August 2016 Sightings

One dark form female Tiger ST. 3rd day for the Monarch.

Photos of Black Swallowtail pupa this morning and also a photo in afternoon, showing how cryptic it looks on plant.

Found two different instars of the Red-spotted Purple - both on tips of Black Cherry leaves. The new find for the year at this location was an American Snout.

Delaware Skipper spent time inside both White Phlox and Hibiscus moscheutos. First Aaron's Skipper of new brood.

Fresh Crossline Skippers flying, but too busy to get a picture.

There were swallowtails and Cabbage Whites on this journey - Head of River (an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail), Belleplain (a tiger, a Spicebush Swallowtail and a Cabbage White), Rte. 47 (a tiger), Court House-Dennisville Road (a tiger) and CMCH (2 tigers and 8 Cabbage Whites).

Fresh, third brood just now emerging.

Just the path from the garden to the green building looking for grass skippers.

The Dion Skippers and the Appalachian Browns were in hiding even in their shady sedge environment due to searing heat and humidity! Best find of the day was a fresh White M Hairstreak high on cluster of Sweet Pepperbush flowers.

Spent about 25 min. here. Cloudy and low 80's at noon. Dark Tiger flew in briefly. Also observed 3 Snowberry clearwings and 2 Hummingbird clearwings all on buddleia. Zabs were 3 males 2 females.

During brief viewing, I saw only skippers (7 species) and two Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. The Horace's Duskywing was driving away Eastern Tiger Swallowtails from sunflowers in a stand so that it was the only butterfly utilizing nectar there!!

During this trip, I observed Cabbage Whites, a Spicebush Swallowtail and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails - Woodbine (spice and a Cabbage White), Rte. 47 (2 Cabbage Whites), Court House-Dennisville Road (2 tigers and a Cabbage White) and CMCH (2 Cabbage Whites). It is interesting that Orange Sulphurs have been absent along the road on my trips.

Excellent mix of skippers. Largest group of Delawares I've found this year.

Monarchs (male & female)

Not an extensive search here today. Did find my only Sachem for the day, a worn female.

This tract of land is slated for redevelopment in the future. Town houses will replace the locust grove that is a good spot for butterflies late in the year. Also in spring is dripping with Yellow Warblers, Indigo Buntings, both Orioles, and Warbling Vireo. Observed a female Zab laying eggs on Crabgrass.

In a vacant lot with Butterfly Weed, I discovered 6 butterfly species during early morning. The best find was a fresh male, Tawny-edged Skipper (digital image).

Red banded and E. Tailed blue on mt. Mint.

Two female Zabs today.

There were, at least, 5 butterfly species using the back yard.

Good numbers of both E. Tiger ST and Spicebush ST. Most of the E. Tigers I've seen recently are females. Black ST was a fresh female.

Cloudy and 86 degrees at 12:30 p.m. A few brief sunny breaks. Observed a female Hackberry Emperor laying eggs on Hackberry tree in dense shade. Spicebush the most abundant species here currently. Zabs all males.

Best diversity of the season in my yard. Both Delaware Skippers were deep inside Hibiscus blossoms. One of the E. Tiger ST was a black form female. Black ST was a fresh male.

Former Indian Reservation area.

Red-banded Hairstreak was the Bug of the Day. I would say they were abundant. It was also the only Hairstreak.
No Monarchs - 6:30 to 10:00 am!

Monarch flew in to nectar on white phlox and buddleia.