Butterfly sightings for June 2020

Butterflies just were getting out and about when the rain showed up

Very sunny 67-72 F. Absolutely the most individual numbers of butterflies I have ever seen. I saw 5 pools of puddling Canadian Tiger Swallowtails but at times they were like gulls at a dump. Vast numbers of Duskywings went unidentified. No butterflies at the Lupine almost all were on the damp ground. Deer Flies are out in force.

Apparently,, June 1 was butterfly day.

2:30-4:30. My first Twelve-spotted Skimmer and Common Whitetail of the year.

Sunny, high 70s, wind 10mph

Surprised to see a Little Yellow. It stayed just out of reach for a photo; id based on size, wing shape and markings on upper surface. There is partridge pea in the park, though this specimen was not on or near it. Also examined 20 milkweed stems, found one monarch egg & one 1st instar larva.

Powell Marsh near the ponds in the NW section. The count of Silvery Blues is pretty certainly an undercount, they were very plentiful.

Common Ringlets were on roadside of Co. Rd. O. Drove north on Stolte Road, found several flighty "blues" on open roadside with lupine. Two were positively ID'd as Karners. Dusted Skippers were seen nectaring at puccoon or resting on vegetation.
The Canadian Swallowtails were on the damp sand at the edge of the St. Croix River at Raspberry Landing.
Weather was overcast, mid-70s.

First one of the year

Also Nessus Sphinx Moth.

Sunny, low 80s,slight breeze

Sunny 80 degree afternoon.

Slow. I usually do pretty well here.

Deer flies were out and hungry!

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM. 83 degrees and sunny with a mild breeze.
One of the 3 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails was the dark form female.

Two swallowtails fluttering around on my recently bloomed lilacs, the first I have seen them this year.

My first of the year Monarchs, also several Ctenucha virginica moths today. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail was a black form female. Sunny and warm.

I never saw a Little Wood-Satyr land!

Late afternoon, Sunny...high 80's

Also found a Monarch egg on a common milkweed leaf. Unfortunately, a groundhog stripped the leaves off most of the common milkweeds.

13:20 - 15:20, 1.6 miles altogether. It was a frustrating afternoon with multiple dark, fluttery butterflies I couldn't ID. I spent lots of time in areas males seemed to be patrolling but failed to get good looks or photos. There were white moths about the size of azures flying high and landing in the trees, including pine trees. Saw a crescent but didn't get a good look at it either. The Hobomok male claimed a patch of blooming lupines and chased other butterflies away. He wasn't able to keep the silver spotted skipper from nectaring.

Sunny with sight breeze. also an Eight Spotted Forester moth. Mecan Prairie. Some butterflies were attracted to charred wood in a fire ring.

76, calm, mildly overcast

This butterfly was moving about in a prairie area.

Also two Nessus Sphinx moths. The Mourning Cloak was killed when it flew through a group of bikes and was hit by the rotating spokes.

13th annual Crex-to-the-Barrens Butterfly Trek. Covid-19 held participation to three guests. Crescents were plentiful, but blues were absent, except for Karners. High afternoon winds reduced positive determinations of, particularly, elfins. Gravel roads were dry and not attracting butterflies. Coyote and goose scat were good attractants, however. The Hobomok and Arctic Skipper were on iris blooms, the Dusted Skippers were on puccoon.

1:32 hours, 2.25 miles of transect. 80-85 degrees F, mostly sunny. 4 Karner Blue long-term monitoring sites we've counted in 60, 55, >50, and 35 different broods. All sites border County Hwy X in one way or another. The Karner Blue count is way above average. 63% male and 37% female Karners seen.

>7 hours. Completion of Phlox Moth monitoring sites and monitoring at all of our Karner Blue long-term sites in the county. Sites at Dike 17, Seils or Lichtner Road, Stanton Creek Road, two areas of Castle Mound Road, and several areas of Bauer-Brockway Barrens. 65-85 degrees F, mostly sunny. We also had quit few unidentified spreadwing skippers. The Karner Blue total is below average for the last 50-60 broods at these sites; 74% of the ones we saw were males.

On a very sunny day near Beetown two Skippers were visiting plants on my deck. They really liked the Jasmine plant.

Over the past few years I have often seen Giant Swallowtail in this area when the Blackberries are in bloom. This butterfly was in a wooded area. A second Swallowtail was flying nearby.

First Giant Swallowtail of the year

Very windy, hot, sunny afternoon.

Lots of new butterflies seen on the prairie today while collecting Monarch data for IMMP Including an American Lady caterpillar on Pussy-toes as well as a Tiger Swallowtail ovipositing on a Cherry sapling. Unfortunately no photos.

Many dragonflies and damselflies!

Silver-Spots so numerous we almost stepped on them; along and near wooded fence line (mostly black cherry, many mulberry, some oaks) but Black Locust sweet fragrance was in the air. Many clovers, a few dandelions flowering along path.
Yellow-collared Scape Moth--Cisseps fulvicollis (I think; see below).
Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica); Note feathery antennae, metallic blue, hard to see wings spread forming a triangle shaped moth.
Grape Leaffolder Moth Desmia funeralis (2 photos).

About 84 degrees, mostly sunny, little wind. 15 species. The ice cream store was closed. Large crowds at this park (Saturday) so we couldn't look everywhere we wanted. The two Peck's Skippers shown were courting, larger female at top and smaller male at bottom. Note shape of abdomen. Also saw Dickcissel, and Midland Clubtail (dragonfly).

Most of the Karners were found on the sundail lupine patches in the parking lot near the bathrooms and within the patch near the entrance/exit gates, but occurred throughout our survey.

A massive windstorm knocked over hundreds of trees over toward the west since leaf-out, blocking the trail we use to get to the bog so high a bulldozer would have trouble pushing through the highest part. We circumvented the downed trees by going south a large distance in a giant semicircle to reach the bog trail at its far west end as it emerged from the tree pile-up. We don't recommend going here now unless you have experience with the site or are energetic and good at orienteering and bring a compass. The difficulties and safety issues of this access are a bummer because it's really fun to see the Bog Fritillaries and Bog Coppers here. 75 degrees F, 95% sun, 35 minutes on the bog. Except for a Little Wood Satyr and a Hobomok Skipper in the forest, all of this list was seen on the bog. We also saw two unidentified Boklorias. Scott thinks Bog Frits were a tiny bit pre-peak here on June 6, but certainly well pre-peak or not flying yet at most Bog Fritillary sites.

The same 9 Riley Lake area bogs on which we posted May 22 sightings this year. The roadsides of Forest Road 137 have been tilled recently, possibly as a firebreak. Probably in part due to this, butterflies were hardly using the road. 30% sunshine, 62-74 degrees F.

Also saw a tiger swallowtail, white, lady and a small frit, probably meadow.

On Miss Kim Lilac bush in our garden

Low 70's, sunny, and slight breeze

Happy to see 10 Monarchs as well as plentiful milkweed with many of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instar caterpillars.

2 unidentified grass-skipper

Nice morning- not too hot or windy. Observed many moths, Festive Tiger Beetles, and a few Six-spotted Tiger Beetles as well

Breezy 70 degree afternoon.

Sunny and mild.

Referenced Ann Swengel's ResearchGate article on Leola Marsh for finding Purplish Coppers. The sole female Purplish Copper was flushed from waist high vegetation found on the south side of Apache Ave, west of Highway W. Weather was cooler due to overcast sky and breezy conditions.

The Eastern Tiger swallowtail was fluttering around a Pagoda Dogwood in full bloom. Also saw Monarch and Red Admiral caterpillars

Also saw two Red-spotted Purples and a polyphemus moth that were hit by cars.

Mid Afternoon, mostly sunny, mid to high 70's.

72 and sunny and light breeze

Late afternoon, very windy. At least there were some damp spots on Curry Rd and elsewhere that were attracting butterflies. Pink Edge Sulphurs were out in force. Saw no Erynnis at all, and no Blues but Karners. Puccoon was not attracting any Dusted Skippers, nor any other species of butterflies.

Only had a couple hours to spend, but the butterflies were out in large numbers

Landed on wet pavement on driveway while washing my truck.

Very windy hot sunny afternoon. I also saw 3 unidentified tiger swallowtails

Apparently the county is changing the name of this location. 11:46 - 13:00, some wind, sunny. Many plants are blooming but there weren't a lot of butterflies. Black Swallowtail was a fresh female.

I saw a number of (awesome!) phantom crane flies flickering in the sedges at the edge of the wetland.

78 degrees, partly cloudy to sunny. Found few butterflies in the grasslands and wetlands: 4 species. But we enjoyed the Karner Blues.

Morning only -- cool and mostly cloudy

One Karner found on Sundail Lupine and the other was found nectaring on Long-leaved Bluets (Houstonia longifolia).

Feeding on wet sand on the road around the culvert area on Wildwood Rd just before the parking area on the end of the road.

These butterflies were seen along the Scuppernong Trail.

I’m with Pam, not sure what to call this place, two different signs at entrance.
Examined about 100 golden Alexander stems, found 4 black swallowtail caterpillars.

Third day in a row for Tigers in our yard.

90 degrees, sunny and somewhat breezy. 10 species. Wild Indigo was blooming so we were alert for any Wild Indigo Duskywings. We eventually found a duskywing but we were in an area that had no Wild Indigo. Turned out to be a Juvenal's Duskywing! Good fun, nontheless.

Along a shady path through a small area of trees and shrubs

Black band more than 1/2 the way to the first vein, but clearly a separated band of yellow. Is there a hybrid? (possibly or at least confusing - MR)

1 mated pair of Monarchs.

Seen depositing eggs on native Pussy Toes plants.

Not much doing.

Breezy, sunny, near Miss Kim lilacs

Sunny, mid 70's, with mild breeze

This butterfly was feeding on salvia in my perennial garden.

The variant swallowtail was quite striking in flight, of which photos were difficult. It had a striking black forewing triangle. I could find no reference to it. (Close to the ones shown in this article. MCR https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/69e1/290ffff8eb64ec1af40a41f2260c496d3405.pdf)

Several sighted while out "dragonflying". Didn't count, but estimate about 10 seen in less than an hour.

Very fresh and vibrant

9:30am to noon. Not seen--white admiral or commas.

Mostly sunny in the morning then gradually became cloudy 75F, 10-15mph; Was really surprised to see a Dainty Sulphur. I ran back in to get a camera but wasn't able to relocate it. First time I've ever seen a dainty in NE WI!

I was taking pictures with Grandma's phone and found this beautiful butterfly.

Incidental while gardening

81 deg., sunny, mild breeze

From various stops I found over 200 Canadian Swallowtails and 1 variant that is a first for me. The upper wing markings are different than the one posted by Douglas Buege on 6-8-2020. They are both very cool butterflies indeed.

Pre-hurricane Christobal, partly sunny turning cloudy. 80s and humidity was rising. Male Tiger Swallowtail also seen.

Emerged today from Chrysalis that was moved off my car tire

Near noon, 75 degrees and humid and sunny.

Last fall one of my elementary STEAM students brought the caterpillar to our classroom. We overwintered it!

Checking out some gravel roads after 5 cm of rain fell last night.

Possibly Haploa moth caterpillar (Haploa lecontei or confusa)?

Mostly sunny, mid 70's, breezy. Our best butterfly day of the year so far. There were also a good variety of dragon flies, blooming prairie plants and several Eight-spotted Foresters. We haven't been to Walking Iron for two years and were glad to see the corn field by the parking lot is now a blooming short grass prairie with lots of butterflies.

Cloudy and slightly windy but lots of activity, mostly in the open field

Dozens of common milkweeds - none flowering yet.
Many dragonflies - mostly 12-spotted and fewer whitetails.
Spilosoma sp. Tiger Moth.
Common Spring Moth (Heliomata cycladata). Both moths at edge of woodlot.

In the swampy area near the RR tracks.

All sighting along a fence line.

Beautiful morning after a night of rain. Mid seventy degrees. This butterfly lingered for an hour on the remnants of pooled rain. This was my first Red-spotted Purple that I have seen.

I am not able to get into the field much this year so was pleased to see a couple of species in the yard. The Giant Swallowtail was very tattered but still flying without difficulty.

64 degrees F and breezy

70s, sunny, light breeze. Also saw an eight spotted forester moth.

I expected to see more butterflies at the conservation park today. But it was pretty windy and not many plants are blooming in the park yet. I thought a white-spotted black moth was a silver-spotted skipper from a distance, but then noticed that the white stripe wing pattern was on the upper side of the wings. The red-spotted purples were beautiful.

Swallowtail visited the petunias in one of my hanging planters, but didn't stay long enough for a photo. Breezy sunny 71 degree afternoon.

The count on Pearl Crescents is low--they were everywhere, but I only counted as I was walking around one loop. I only had my cell phone, so I couldn't get photos of the swallowtail and the Monarchs. Milkweed for the Monarchs is plentiful at the dog park.

Sunny, 73 deg., calm. Large short grass prairie/pond/nature walkways on the north edge of the university next to the football stadium on the outskirts of Whitewater. Our first visit.

It was a beautiful sunny day in the 70's, however it was a little windy. I found all of the butterflies around my perennial gardens in my yard and along a hayfield.

75% sun, 64-66 degrees F. Two Jutta Arctics and a Silver-bordered Fritillary were on the bog. 2 Silver-bordereds and the European Skippers were on the roadside survey.

Sunny, 67 degrees F. This is our entire list of butterflies seen.

Also found a large infestation of Eastern Tent Caterpillar on cherry moths

Cool, 55 degrees, windy, partly sunny

Bright sunshine, mid-afternoon on our driveway.

around 4 pm mix of direct sun and some cloud over...low 80s.

I stopped counting the blues at 50. My guess would be at least 75 and I didn't even walk the entire area.

Roadside had just been recently mowed so not many flowers were left. We did find one Juniper Hairstreak on an Ox-eyed Daisy on the other side of a farm fence. It was about 83° with a mild breeze.

Beautiful, breezy morning. All seen before noon. My FOY Baltimore Checkerspot & Hackberry Emperor. There were a few flyby Tiger Swallowtails.

Just took this quick photo when a catbird swooped down to try to eat the Swallowtail. Luckily, the swallowtail got away. Breezy, sunny, 80 degree afternoon.

A really cloudy day and breezy, but then the sun came out and the butterflies went crazy.

Warm sunny afternoon. Large numbers of northern crescents and silvery checkerspots puddling on rds. in various locations.

84 degrees and sunny. 12 species.

Two different species of Tiger Beetles and from one spot I saw five different species of bumblebees.

Along 56th street in a walking path between corn fields

Mostly sunny, 64-71 degrees F. Nine sites north of Moose Junction along Hwy 35 (2), west of Hwy 35 on Foxboro-Chaffee Road, on Milchesky Road 1.15 and 1.9 miles west of County Hwy A, 3 sites along County Hwy A south of Amnicon Lake--North Bear, Bear, and Bear SW, and Lyman Lake Bog. Most of these bogs are described in "The Fascinating Butterflies of Northwestern Wisconsin Bogs", posted at the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association website www.naba.org/chapters/nabawba/watching.html
The Frigga Fritillary was on the phenologically slowest bog, Milchesky Road 1.75. We also saw 2 unidentified Bolorias on the Bear Lake SW Frigga Fritillary bog (but no Friggas confirmed there today). We saw 15 Jutta Arctics in 14 minutes on Milchesky 1.15. A Tawny Crescent out on the Milchesky 1.15 bog was unusual for that species.

Sunny, 66-67 degrees F.

Cool and breezy. The swallowtail was newly-emerged. Perfect!

Half of the BSTs were hilltopping at the high point where the water tower used to be; the others were nectaring on clover. Also saw one grass skipper (probably Least).

Cool and breezy. All seen while birding, before noon.

Cool and Sunny

Hard to photograph, as the Red-spotted Purple was up high in an oak tree. Sunny 68 degree afternoon.

Sunny, low 70's, and windy. Disappointing day until we got to a more sheltered area at Rescue Point 3S. The Eight-spotted Foresters were more abundant than the butterflies.

Incidental while removing parsnips from SNA

We have lots of Spotted Dead Nettle.

Crane Lake and Roger Lake south of Drummond, and two floating bogs at Wishbone Lake north of town. All but Crane lake are difficult to get onto--Roger Lake Bog is a nightmare to access. Sites described in Jeff Nekola's “Bog-Trotting for Butterflies in Northern Wisconsin” in the fall 1998 issue of American Butterflies, and in Ann Swengel's "The Fascinating Butterflies of Northwestern Wisconsin Bogs", posted at the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association website www.naba.org/chapters/nabawba/watching.html .A Jutta Arctic on the Wishbone Lake NW bog was our first there in several years (we see them on Crane Lake Bog more often).

AM only, starting with frost at 33 degrees and never warming much beyond 55 degrees.