Butterflies Boost Spirits

On the August 17, 2024, butterfly walk, when the sun came out so did the butterflies.

The 20 FODM enthusiasts identified 15 species of what leader Larry Meade called “day-flying moths.” Butterflies and moths are in the order Lepidoptera in the class Insecta.

Especially delighting all were the stunning swallowtails – black (Papilio polyxenes), Eastern tiger (Pterourus glaucus) and spicebush (Pterourus troilus). A little harder to see but fascinating were pearl crescents (Phyciodes tharos), Eastern tailed-blues (Everes comyntas) and sleepy oranges (Eurema nicippe). When the summer azures (Celastrina neglecta) spread their wings, their blue hues seemed almost metallic.

Eastern tiger swllowtail    All photos by Bob Veltkamp except where indicated

Pearl crescent

Eastern tailed-blue

Summer azure

The group was very encouraged to see two monarch butterflies (Danuas Plexippus), perhaps the parents of monarchs that will soon be migrating to their wintering grounds in Mexico’s mountains. Meade also spotted a white M-hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album), which he believes is uncommon in the area. It has a distinctive M pattern on its wing.

Monarch

White M-hairstreak    Photo by Larry Meade

The harvester butterfly (Feniseca tarquinius) is carnivorous, Meade said, explaining that this butterfly’s only food is wooly aphids. In 2024, Meade documented this butterfly in Dyke Marsh, the first person to do so, he said. Zebulon skippers (Poanes zabulon) like the woods’ edge, Meade offered.

Zebulon skipper

Zebulon skipper

Among the dragonflies zooming about were Needham’s skimmers (Libellula needhami) and common whitetails (Plathemis lydia).

Needham’s skimmer

Male common whitetail

Female common whitetail

American groundnut (Apoios americana) blossoms and scarlet red cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) stood out. Thanks to Larry and also to Barry Sperling who explained recent weather patterns and the stratocumulus clouds above.

American groundnut

Cardinal flower        Photo by Glenda Booth

Familiar bluet damselfly (Enallagma civile)

Great blue skimmer (Libellula vibrans)