Butterfly sighting
| May 16 2021 |
Dean Hansen
Location: Crex Meadows, Namekagon Barrens SWAs
Hoary Elfin area 
Dreamy Duskywing 
Meadow Fritillary 
Persius Duskywing 
Olympia Marble 
Henry's Elfin 
Henry's Elfin 
Hoary Elfin 
Brown Elfin 
Butterflies |
14th annual Crex-to-the-Barrens butterfly trek had nine guests. The rain that had brought butterflies to damp road gravel for Terry Mortier on Saturday had dried enough by Sunday that we did not see the swallowtail, Gorgones, or Roadside Skipper that he had seen. Olympia Marbles were present at nearly every stop. Duskywings were plentiful, but flighty and hard to ID. I did capture and check two small males for the diagnostic hair plume (or not) on the hind tibia; one had it, one did not, so that's one Dreamy and one Sleepy Duskywing positively ID'd. Nice to see that the past few days of warm weather had brought out Eastern Pine Elfins on Springbrook Trail, Brown Elfins on a bog just north of the Namekagon River, and Hoary Elfins on an unmarked firebreak just north of Clemens Creek on the Barrens. See last photo--the tall trees and low shrubs seem to attract mating elfins. Let's call it an Elfin Lek. All photos except the mating Henry's Elfins, group shot, and Lek were taken by Brian Shapiro. Thanks Brian!