Butterfly sightings for June 2009

The sun finally came out for a bit in the late afternoon, and a few butterflies were out and about.

This is more Common Ringlets than I've ever seen before in one day. They were fluttering over fields of planted prairie.

Just some documentation photos of the American Copper, which oddly enough was my first in the county.

More Arctic Skippers but not much else.

We also saw 3 Tiger Swallowtails and many, many bumblebees.

My first Arctic Skippers and American Lady of the year.

I got dumb lucky on the open-wing Jutta Arctic photo as I clicked just when the butterfly was about to take flight. And check out their camouflage! Silver-borded Frit photo is just for documentation. Also had 1 flyby Freija/Frigga Fritillary but it never landed before I lost it.

I also saw three Tiger Swallowtails.

My first Silver-spotted Skipper, N. Cloudywing, and L. Wood-Satyr of the year.

My first Painted Lady and Pepper and Salt Skipper of the year.

Quick stop to look for Purplish Coppers (Didn't see any!)

This was a female Cabbage White.

Also saw 4 Tiger Swallowtails. In a small patch of sundews there were 20+ captured Boreal Bluets, several Sedge Sprites, and 2 dragonflies.

On phlox

The first Swallowtail and Monarch I've seen this season. Both were drawn to dwarf lilacs blooming in my yard.

Mostly cloudy eventually leading to light rain. The Eastern Tailed-Blue was extremely worn.

At least I think that's what it is.

A temporary break in otherwise cool, cloudy weather lately. My first Indian Skipper of the year.

Walked bike trail below Marge's Restaurant. This is west of Hwy 35 directly west of Mason Street in Onalaska. Many Little Wood-Satyrs seen. Also, an unidentified skipper.

I saw the beginning chrysalis at the start of the trail and took the second photo when I got back about 2 hrs. later. Little Wood-Satyrs were very fresh.

Just south of County MH about 1/2 mile west of Hwy 53 northeast of Holmen.

Limited nectar sources throughout.

Mostly cloudy so not much happening...

Abundant nectar sources here but mostly cloudy skies reduced overall numbers. My first Common Ringlets and Northern Crescent of the year. Also lots of Arctic Skippers right now.

Karners are out on the meadows now.

There seemed to be lots of nectar sources here but limited numbers of butterflies. The Eastern Forktail had unusual markings and its wings open like a spreadwing.

Perhaps most notable was a nice Mustard White at the Larsen Bridge Landing -- compare with West Virginia Whites at http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/sightings/4676 . Image of Indian Skipper just for documentation.

There have been lots of these around the last few days

The Elfin Skimmers were just emerging and we saw more teneral ones like this male than adults.

Bright sunshine and temps in the mid-60s. There were many N. Crescent males basking on the paths; very open areas of orange. Many, many flowers blooming, but few butterflies. Lots of six-spotted tiger beetles, though!

I was leading a field trip at the bog when the ringlet flew by. See the Common Ringlet page for more information.

several shiny short bodied turquoise beetles, not sure what they were

I just got back from Florida today. Wisconsin butterflies are much easier to find than those in Florida. I was in Palm Beach County, and much of it is developed and landscaped with few butterflies. Most of those that I found were in weedy or undeveloped areas. I managed to get photos of Dainty Sulphur, Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak, Cassius Blue, Ceraunus Blue, Phaon Crescent, White Peacock, Queen, and Common Checkered-Skipper. I’ve included a photo of a moth I saw in Florida. It looks like a jack-o-lantern.

I had been walking around in the bog and had just stepped back out onto the road when I encountered a Black Bear. It was about 50 yards ahead of me and was about to cross the ditch onto the road when we saw each other. It immediately turned around and headed back into the bog. Thankfully, it didn’t have any cubs with it. It headed off in the general direction of where I parked, so I decided to spend more time than usual at the far end of the bog. When I returned, I found that it came out on the road, and its tracks were next to mine. The photo has my 3x5 notebook next to one of the tracks.

Many (12+) Crescents (Phyciodes sp.) were nectaring, but I could not determine species. Also saw two Eight-spotted Forester Moths (Alypia octomaculata).

Boat launch and service road.

Finally caught some Karner Blues on camera this year.

Almost a repeat of yesterday. One more Tiger.

Lots of Tiger Beetles C.p.huberi,C.formosa and C. scutellaris. One very worn duskywing on the trail.

Great weather and lots of butterflies. First Silvery Checkerspots and Summer Azure of the year, plus many Hobomok Skippers. Also had 43 C. Tiger Swallowtails feasting in one spot, with ~35 visible in the photo below.

This is my first sighting of a Gorgone Checkerspot in Wood County. It was quite worn.

Lots of Bog Fritillaries! One of the Hobomok Skippers was the pocahontas form.

Along fence north of north landing at end of Fishermen's Road. This road runs along the east edge of the La Crosse Airport in La Crosse.

Festive Tiger Beetle was feeding on the tent caterpillar!

Some Bog Frits but the biggest highlight was a good number of Elfin Skimmers!

I saw many Common Ringlets - at least 10 - all through the wetland.

My first real butterfly walk of the year because I have been too busy with bird watching and spring migration which gets me out too early in the morning for most butterflies. Went to Havenwoods after the rain stopped and the sun appeared (about 12:30pm). Besides the butterflies, I saw 5 Ctenucha virginica moths (boy are they beautiful).

Area along airport fence north of last boat landing on Fishermen's Road in La Crosse and along the road itself.

Very quick visit. My first White Admiral of the year.

In a small oak tree next to a large wet - wet/mesic prairie

Area along road directly east of the Stoddard sewage ponds.

My first Tawny-edged Skipper and only second Monarch of the year. The Mourning Cloak was fresh.

I also spotted a blue but was unable to properly i.d. it.

Mike has me looking at everything now...see robberfly photo below. Also had a Dragonhunter land on my finger! And my first Northern Pearly-Eye and European Skipper of the year.

This is only the second Laphria sadales that I have seen. Both of them have allowed me to get a couple of photos and then vanished.

Saw three Baltimore Checkerspot larvae here on 9 June 2009.

Moral of the story - not all small orange and black butterflies are Pearl Crescents. A new record for Ozaukee County, I think.

Summer Azure pics included. Female appeared to be egg laying in other pictures.

Also saw Slender Clearwing, Big Sand and 6 Spotted Tiger beetles and a few robberflies.

I also saw a blue but could not identify it. The six spotted tiger beetle was on a lettuce leaf in my green house.

It was late afternoon and cloudy but I managed to see a few butterflies anyway.

Private Land 1/2 mile south of Chaseburg off of CTH K.

Just a quick drive through today to show my granddaughter where I saw the bear last weekend (didn't see any today).

My first Pink-edged Sulphurs of the year. The Eastern Pine Elfin was extremely worn.

My first Long Dash, Orange Sulphur, and Viceroy of the year. The Gray Comma was extremely worn. Dragonfly highlight was my first Ocellated Emeralds of the year.

I made two trips out today. I had no binoculars or camera with me for the first, and that's when I saw my first ever Tawny-edged Skipper. My Monarch sightings included 2 mated pairs that took flight from the same place at the same time. I've included a photo of a Ringlet without eyespots. Most of the Ringlets that I see have eyespots, but occassionally I find one that doesn't.

I saw three new dragonflies captured in sundews. Common Whitetail, Dot-tailed Whiteface, and Chalk-fronted Corporal. I also saw two Northen Crescents captured and if it is not careful the Least Skipper that was nectaring on a sundew flower. Grass Pink is flowering but notice how pale these were.

Too many Little Wood Satyr's to count. I got real lucky with the Six Spotted Tiger beetles. I was shooting one when another landed near by. Soon they met and I shot these photos of the pair.

These are sightings from my Mom's flower garden on Sunday.

Blues, ebony jewelwings, six-spotted tiger beetles and orange sulphur were spotted in a wooded area. The mourning cloak, eastern tiger swallowtail, and 12 spotted skimmer were spotted along the Lake Michigan lakeshore.

Saw this Red Spotted Purple today!

This was the first Eight-Spotted Forester that I've found in my yard. The azures were laying eggs on gray dogwood.

My first Harris's Checkerspots of the year. Lots of Riffle Snaketails on the river.

Private Land 1/2 mile south of Chaseburg on County K

Wasn't really concentrating on butterflies but saw my first Common Ringlet at Sandhill.

South of County MH about 1/2 mile west of HWY 53 north of Holmen

Another AM outing, looking primarily for dragonflies on the river. The E. Pine Elfin was extremely worn.

The photos are what I believe to be a European Skipper. One photo is a specimen from my collection. The other is the one I saw today.

Quick list from very early AM visit.

On dike to spillway

The Northern Crescent shots were taken the day before (on 23 June), but were also present on the 24th.

So hot and humid this morning that I did not walk very far. Astonishing number of Little Wood-Satyrs. Saw a number of small orangish skippers, but the only ones who landed long enough for me to identify them were all European Skippers.

I always see quite a few dragonflies and damselflies at Silent Street Pond. It's a treat when they stop for a moment and I'm able to get a photo.

Area below highway C on both banks of the La Crosse River near West Salem.

Private property 1/2 mile south of Chaseburg. Butterfly on cement in front of garage looking for moisture.

I was checking to see if I could see my first Regal Fritillary of the year, but I didn't see any fritillaries. I did however see a spectacular number (actual count) of Long Dash almost all of which were nectaring on Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans). I saw three flowers with 4-5 on them.

I'm trying rotten fruit as an attractant this year. This Little Wood-Satyr is enjoying an orange slice.

I went out after work today to look for Ringlets and to see what was blossoming in my prairie restoration.

Monarchs was seen along the lakefront on thistle flowers and also laying eggs on milkweed. The Question Mark and Mourning Cloak I saw were both in poor condition with tattered wings. We saw a great deal of dragonflies, many just emerged and one with the casing still attached to the wing. Large amount of Twelve-Spotted Skimmers, Blue Dashers and Green Darners along a creek in the park. I rarely see the Halloween Pennants in that locations but counted 6 of them.

Also saw 10 species of dragonflies including Jade Clubtail.

Beautiful sunny and not too hot day in this lovely meadow (which is being threatened by development). Many E. Skippers. I stopped counting at 30. About a dozen were puddling in the mud.

June 27 Cherokee Marsh trip banded hairstreak. Add this image to the species listed.

Very windy today resulting in low counts. I did manage to get a few photos though. The one photo is a Little Wood-Satyr feeding on an orange slice.

I was trying to get a photo of the Tawny-edged Skipper, but I lost it in the wind and all of the European Skippers.

Very windy today. I was lucky to spot the Bog Copper flying very low among the vegetation. It was nectaring on cranberry. I hope to see more next weekend during my NABA count.

Windy, mosty cloudy, and cool-ish. My first Atlantis Fritillary of the year. Arrowhead Spiketails now flying as well.

Butterflies out despite the strong winds. Clytus ruricolis, Cicindela repanda also seen.

My first Red Admiral of the year. This was a robber fly trip and I found a new species for me, Laphria posticata.

Nothing unusual today. Still data is data.