June 2016 Sightings

See Eastern Tiger Swallowtails crossing the highway everyday now.

Female Glassywing and Sachem ID provided by Will and David Wright.

Moderator's Note: This is our first report of little glassywing for 2016. Nice find, Chip!

There were two Eastern Tiger Swallowtails during this car trip. The second one was flying by the gas pumps at WaWa!

The same American Lady was feeding on salvia then moved to yarrow.

One zab a female.

A Cabbage White was flying in someone's yard.

While we were walking past Acme Market, I suddenly noticed a large butterfly/moth flying along and it dropped into the grass near the Honda car sales building. It was a live Luna Moth which eventually lifted off and flew out of sight!! Some butterflies were recorded in this area, also.

Nice day

Release of overwintered chrysalis.

Area seems to have changed, as butterfly numbers are significantly/drastically down from comparable timeframe searches last year (10+ species, 40+ individuals). An extensive search this afternoon revealed no Bronze Coppers in this active site the past two years and exceptionally low activities for butterflies, dragonflies or even biting bugs. Unknown, but perhaps the area was sprayed earlier this spring. Will continue to visit and monitor.

Nice day

Finally, my FOY Red-spotted Purple. Pretty late! Female Black ST laying eggs on Fennel.

Thanks, Jack Miller, for the IDs!

9:30-12:00, Red Trail Loop. I was expecting to see a lot more than this for such a warm sunny day.

A Cabbage White was flying near Hole # 18.

Saw an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail drift across the road and soon observed a Cabbage White working the road side.

Male Zab was nectaring on Catmint

Observed 2 males & 1 female Zabulon Skipper.

Only found one Dusted in the area today, but new skippers flying in the same places.

Moderator's Note: This is our first report of swarthy skipper for 2016. Congratulations to Steve on the FOY.

Several nests of Am lady cats on Antennaria in front yard where females were laying eggs on April 26 (and probably also on more recent dates).

Cabbage whites were flying in several areas today – including High Beach Rd and Rt 47.

Started the day with a Silver-spotted Skipper gathering nectar from Japanese Honeysuckle. Later witnessed 2 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails fly through the yard and a female Cabbage White getting nectar from backyard flowers.

3 FOY Aaron's Skippers came out during a sunny break. Also FOY for me: Least Skipper and female Zab.

Moderator's Note: As Cynthia notes, this is our first report of Aaron's skippers in 2016. Nice find, Cynthia!

Found a female and a male Zabulon Skipper, a Silver-spotted Skipper, 2 worn female Eastern Tailed-Blues and 12 Cabbage Whites.

Smith's Woods loop, while leading butterfly/dragonfly walk, 2-4pm.
Black swallowtail was a caterpillar. Do we report caterpillars here or just adults?

Moderator's Note: Our new system counts only adults in the numbers line. To document caterpillars just add their numbers into the Comments box. If you have seen only caterpillars for a particular species (i.e. no adults), click on that species in the drop-down menu and put zero in the numbers box, then post the count of caterpillars in the Comments box. It is useful to report caterpillars (also eggs and chrysalids), so please keep doing so! jc

Silver-spotted was ovipositing on fresh leaves of young (twelve inches high) black locust. Late-instar Am lady cat in backyard Antennaria.