then some unexpected rain.

Not a lot of butterflies, considering it was excellent butterfling weather. Been seeing the same in Illinois so far this summer.

I have two black swallowtail caterpillars on my parsley. I placed them in a butterfly habitat, and they left the parsley and have been walking around the mesh all morning. They'll hopefully be in a chrysalis by the end of the day.

I have garden spot with some friends near Oregon. Their house is surrounded by trees where the eyed browns and hairstreaks were.

My hike was cut short by overcast skies and ferocious mosquitoes.

A short walk before work today not much going on in some of my other sites.

A sick American Elm tree near the parking lot is dripping sap and is attracting butterflies. At one point, there were 4 Mourning Cloaks, 1 Red-spotted Purple, and 1 E. Comma all feeding at the same time.

Cool, overcast conditions kept numbers down, but we managed to flush a a few butterflies while walking through the prairie. Leadplant and yellow coneflower were beautiful.

Very windy today. Saw a robber fly catch a Northern Crescent and saw another one chasing a Clouded Sulphur. The Buckeye nectared for over an hour on a patch of Oregano in my garden.

Big patches of thistle and milkweeds butterflies were few and far between.

Very windy. Harris' Checkerspot and Painted Lady were highlights. Also lots of N. Pearly-eyes here in the woods.

Area includes the boat launch and trail between the two dams.

Very windy today with gusts at 20+ mph. Saw several butterflies and skippers that couldn't be identified because of the wind. Went looking for Bog Coppers and found 3. All had crossed a ditch out of the bog and were along the side of the road. Two were nectaring on Yarrow. They ignored me while I steadied the Yarrow with one hand and attempted to photograph with the other. I was lucky to get any usable photos. Photos 1133 and 1177 are of one individual; 1179, 1184 and 1185 are of another.

I think this may be the first Baltimore checkerspot that I have ever seen. I was quite excited about seeing it.

Flooding on the road and through the field to the site.

likes my lilys...the first of the season here for me.

The monarch was lighting over and over on butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). It was unusually faded and tattered.

Feeding on swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

This spot never lets me down.Awesome!

Intermittent sun. Absolutely beautiful Marine Blue!

Many Eyed Browns flying in the wet wooded/marshy areas on the Waterfowl Walk trail; 2 Appalachians intermixed with the Eyeds provided a great opportunity to compare and contrast. There are also many immature Meadowhawks (Sympetrum sp.) present; saw 1 adult Cherry-faced.

Lots of annoying mosquitos and deer flies drove me out of the swamp!

Hoped to see my first Regal of the year, and was surprised that I had to work hard to find a single one. Lots of large robber flies, including a Promachus fitchii female laying eggs, a new species for me.

Great morning with 25 species before clouds and rain moved in around lunchtime.

It's very unusual to see a Silver-bordered Frit on my property. This one was nectaring on Oregano in my former garden. The Oregano has formed a huge patch and is a popular nectaring spot.

Grass of Parnassus in bud stage, Swamp Thistle also in bud, Virgin's Bower just starting to flower and Joe Pye Weed starting to flower. Should be good nectar sources in another week. Mosquitos and Deer Flies tolerable, very wet!

I was surprised at how small they were no more than two inches.

Seen yesterday and today in our neighborhood and yard while doing yard work.

Fog until lunchtime and then partly sunny. Diversity is great right now -- 28 species this afternoon just walking on and adjacent to my property.

Robber fly cannibalism with the male preying on the female.

This Monarch was flying at 6:30 in the morning.

The blues and checkerspots were "puddling" in a muddy area. It was interesting to be able to compare the eatern tailed blue with the spring azure as both were seen at the same time.

One of the tiger swallowtails was a dark phase female which is so amazing to see.

My first of the year...

Pope Farm Park is a new county park about 1 1/2 miles west of the Beltline on Old Sauk Road. They have put in a restored prairie area which is full of blooming flowers.

I also had a number of loverly Ctenucha virginica moths, a Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird moth and a lovely Celery Looper moth.

5:30-7:30

These were all seen between about 5:30 and 6:00 this evening. The American Copper was very fresh. The hairstreaks were in good condition except for one of the Corals which had a lot of wing damage.

Beautiful day!

Confused Haploa's flying in the fen areas, Swamp Thistle just opening buds. Found one Buprestis laeviventris on a rock at the parking area (Black with greenish reflex and orange elytra spots)

Also observed a female Black Dash lay an egg on marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris).

My Oregano patch is a popular spot for nectaring right now. Most of the butterflies today were seen there.

I tried to photograph some of the many tiger beetles that were here, but they didn't cooperate very well.

These were my first Gray Copper sightings. The most that I saw at any time was 2, but I was able to identify 5 different individuals from my photographs thanks to them being quite worn and with varying amounts of damage to their wings. I've included photos of the individuals in the best and worst conditions.

Went out later in the day more skippers flying. Many more Haploa's flying.

Late in the day.

Also saw an unidentified Tiger Swallowtail. Lots of robber fly activity today and several ambushed insects as well.

There was Ambush Bug activity here today also. Photo 1367 isn't one of my better ones, but I included it because the Black Dash is very close to being ambushed.

Not much for butterflies here even in areas with plenty of nectar sources. Anyone have any idea what the insect in the photo is?

Just checking out this area and saw a nice fresh Striped Hairstreak.

These are the first viceroys that I've seen this year. Two were locked in a mating flight.

Fewer species than same time/place last year.

Quick outing at my house in late afternoon/evening. Township mowed many of wildflowers previously along roadside.

Many more mosquitoes and deer flies than butterflies! This Machimus sp. robberfly had captured an Autumn Meadowhawk and was flying with it when I saw it.

Mosquitoes galore anywhere near shade. The Tawny Emperor was nectaring on monarda.

This was a quick survey this evening. There were several skippers that were too worn to identify with certainty.