July 2020 Sightings

9:00am-1:40pm, mostly sunny, 79°F
photos from Steve Glynn

One observer, 2:30 to 3:30 PM, partly cloudy, warm.

2:40-4:00 mostly sunny and around 80
Both Coral Hairstreaks were avidly taking nectaring at Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannabinum).
Lots of Indian Hemp and Common Milkweed in good bloom but overall few butterflies. Great Spangled Fritillaries, Monarchs, sulphurs, and hairstreaks especially poor.

very late- 5:30-7:30 stroll… menacing thunder over the ridge, but sunny , warm and dry throughout. Milkweed blooming but mostly being used by bees. Monarda in the parking lot.
Not sure if the App Brown is the same on from about 2 weeks ago- it now has a chunk taken out of one wing.

FOY yard monarch.

Most years going back to early 90s we could find 20 species in our yard in early July.

Late morning and early afternoon excursion mostly stopping at roadside patches of Indian Hemp and Common Milkweed. Nothing in the clearing around the Sunrise Mtn. shelter—meaning no Edwards' and no Coral hairstreaks!

25 species on the day including other incidental observations.

10:30AM-Noon; Sunny; High 70s; Light breeze.

11:00 to 11:45 and 12:30 to 3:00. Mostly sunny; upper 80s to ca. 90°. Most Metalmarks looked very fresh; I found none on my last visit.

Sunny, humid, 80-90 F. Butterflies (except satyrs) mostly on milkweed, but milkweed very sparse. Some Appalachian Browns and Little Glassywings getting worn. Ticks abundant.

12:00pm-3:30pm, sunny then clouding up and some sprinkles, 82°F

9:30-10:30, Upper 70’s, sunny
This is a mostly stagnant, man made pond in a development about a mile from my house. Not a great butterfly area but usually good for a dozen or so species. Milkweed has entered Phase 2, fully open for outdoor dining, however butterflies still sheltering in place. No grass skippers observed - not sure if that is because of low butterfly numbers this year or because all the vegetation where I mostly see them has been recently cut to the ground by the township.

Walked 1/2 of Block Road towards Buttermilk Falls, Drove about 1/2 mile North of Tilman Rd.
Had two female Baltimore Checkerspot laying eggs on Turtle Head.

historical

10:15-11:30, cloudy, muggy, 83º. We have not indicated the precise location of these sightings because 2 of the species are rare and are susceptible to collectors.

The Banded Hairstreaks were nectaring at small clumps of C. Milkweed very near Black Walnuts with no oaks in sight, so they may be using the walnut as a host plant.

2:05-3:30, sunny, humid, 84-87º.

Walked 1/2 of Block Road towards Buttermilk Falls, Drove about 1/2 mile North of Tilman Rd.
Had two female Baltimore Checkerspot laying eggs on Turtle Head.

11:15am-1:30pm, mostly sunny, 84°F

I walked the entire property from west to east even crossing over the property line for a bit to look around the neighbors open driveway going up ridge. Still only a single Great Spangled Fritillary visiting the milkweed. The variety and numbers are still much lower than usual for late June/early July. Two Cabbage Whites were observed ovipositing of what is left of the various Mustard/Cress which is being devoured by various moth caterpillars. There has been a Little Wood Satyr eruption over the past few days. It seems too early for a second brood here. Delayed hatch perhaps? The number includes one that I found deceased down at the road.

dry and needs water here…lupines gone, mostly dogbane but not peaking

88-90f and humid. Dry in most parts.

Orange milkweed in bloom.

2-3:30 PM, about 90 F. Sun at first, clouds by 3:30.

2:30-3:30 very warm, plantings around the Nature Center (closed) and an adjacent field. Orange milkweed in full bloom; dog bane starting, fields dry except for gray water drainage areas.

late morning to early afternoon visit. Hot and sunny. The Milkweed patch along the dirt road had the most Banded Hairstreaks I have personally seen. 15 is an exact count. Seems like another good flight of Baltimore Checkerspot. It was difficult to get an accurate count, because they were so active (dogfighting each other). 8 is conservative as I think it could have been as high as 10. Several unided sulphurs and a dark swallowtail.

The small patches of flowers are next to a fen just down the road from our house. Most years the road crew has mowed the thistle patch by now.

Mostly sunny and warm
82 degrees with a light breeze

5:30-7:20 pm sun and clouds. Lots of Dogbane and Common Milkweed in bloom. Tons of pollinators including bees, flies, and wasps filled the field.

My first time here and it was awesome! Edward's Hairstreaks were found on the path leading up the the pavilion and the southwestern corner of the pavilion in the oaks. 5 is an exact count.

Large preserve but with very limited access.

11:00-12:30 sunny, warm, and humid