Butterfly sightings for April 2021

Sunny and windy.

Sunny, 60s, slight breeze

Northern end of Klemik Road.

We walked northeast from County Hwy C for the first mile of Forest Road 256. We identified two kinds of day-flying moths: 12 Infants (Archiearis infans, orange, black, and white colored) and 4 Scarce Infants (Leucobrephos brephoides (black and white colored)

Junction of Stage Road and Mountain Road at east edge of Bell Twp. We also saw 1 of the day-flying moth Scarce Infant (Leucobrephos brephoides, black and white colored).

Saw this tattered butterfly flitting about on the trail near the tennis courts.

I noticed one Mourning Cloak in the back yard, and then I saw another one later, floating on a breeze in my neighbor's front yard. Very light breeze; temperatures in the 60s, with a high of 70.

First butterfly of the year.

A Mourning Cloak was floating around my front yard on 4/3. I saw it again, or another one, in my backyard on 4/4.

60s; Bloodroot in bloom.

I chased it for about 2 hours. I’m trying to maybe raise caterpillars of this species this year. It eventually disappeared. I’m pretty sure it was a male based on habits and size. I have never seen this species this south before!

FOY!

I am not sure whether I saw two or just one very active butterfly.

Calm, full sun, 60s light breeze. On moss at base of birch. Cell phone shot, sorry.

Beautiful sunny afternoon.

FOY in sunny spots in the woods on leaf litter

Went for another round at Whitnall Park. Beautiful Easter Day around 70 degrees. Didn’t see a tortoiseshell but a beautiful comma.

Happy Easter everyone!

Most of the Mourning Cloak butterflies I saw were flying in pairs. One pair landed on the trunk of a nearby tree as seen in these photos. If I hadn't noticed them land there, I never would have known, as they were very well camouflaged. 75 degrees and breezy.

Beautiful day, about 60, with no wind and sunny, take care and enjoy Easter everyone

Five Mourning Cloaks were seen on Fish Lake SWA on damp sand/mud of Hickorson, Jimmy Carter, and Stolte Roads. The Eastern Comma was on the unnamed east-west road between Hickorson and Jimmy Carter Road. A single Mourning Cloak was seen near the northern end of Curry Road in Crex Meadows SWA. Air temp was a delightful 75 degrees. Butterflying resumes! Also common on damp mud was a native bee, I believe a species of Colletes.

Surprised to see my first Cabbage White!

Saw all five together as a group flying around bushes and road. Only one perched long enough for a photo.

saw 3 on my morning hike in a wooded ravine

South end of Old County Hwy C, near North Boundary Road. Moths seen: 3 Infants

The gravel part of Forest Road 262 (The Lenawee Trail) from 3 miles south of Herbster to its junction with Forest Road 236. We found Lepidoptera every time we stopped, but the junction with FR 683 had the most individuals. Moths: we saw 25 Infants and 13 Scarce Infants.

13:15 First butterfly I have seen in Madison this year

Warm temps in the 70s.

Spectacular day, about 70 degrees, with a backdrop of wood frogs and peepers.

North end of Old County Hwy C. Moths seen: 3 Infants, 1 Scarce Infant.

flying over & landing in backyard prairie burn; overcast & warm

With all the recent sightings I decided to check it out.
MAN! I have never seen these early spring fliers in such numbers before! They were very friendly and flew right up to me. A fantastic sunny 74 degree afternoon.

82 degrees and windy. I stopped at my favorite butterfly spot at the intersection of County Rd O and Southwest Dike Trail where I found the Compton and 1 Mourning Cloak. Other Mourning Cloaks seen as I drove other areas.

The dirt/gravel roads at Necedah are dry and I saw no butterflies on the road where I normally would see them this time of year. Three of the Mourning Cloak were nectaring on one small willow. I saw and sniffed my first Trailing Arbutus of the year. My first tiger beetles of the year also was my first two-fer, since it was a male Festive Tiger Beetle attempting to mate with a Bronzed Tiger Beetle.

Along somewhat shaded sections of dirt-and-gravel roads through the Chippewa County Forest. Most seen while driving. Widely scattered. No photos.

Stage Road. Most butterflies were at the junction with Mountain Road, but 3 Mourning Cloaks and 1 Compton TS were further northwest than that.

Tod also saw our first dragonflies of the year- a mating pair of green darners.

First butterfly of the year!

Nectaring on pussy willow.

8 Festive Tiger Beetles and 1 Oblique Lined Tiger Beetle. Providing two pictures of Festive to show the normal pattern variation

13:20 This individual was whiter than yesterday's Cabbage White and in a garden

Flying across front yard.

Never seen so many of these semi rare butterflies in one spot. When I walked into the forest, I couldn’t believe how many I could spot. About 77 degrees.

Around 12:30, very sunny, mid-70's. Excited to see these butterfly visitors and very pleased to see another brilliant Spring beauty, the Sarcoscypha coccinea, also known as the Scarlet Cup Fungus or my favorite name the Scarlet Elf Cup. Although very tiny (3-5 cm) it is very recognizable.

70's and sunny.

I was out in search of bumblebee queens today and this skipper caught my eye immediately. This is the first time this skipper has been seen on Moely Prairie and definitely our first butterfly sighting of the year. It was sunny and about 68 degrees. She was particularly drawn to the new-blooming Prairie Smoke.
[In the last four years only 12 Common Checkered-Skippers have been reported to this website. This is an early date for this species with the previous early record being May 16, 2012! MCR]

Been a while since I have seen a Gray Comma Also saw 16 of the 12 Spotted Tiger Beetles.

Sunning in sandbar willows

there are at least two of these and twice now one has flown all around us and landed on my husbands head

Spring Azure was seen on blooming Bloodroot.

Mid 60's . Partly sunny

First tortoiseshell in ozaukee. I found a female and male. Camouflage was amazing. About 63 degrees and sunny.
Sorry for the bad photo. It was sitting with the mourning cloaks.

11 am: rather chilly and windy and overcast, but lots of non-native flowers blooming and attracting clouds of Cabbage Whites.