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Butterflies and Dragonflies Abound

On July 20, 2022, 20 butterfly enthusiasts spotted 15 species of butterflies, on a walk in Dyke Marsh, led by Larry Meade.

Butterflies were fluttering, landing, nectaring and basking in the sun.  With their grace and beauty, butterflies have long fascinated people. In many cultures, they symbolize the human soul. Butterflies and moths are in the order Lepidoptera. Butterflies mostly fly during the day and have clubbed antennae. Moths fly mostly at night and do not have clubbed antennae.

Butterflies Observed

BW Gray hairstreak butterfly
Gray hairstreak butterfly (Strymon melinus)
All photos by Robert Veltkamp
 
BW eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly
Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus)
 
BW Appalacian brown butterfly
Appalachian brown butterfly (Satyrodes appalachia)
 
BW silver spotted skipper
Silver spotted skipper (Hesperia comma)
 
BW silvery checkerspot butterfly 2
Silvery checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis)
 
BW silvery checkerspo butterflies mating
Silvery checkerspot butterflies (Chlosyne nycteis) mating
 
BW silvery checkerspot butterfly
Silvery checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis)
 
BW Horaces duskywing butterfly
Horace's duskywing butterfly (Erynnis horatius)

The group also saw three dragonfly species and one damselfly species. Dragonflies and damselflies are expert aerialists, often zipping around over water, preying and becoming prey.  

Dragonflies hold their wings out to their sides. Damselflies are usually smaller than dragonflies and usually hold their wings over their back. Both are in the order Odonata.

Dragonflies Observed

BW Needhams skimmer dragonfly female
Needham's skimmer dragonfly (Libellula needhami) female
 
BW Needhams skimmer dragonfly male
Needham's skimmer dragonfly (Libellula needhami) male
 
BW common whitetail dragonfly
Common whitetail dragonfly (Plathemis lydia)
 
BW Blue fronted dancer damselfly
Blue-fronted dancer damselfly (Argia apicalis)
 

 Thanks to Larry Meade for leading this walk.  

larry meade

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