May 2022 Sightings

Rt. 70 powerline cut northeast of Spring Lake Blvd / Rattler Rd. 7:50 to 10:15 am. A brief visit on a partly sunny & hot morning.

All the azures were observed at the scattered puddles along the sand road. They were very flighty and would typically only alight on the ground for a few seconds before taking flight again (photography difficult). Visually they appear to be Holly Azures, Celastrina idella, though I listed them here as azure sp. One of its host plants Inkberry (Ilex glabra) is fairly common in the surrounding forest of Pitch Pine & various oak sp. at this location. Thanks Jack C. for your blog link to the following paper which is very helpful - Wright & Pavulaan, Celastrina idella: A New Butterfly Species From The Atlantic Coastal Plain (1999):

https://blogs.stockton.edu/sjbfs/files/2014/04/pavulaan-wright-1999-taxonomic-rpt-on-c-idella3.pdf

[Thank you, Tom, for the link reminder and for pointing out that idella should be flying right now. This is a good time to search for them, because blueberry azure (C. lucia) are finished and summer azure (C. neglecta) are just beginning. As has been pointed out many times, the azure complex is very complex – and the taxonomy variable, depending on which experts you find most persuasive. Butterflyers who enjoy the chase and the challenge should be most alert for azures ovipositing on hollies – inkberry, Am holly, or winterberry. jc]

I believe I have 3 pictures of the same Question Mark. The mark itself is just 3 dots.

[For more on the puzzles of "questionable" anglewings, go to our blog at:
https://blogs.stockton.edu/sjbfs/2017/03/10/questionable-commas/
Chip has some interesting shots there as well.
jc]

Summer azure apparently ovipositing on ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius.

Summer form Question Mark around Hops. Summer Azure ovipositing on Silky Dogwood, its preferred host in my yard.

Due to award-winning Spring weather and ageing issues today was my first real Bug Hunt. Almost all of my list are FOYs for me, including Frosted Elfin oviposting. Snowberry Clearwing defying camera focus, and Summer Azures chasing Little Wood Satyrs…..

[An impressively diverse list. Very good to have you back at it, Harvey! jc]

61, NE, gloomy. Observations from 3:30 - 5:00. I went for a long walk, but at the end of it I could not resist putting on the boots and heading into Tick City to look for S. cloudywing. No S CW, but I was very happy to see N. CW which is now scarce at Mac. No binoculars or camera, so lots of stalking and a few cooperative bflys. The dun sk was perfect and all 3 of the Zabs were males.

[Our log's FOY dun for 2022. And good to see northern cloudywing flying again at McNamara. jc]

Observation: 1.15-2.30 pm

[Our log's first report of least skipper for 2022. jc]

Sunny, cool and breezy. First-of -year yard grass skipper! Looking forward to more to come.

[Our first dun photo of 2022. jc]

Stopped here on the way back from CH area. Lovely weather, but a dismal showing of bflys. This powerline had been shaved last year and I wonder how that affects dusted sk and both n. and s. cloudywing. In years past, this has been a great spot for all three.

1:00-2:00pm

Observation: 12.15-13.00

Zabs were on a gorgeous patch of Lyre-leaved Sage, that was mostly cut just after we left the site.

There was a very nice field of assorted host and nectar plants, including a huge corner of thistle, but lots of deer ticks!

[Our first photo'd least skipper of 2022. jc]

While working in the yard. Besides the 2 least sk's, I only saw 2 bflys (neither of which I could identify) in 6 hrs.

American Lady caterpillars on Field Pussy Toes (in webbed shut leaves). Found 2 Monarch eggs on Common Milkweed.

A wonderfully unexpected walk at LTS today with Painted Lady, Both Cloudywings, 2 Frosted Elfins. 100+ Little Wood-Satyrs, and a very dark summer morph Question Mark. Cloudywings sure are variable.

[Impressive diversity! Both cloudywings, our first painted lady in more than a month (and only second for the year), and triple digit little wood satyrs. Good work! jc]

After a trip to a nearby nursery, I decided to have a look around. Very little activity, but was pleased to find one Dusted Skipper likely near the end of its flight period here. Also had a Polites sp., either Tawny edge or Crossline, but too brief for a pos. I.D. Obs. made from 11:25 to 12:15, part sun, mid 70's and breezy.

Baptist Road section. Incidental sightings in the morning while birding.