Recent sightings

Jun 1

Mike Reese

Location: Pleasant Valley Conservancy SNA
Dane County

12:15-2:15. 88 degrees and sunny at the start but clouds were starting to form around me and there were just a few sprinkles when I eneded.

Jun 1

Mike Reese

Location: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie SNA
Dane County

11:00-12:00, 87 degrees, sunny, and dry with little nectar sources

Jun 1

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Borah Creek Prairie SNA
Grant County

I visited Borah Creek one year ago today with the Monarch being the only butterfly seen both years. Lots of Red Clover and Cream False Indigo blooming beautifully, with some White Clover, too, but not an abundance of pollinators.

Sunny, hot, no wind, from 10-12 with temps between 76-84F

Jun 1

Rory Williams

Location: Oshkosh Larsen Prairie SNA
Winnebago County

Incidental while removing Dames Rocket from SNA

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Jun 1

Beth Stetenfeld

Location: Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Dane County

Mid-morning, low 80s, calm day. I thought I would see more butterflies, but it was nice to see a few.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

May 31

Thomas Smith

Location: River Falls, back yard at State Street
Pierce County

May 31

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Highway 54 bog
Jackson County

2 miles east of North Settlement Road. 4:00-4:15 p.m., about 90 degrees F.

May 31

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens between Millston and Black River Falls
Jackson County

7:10-3:50 pm, sunny to mostly sunny, about 66-93 degrees F. We began surveying Phlox Moths (and butterflies if seen) at five long-term monitoring sites NW of Millston, then switched to mostly Karner Blue monitoring but included 11 more Phlox Moth sites. We only found 8 Phlox Moths at six sites. Karner Blues were 26 males, a female, and 1 unknown (13 of the Karners were at Dike 17, especially within 200 meters of the parking lot). The Frosted Elfins were in 4 sites: South Brockway West (our unit 4), Belle Mound Unit 4 -- 2 miles south on Brockway Road from Castle Mound Road, 1 mile east, then north up a track and then off-trail through forest for a total of 0.5+ miles (ending only 150 meters north of ESE-WNW trending ATV trail; south side of Stanton Creek Road just E of Cutoff Road); and pipeline ROW south of and parallel to Stanton, 0.3 miles west of Cutoff Road.

May 31

Dean Hansen

Location: Fish Lake SWA
Burnett County

Butterflies were scarce--it's dry there. The Juvenal's Duskywing and the Silvery Blue were seen in old field vegetation to the east of East River Road, 0.4 miles north of Co. O. This field has wonderful stands of blooming lupines--check it out. The other species were seen along Stolte Road. Seen today were my FOY Northern Cloudy Wing, Karner Blue, and Viceroy. Stolte Road is nearing its peak of lupine bloom.

lupine

lupine

Viceroy

Viceroy

'Karner' Melissa Blue

'Karner' Melissa Blue

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

'Karner' Melissa Blue

'Karner' Melissa Blue

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 31

April Stanke

Location: River Barn Park in Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 31

David Czoschke

Location: White River prairie and tameracks SNA
Green Lake County

Not sure what this is at all. My guess is probably wrong but it is the closest I could find.

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

★ = New county photo record

May 31

Harry Phipps

Location: New Richmond
St. Croix County

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 31

Judith Huf

Location: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Milwaukee County

My first Monarch of the year. Milkweed is about 8-12 inches high.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 30

Terry Mortier

Location: Crex Meadows, Fish Lake SWA Stolte Rd.
Burnett County

Windy, mostly cloudy, warm

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

Persius Duskywing

Persius Duskywing

May 30

Joan Rickert

Location: My yard, rural Medford
Taylor County

Depositing eggs on my barely foot tall milkweed.

May 30

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Muscallounge Road near Beetown
Grant County

It was sunny and 85 F around 4:00.

Peck's Skipper

Peck's Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 30

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Avoca Prairies and Savanna SNA
Grant County

Always happy to see first sightings of the year of butterfly friends!

Sunny and warm with temps between 80-88F from 12:30-2:30

Tawny-edged Skipper

Tawny-edged Skipper

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

May 30

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Blue River Sand Barrens SNA
Grant County

American Coppers were in abundance. I have only ever seen one at a time in the past.

Sunny and beautiful butterfly weather with temps between 68-78F from 9:30-11:30.

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Common Roadside-Skipper

Common Roadside-Skipper

American Copper

American Copper

American Copper

American Copper

★ = New county photo record

May 30

April Stanke

Location: My Yard in Brown Deer
Milwaukee County

May 30

Mike Reese

Location: Sandhill Wildlife Area
Wood County

11:00-5:30. Sunny and 86 degrees by noon. 7.5 miles of walking trails and roads. All Karners were males.

May 30

Ethan Brown

Location: Cedarburg Bog
Ozaukee County

May 30

Rory Williams

Location: Horicon - North Section
Dodge County

One Six Spotted Tiger Beetle

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 30

D Nussbaum

Location: WIOUWASH Trail
Winnebago County

North of GG.

Clouded Sulphur

Clouded Sulphur

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 29

Ethan Brown

Location: Virmond Park
Ozaukee County

May 29

Steve Kinyon

Location: Butterfly Trail, 43°47'59"N,91°12'05"W
La Crosse County

3 to 5 pm, sunny, 80°.

Hobomok Skipper

Hobomok Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Hobomok Skipper

Hobomok Skipper

May 29

Patrick Ready

Location: Baxter's Hollow
Sauk County

in dusty parking area near bridge 1.

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 29

April Stanke

Location: My Yard in Brown Deer
Milwaukee County

May 29

Richard Ouren

Location: Ouren Farm
Grant County

May 29

Rory Williams

Location: Oshkosh Larsen Prairie SNA
Winnebago County

Looking for Phlox Moths, did not find any.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 29

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens in and Near Mirror Lake State Park
Sauk County

Five patches in the Park and one nearby one. This is probably our highest American Copper count at these sites since 2020 or before.

May 29

Mike Reese, Karen Oberhauser

Location: Donald County Park
Dane County

This was the most White-striped Black (moth) that I have seen. All seven were seen on horse scat! Karen saw her first Monarch caterpillar of the year.

White-striped Black (moth)

White-striped Black (moth)

White-striped Black (moth)

White-striped Black (moth)

May 29

D Nussbaum

Location: WIOUWASH Trail
Winnebago County

South of GG.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 29

Judith Huf

Location: Shorewood Nature Preserve
Milwaukee County

May 28

Sandra Thompson

Location: Alma, WI. My backyard vegetable garden and compost bin
Buffalo County

Harvester

Harvester

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 28

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon Nature Preserve
Ozaukee County

May 28

Jayne Mullins

Location: Spring Green
Sauk County

Monarch butterfly spent some time behind the Spring Green General Store.

May 28

Mike Reese

Location: south Madison, mostly along the bike trail
Dane County

3.68 miles, 1:06-2:16 PM

May 28

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens along County Hwy X
Wood County

4 sites near Sandhill Wildlife Area. Ann found the Gray Hairstreak (we both got to look at it up close) on a Wild Lupine flower bud. Every Gray Hairstreak we have seen in spring in a barrens the past 35 years was associating with lupines. The Henry's Elfins were spiralling together at a county forest site before landing to be ID'd. The Karners were 1 female and 21 males; all but one of them were at the fastest site out of the >35 sites that we regularly monitor for them.

May 28

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Riley Lake bogs
Price County

We surveyed 6 of the 9 bogs we went to on May 21, including all 4 Dwarf Birch sites that are reliable for Frigga Fritillaries. We found a combined 40 Friggas in 0.35 miles of the birch unit (we have 5 other non-Birch units there where we saw no Friggas) on the bog south of Forest Road 136 not far west of FR 505--in Riley Lake State Natural Area. Scott found 13 Friggas in a solo survey of 0.25 miles length in the bog southwest of Forest Road 137 2.3+ miles south of Hwy 70. We also saw one unidentified white sp.

May 28

Thomas Schultz

Location: Honey Creek Preserve - WSO
Sauk County

Observed along Alder Drive.

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 28

Devin Corbin

Location: Southern edge of Birchwood Township
Washburn County

Also saw some blues, whites, and a duskywing that didn't slow down enough for a positive id. This Harris' checkerspot caterpillar moved at a speed more within reach of my photographic abilities! (Note: the Harris' recorded is this caterpillar; I didn't see an adult.)

Harris' Checkerspot caterpillar

Harris' Checkerspot caterpillar

May 28

Terry Mortier

Location: Crex Meadows, Curry Rd. South edge of the Clam Lake Fire Break, A couple spots on James Rd and Larson Rd.
Burnett County

Late afternoon, sunny, warm, light wind

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

May 28

Terry Mortier

Location: Stolte Rd. Fish Lake SWA
Burnett County

Late morning/early afternoon, sunny, low seventies light wind. I checked a lot of the lupine patches and puddling spots. It is very dry again. I saw several sleepy/dreamy duskywings puddling.

May 28

Terry Mortier

Location: Standing Cedars,Buffalo Skull Tract,
Polk County

Morning, sunny, 63 degrees, light wind. Prairie smoke and lupines were in full bloom.

American Copper

American Copper

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 28

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: My yard in Stoughton
Dane County

Sunny, 74 degree morning.

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

May 28

D Nussbaum

Location: WIOUWASH Trail
Winnebago County

Between Brooks and Y.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 28

D Nussbaum

Location: Maxwell Road
Winnebago County

May 28

Ethan Brown

Location: Eagle/ Southern Kettle Moraine
Jefferson County

The frit was a surprise.

May 27

Richard Ouren

Location: Ouren Farm
Grant County

May 27

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens in and near Moquah Barrens State Natural Area
Bayfield County

4 survey transects in 3 general areas where we have seen Chryxus Arctics before. We also saw 2 elfin sp., 1 blue sp., and 2 unidentified duskywings.

May 27

Steve Kinyon

Location: Fort McCoy
Monroe County

11:30 a.m. to 2:30 pm. 72°, sunny, to see what is flying mid-day. Tried spitwads and urine without success in attracting anything. The Gorgone Checkerspots were swarming around a patch of white sand near a stream. Curious to see ants near several of them (see photo). The Common ringlets were also common, but didn't perch where I could get close.

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

American Copper

American Copper

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

American Copper

American Copper

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

American Copper

American Copper

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 27

Dean Hansen

Location: Nanekagon Barrens
Burnett County

"Butterfly Lek"--see May 20 posting. A few flighty Erynnis went undetermined, but did ID a single Mottled Duskywing.

Mottled Duskywing

Mottled Duskywing

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 27

Dean Hansen

Location: Bog to east of Namekagon Trail, 3/4 miles north of Namekagon River
Burnett County

Only saw two Brown Elfins walking the bog. Sand/gravel of road was generally dry, rare damp spots only attracting a few flighty Erynnis and a couple Brown Elfins. No Jutta Arctics yet.

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

May 27

Dean Hansen

Location: Six spots on Crex Meadows SWA
Burnett County

Olympia Marbles still in flight, but area was dry and there were no spots of damp sand/gravel on the roads to attract mineralizing butterflies. Roadside lupine coming into good bloom; Arabis still in bloom. Saw no butterflies nectaring of hoary puccoon, lupine, or violets. Presumed Canadian Swallowtail was just seen in flight. FOY Dusted Skipper (on Crex Ridge Road) was a treat. A dozen flighty Erynnis went undetermined.

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

Western Tailed-Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

May 27

Joan Rickert

Location: My yard, rural Medford
Taylor County

May 27

Terry Mortier

Location: Standing Cedars, Buffalo Skull Tract
Polk County

Sunny, light wind, 80 degrees

American Copper

American Copper

American Copper

American Copper

May 27

Daniel Flynn

Location: Dutch Hollow Lake, La Valle
Sauk County

77 deg, sunshine, damp sand beach.

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 27

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: North end of Yahara River Trail in Stoughton
Dane County

Very few butterflies, but did enjoy seeing a young buck crossing the trail. Blue phlox was in full bloom all along the trail and into the woods. Sunny 74 degree late morning.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

May 27

Mike Reese, Karen Oberhauser

Location: UW Madison Arboretum, Grady Tract
Dane County

10:00-12:30. Sunny, high 60s to low 70s. Also 13 Monarch eggs

May 27

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Riveredge Nature Center
Ozaukee County

May 26

Rachel Padour

Location: AriensCo Conservation Land, Brillion
Calumet County

72 F, sunny, calm. Butterflies were observed throughout conservation land flying, resting, and nectaring. The checkerspots and crescents were also observed in dances and mating.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Northern Crescent

Northern Crescent

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

May 26

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Bogs between Moose Junction and Amnicon Lake
Douglas County

Same 8 bogs as on May 20, plus we added the Frigga Fritillary specialty bog we call "Bear SW", where we found our only Frigga today. Because we found a lot more Freija Fritillaries today than on May 20, it was disappointing that we found no Red-disked Alpines today (3 found May 20). The Milbert's Tortoiseshell was way out on the bog that fronts Foxboro-Chaffee Road.

May 26

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens south of Brule
Douglas County

Same spots as on May 20.

May 26

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Douglas County Wildlife Area
Douglas County

Same 4 patches as on May 20.

May 26

Mike Reese

Location: Muralt Bluff Prairie SNA
Green County

Sunny, low 70s. Little butterfly activity

May 26

Mike Reese

Location: Albany Wildlife Area off Schneeberger Rd.
Green County

short stop of 45 minutes. In a field with lots of Sheep Sorrel I saw no American Coppers.

May 26

Ethan Brown

Location: Spirit Lake
Ozaukee County

Also saw a Snowberry Clearwing.

May 26

Terry Mortier

Location: Bog off Milchesky rd., Bog off County HWY A, Pioneer trail
Douglas County

Sunny, afternoon, mid-seventies, clouds of gnats, Large numbers of Brown elfins. Freija fritillaries were very active, rarely landing for more than a couple seconds, making it very difficult to get photos. Adding insult to injury one of them landed on me as I was walking out. (: I also saw one unidentified Duskywing.

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

May 26

Steve Kinyon

Location: Fort McCoy, Cinder Road
Monroe County

9:00 to 10:30 a.m. 70°, sunny.

American Copper

American Copper

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

American Copper

American Copper

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 26

Rory Williams

Location: Public Lands on Cty E - East Parking Area
Green Lake County

The lupine fields that were very poor last year were full of lupines, probably 100 acres of lupines all in bloom. The fields are drying up fast. One Festive Tiger Beetle. Four Duskywings in the lupines that were very dark, I got pictures of three of them. One may be a Persius, the others look like a Juvenal's. Mike your thoughts?

'Karner' Melissa Blue

'Karner' Melissa Blue

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Festive Tiger Beetle

Festive Tiger Beetle

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

American Copper

American Copper

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

May 26

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: Prairie area at Bjoin Park in Stoughton
Dane County

No photo opportunities as butterflies were all flying. First Clouded Sulphur sighting of the season. Also checked out prairie area at Schefelker Park in Stoughton, but only saw about 20 dragonflies there with several pairs mating. Breezy, sunny 74 degree early afternoon.

May 26

Rory Williams

Location: Czech and Cty N
Waushara County

Pepper and Salt Skipper

Pepper and Salt Skipper

American Lady

American Lady

Hobomok Skipper

Hobomok Skipper

May 26

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: My yard in Stoughton
Dane County

Sunny, breezy, 70 degree late morning.

May 26

Lindsey Dalton

Location: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie
Dane County

Sunny, lower 70s, between 2:30 and 4:00 pm. The Black Swallowtails were in the same spot they love, on top of the hill. The Clouded Sulphurs stayed busy nectaring.

Clouded Sulphur

Clouded Sulphur

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

May 25

Mike Reese, Jay Watson, Elizabeth Braatz, Judy Cardin, Robert Plamann

Location: Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
Juneau County

The best finding was the Common Nighthawk nest. Jay flushed the nighthawk, it it did a broken wing display, and settled down in the grass away from the nest. Jay spotted the two eggs in the nest. We later flushed a different pair. Jay found the first Karner of the year.

'Karner' Melissa Blue

'Karner' Melissa Blue

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Common Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk

Monarch

Monarch

Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle

Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle

Common Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 25

Ethan Brown

Location: Fellenz Woods
Washington County

Many of the Gorgones looked rather old which is surprising for this time of year.

May 25

Steve Kinyon

Location: Rush Creek State Natural Area, on goat prairie
Crawford County

9:00 to 10:30 a.m., 72°, sunny. Northern Cloudywings were nectaring on Hoary puccoon and sunning on bushes.

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

★ = New county photo record

May 25

Mary Backus

Location: Ringle Kayak Landing along Eau Claire River
Marathon County

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 25

Rory Williams

Location: Oshkosh Larsen Prairie SNA
Winnebago County

Incidental while removing parsnips from SNA.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

May 25

Stan Rehm

Location: Fitchburg residential butterfly garden
Dane County

Pretty reliable annual visitor to our gardens; perhaps a little earlier than usual this year

May 24

Mike Reese

Location: Rocky Run Oak Savanna SNA
Columbia County

Sunny, but windy and cooler with the highs in the upper 60s. 2:30-4:45

May 24

Mike Reese

Location: Wildenberg Sand Prairie, Lodi
Columbia County

I keep hoping I will see a Dusted Skipper that was seen there in 2016. Missed twice now. There is a lot of Puccoon in flower, both Hoary and Fringed.

May 24

Terry Mortier

Location: Doar Prairie Trail, Cylon Marsh SWA, Willow River State Park
St. Croix County

Windy, Hazy sun, 73degrees, Late afternoon. Surprised by how few butterflies I saw. I did see one unidentified tiger swallowtail at the Willow River State Park. I assume it was an Eastern but I did not get a good look at it.

May 24

Fred Dike

Location: Lower Wisconsin Riverway- near Avoca
Iowa County

70's, breezy, mostly sunny

Harvester

Harvester

May 23

Rachel Padour

Location: AriensCo Conservation Land, Brillion
Calumet County

83 F, sunny, light breeze. Butterfly was observed resting along gravel path in forested area.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

May 23

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens in and near Moquah Barrens State Natural Area
Bayfield County

4 survey transects in 3 general areas where we have seen Chryxus Arctics before. We saw a white that was probably a Mustard White.

May 23

April Stanke

Location: Brown Deer Middle/High School
Milwaukee County

May 23

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon Nature Preserve
Ozaukee County

Almost all of the migrant Red Admirals have perished by now. But they left many presents! Almost all Common Nettle had several caterpillars on it.

May 23

Joan Braune and Tod Highsmith

Location: Schurch-Thomsoon Prairie
Iowa County

Saw one unidentified hairstreak

May 23

Andy Paulios

Location: Vernon Marsh State Wildlife Area
Waukesha County

May 23

Jesse Peterson

Location: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie SNA
Dane County

9:00 am - 10:30 am. 68-74 degrees, SSW winds at 5 mph.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 23

Mike Reese

Location: Smith Slough area
Richland County

The Dusted Skipper was seen in the grassland area near the parking lot closest to the SNA nectaring on Hoary Puccoon. My first Hobomok Skipper of the year.

May 23

Mike Reese

Location: Gotham Jack Pine Barrens SNA
Richland County

The deer and I met while I was rounding a red cedar.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

Great Bee Fly

Great Bee Fly

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 22

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Parkway Road Barrens
Marinette County

The road is also County Hwy I. An attempt to find Chryxus Arctics at 2 usually good patches, but we only found one at a 3rd patch we don't usually survey. The location of some historically good Chryxus Arctic sites at Parkway (County Hwy I) Barrens and Dunbar Barrens State Natural Area are listed on page 5 of “Butterflies to Log in and near Northern Wisconsin’s Bogs” by Ann Swengel at the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association website http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabawba/watching.html

May 22

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Dunbar Barrens
Marinette County

An attempt to find Chryxus Arctics. Includes 5 patches owned by the state and one county forest site.

May 22

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Two bogs
Forest County

A bog north of Wolf Lake along Forest Road 2182, and one other bog (where we saw one Freija Fritillary and 24 Brown Elfins). Wolf Lake Bog is also called Bailey Lake Bog (e.eg. Kyle Johnson's May 17 posting). Our Freija Fritillary count of 5 at Wolf Lake was disappointingly low, but it was our best Red-disked Alpine bog this year.

May 22

Ethan Brown

Location: Spirit Lake
Ozaukee County

May 22

Lindsey Dalton

Location: Black Hawk Unit
Dane County

All were seen between 6:30 and 8:00 pm. Sunny and in the upper 60s/lower 70s. They were all extremely friendly and curious and kept landing on both me and my dogs whenever we'd pause to hang out!

May 22

Rich Kahl & Laurie Yahr

Location: IATA Table Bluff
Dane County

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

May 22

Mike Reese

Location: Thiede Century Farm, DNR land
Iowa County

I have never stopped here but this place was really surprising with a good sand blow, a nice wetland (beaver lodge in the photo) and so much red cedar that there just has to be some Juniper Hairstreaks here. This is just west of the Sleepy Orange area.

beaver lodge

beaver lodge

May 22

Mike Reese

Location: Blue River Sand Barrens SNA
Grant County

This was my first Dusted Skipper in Grant County.

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

May 22

Mike Reese

Location: Russell Hill
Grant County

I walked the western trail well back into the woods and then back. On the way I saw five Monarchs but on the way back I saw eight! Lots of Six-spotted Tiger Beetles here.

Common Sootywing

Common Sootywing

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

May 22

Mike Reese

Location: Baxter Lane
Grant County

I didn't see many butterflies but I did get my first Giant Swallowtail of the year. If you go straight past the gate you eventually get the the bluff in the photo. I think it should have some good insects here and it does have a large group of prickly pear at its base.

bluff

bluff

May 22

Jesse Peterson

Location: Mazomanie Oak Barrens SNA
Dane County

8:30 am to 10:45 am, 62 to 72 degrees, light S winds. Also 1 unidentified duskywing, likely Juvenal's.

American Copper

American Copper

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

May 22

Fern Springs

Location: My yard, Garden Valley
Jackson County

5:45, sunny, 78

May 22

Daniel Jackson

Location: Jackson property and Lepke property just south of Chaseburg
Vernon County

Peck's Skipper

Peck's Skipper

May 22

Douglas Buege

Location: Riverview Rd, off Hwy W
Oconto County

May 22

Douglas Buege

Location: Along Bachman Rd, 1.8 miles S of Bear Paw Rd
Oconto County

Fantastic spot--still wet while dry elsewhere! No comma slam but feels like hitting six homers.

May 22

Douglas Buege

Location: Twin Pine Barrens
Oconto County

May 22

Douglas Buege

Location: Westphall Lake Ln
Oconto County

May 21

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Riley Lake bogs
Price County

9 bogs 12 to 16 miles east or ESE of Fifield whose locations are described on page 3 of the butterfly site guide “Butterflies to Log in and near Northern Wisconsin’s Bogs” by Ann Swengel at the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association website http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabawba/watching.html Neither today nor on a repeat attempt here May 28 did we get any traction on Freija Fritillaries; we think they and red-disked Alpines are having a low fluctuation year. Both of these species are usually less abundant after very snowy winters, as was 2022-23 here.

May 21

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Caroline Lake bog
Iron County

May 21

Karl and Dorothy Legler

Location: Sauk City.
Sauk County

77 degrees. Sunny. In our yard.

May 21

Pamela Skaar

Location: Lower WI River, Mazomanie Dog Trial Grounds
Dane County

10:27 - 11:53, 1.5 miles

May 21

Pamela Skaar and Chris Tyler

Location: Laws Drive, Mazomanie. WI
Dane County

7:36 - 9:58, 0.9 miles

May 21

Pam Campbell

Location: Hoffman Hills SRA
Dunn County

May 21

Rory Williams

Location: Oshkosh Larsen Prairie SNA Oakridge Segment
Winnebago County

FOY Monarch, Black Swallowtail and Silver Spotted Skippers. The Monarch was flying due south at a high rate of speed ???

May 21

Ethan Brown

Location: Catholic Ecology Center
Dodge County

Forgot to add these.

May 21

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Muscallounge Road near Beetown
Grant County

Shoutout for Creeping Charlie also known as ground ivy! I saw a Monarch visiting it for nectar! I have also seen a Red Admiral doing the same. With limited nectar sources it seems to be one that butterflies use!

Monarch

Monarch

May 21

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Hogback Ridge SNA
Crawford County

Both The American Lady and the Wild Indigo Duskywing appeared to be laying eggs. There was limited Cream False Indigo blooming but tons of Golden Alexander and Columbine that no pollinators seemed to be visiting.

Sunny with a light wind with temps around 80.

Cream Wild Indigo

Cream Wild Indigo

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Wild Indigo Duskywing

American Lady

American Lady

May 21

Mike Reese

Location: south Madison
Dane County

Sunny, near 80 degrees. Mostly along bike path from the beltline north to Glenway. 2:00-3:15

May 21

Ron Endres, Karen Oberhauser, Mike Reese

Location: Private lands in Verona
Dane County

May 21

Ethan Brown

Location: Catholic Ecology Center
Dodge County

Also saw 20 Red Admiral cats.

☆ = New county sighting record

May 21

Jesse Peterson

Location: Residential yard, Town of Middleton
Dane County

Sightings while doing yard work from 8:00am-2:30pm.

May 21

Chad Smith

Location: Beloit, WI
Rock County

My wife and I took our dog for a walk in the woods next to our home and saw a female flying in a large patch of Dame's Rocket.

May 20

Alex Lehner

Location: Tri-county Corridor, west of Ashland
Ashland County

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

May 20

April Stanke

Location: Private Property Cty Hwy T Rosholt
Portage County

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

American Lady

American Lady

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 20

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Bogs between Moose Junction and Amnicon Lake
Douglas County

8 bogs: two north of Moose Junction, 1 on Foxboro-Chaffee Road, two on Milchesky Road, two "Bear Lake" bogs on County Hwy A, and Lyman Lake Bog.

May 20

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens south of Brule
Douglas County

2 areas with two patches each

May 20

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Douglas County Wildlife Area
Douglas County

4 barrens patches. 40 minutes.

May 20

Lindsey Dalton

Location: Mirror Lake State Park
Sauk County

All were seen in and around a large field of lupines next to the Turtleville Trail.

American Lady

American Lady

American Copper

American Copper

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

May 20

Daniel Jackson

Location: Sandhill State Wildlife Area
Wood County

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

May 20

Dean Hansen

Location: Namekagon Barrens
Burnett County

An unnamed two-track "road" leads east from Dry Landing Road just north of where the latter crosses Clemens Creek. We checked extensive stands of bearberry to the north of this road and saw no butterflies. We then stopped by some large red pines on the south of the road, and here we were able to find elfins courting. I think that the large pines somehow make this spot a "butterfly lek" of sorts--over several years I have consistently found butterflies courting here when they were not seen on larval host plants or nectar sources elsewhere nearby. Site is at 46° 08' 06" N, 92° 04' 58" W. Check it out. We also saw two undetermined moths and a single "Lady" who refused to land and be IDd.

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 20

Dean Hansen

Location: Various stops on Crex Meadows SWA
Burnett County

A group of 12 butterfliers hit Crex Meadows Saturday morning.
Olympia Mables were fairly common at all five stops. A dirt road leads south from Reed Lake Road to a landing on Reed Lake. Some animal--beaver, muskrat, whatever--leaves deposits of dung or castor (?) near the shore, and this consistently attracts butterflies, as with these Duskywings. Several Sleepy/Dreamy Duskywings went undetermined. The Persius was a positive ID.
No Commas, Question Marks, and Tortoiseshells were seen.

American Lady

American Lady

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 20

Dean Hansen

Location: Bog to east of Namekagon Trail, 3/4 mile north of crossing of Namekagon River
Burnett County

Brown elfins and a two species of moths were present on the bog or on the sand of Namekagon Trail. Photos by Brian Shapiro.

Black Banded Orange

Black Banded Orange

Bluish Spring Moth

Bluish Spring Moth

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

May 20

Mike Reese

Location: south Madison
Dane County

May 20

Kaona Koehn

Location: Wisconsin Rapids
Wood County

a bit windy out!

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 20

Terry Mortier

Location: Bauer Brockway SNA, Stanton Creek Rd.
Jackson County

Warm, sunny, Light wind becoming windy. I quit counting and identifying duskywings and blues early as they were slowing me down. I was looking for frosted elfins. I think I did manage to find three using the black dot near the tail as an identifier. I saw a lot of elfins that went unidentified.

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

May 20

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Muscallounge Road near Beetown
Grant County

The Pearl Crescent's found a dead raccoon.

Monarch

Monarch

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

May 20

Rory Williams

Location: Amberg SWA
Marinette County

8 Six-spotted Tiger Beetles

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 20

Douglas Buege

Location: Near Wichser Lake
Langlade County

Some toothwort in area.

West Virginia White

West Virginia White

May 20

Douglas Buege

Location: Saul Springs Rd
Oconto County

Dreamy Duskywing

Dreamy Duskywing

Green Comma

Green Comma

May 20

Douglas Buege

Location: Farm on Star Lake Rd
Oconto County

May 20

Pamela Skaar

Location: McCarthy Youth and Conservation Park, Cottage Grove, WI
Dane County

9:21 - 11:17, 2.2 miles, sunny and windy