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

Gray hairstreak butterfly (Strymon melinus)

All photos by Robert Veltkamp

Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus)

Appalachian brown butterfly (Satyrodes appalachia)

Silver spotted skipper (Hesperia comma)

Silvery checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis)

Silvery checkerspot butterflies (Chlosyne nycteis) mating

Silvery checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis)

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

Needham's skimmer dragonfly (Libellula needhami) female

Needham's skimmer dragonfly (Libellula needhami) male

Common whitetail dragonfly (Plathemis lydia)

Blue-fronted dancer damselfly (Argia apicalis)

 Thanks to Larry Meade for leading this walk.