Washington Area Butterfly Club

Field Reports



July 1997

July 13 -- Harry Pavulaan -- Herndon, VA
An Aphrodite Fritillary was observed for several hours today in my butterfly garden, nectaring exclusively on pink Coneflowers, flying about on occasion and resting at intervals in shade at two favorite perches beneath my Purple Loosestrife. While this sighting constitutes an important county record, I had to restrain myself (and my 3-year old) from vouchering this amazing visitation, resorting instead to extensive video film coverage. The individual, a male, allowed itself to be filmed at close range for approximately 15 minutes, during which time I managed to obtain extensive closeup footage of upperside and underside views from many angles. Additional time was spent comparing the individual to plates in books by Howe, Klots, and Glassberg, while it fed and tolerated my presence. Identification was eventually confirmed in late afternoon, when my 3-year old daughter eventually did capture the butterfly with her student net, during one of her frequent raids through the garden, and proudly displayed her catch. The individual was compared to several pinned specimens of both Aphrodite and Great Spangled Fritillaries, and it proved to be an Aphrodite.

July 12 -- Harry Pavulaan -- Herndon, VA
Today, I found three species of Erynnis in my garden: baptisiae (net/release), zarucco (net/release), and a possible horatius (captured/vouchered pending further I.D.). I normally don't net butterflies in my garden, but the three Erynnis species proved difficult without in-hand I.D. I "vouchered" the possible horatius due to the fact that it appeared to be a form that was totally new to me, with very large white spots for an Erynnis.

A small brown butterfly was observed flying underneath my occilating sprinkler in early afternoon. It actually appeared to enjoy flying directly beneath the spray (set on "part," to concentrate on a small area), and maintained an almost stationary, hovering flight for almost one minute. Net/release determined the butterfly to be a Wild Indigo Duskywing. This week, pink Coneflower seems to be the overwhelming favorite of butterflies in my garden, with even a Common Wood Nymph male taking part (very rare behavior in the male of this species).

July 10 -- Harry Pavulaan -- Herndon, VA
Several male Sachem skippers were busily courting several Little Glassywing females, mainly on pink Coneflowers in my garden. There were several attempts to couple, with the females being receptive. However, the inter-species couplings were unsuccessful. The Sachem males were recently-emerged, and in the absence of female Sachem skippers (not yet emerged?), they were getting a little anxious to find mates.

July 4 -- Barbara Farron -- Springfield, VA
My daughter Laura and I made a two-hour drive to the mountains for July 4. We spent the day in the George Washington National Forest in an area along the Virginia-West Virginia border. It includes Reddish Knob and Shenandoah Mountain and is part of the Dry River Ranger District.

I was surprised and delighted by the number of wildflowers in bloom -- which, of course, drew lots of butterflies. We saw the expected chicory (Cichorium intyleus), black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia hirta), common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota), daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and white sweet clover (Melilotus alba) -- many of these growing along the roads. Once we reached 2000 feet or so altitude, columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) were in full bloom. A few bluets (Houstonia cerulea) and Canada violets (Viola canadensis) were still in bloom.

Bowman's root (Gillenia trifoliata) was growing alongside the gravel/dirt roads throughout the forest, as was hairy beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus), purple-flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus), whorled loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), and hawkweeds (Hieracium). Tall meadow rue (Thalictrum polygamum) was growing in many areas; only a few plants were still flowering. Some damper areas were carpeted with wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Near the top of Reddish Knob were many attractive spikes of white flowers above plants with daylily-like leaves -- called fly-poison (Amianthium muscaetoxicum)!

But the area where we were surrounded by the most butterflies was along a gravel road through the forest which offered lots of tall grasses, red clover, mountain laurel, and miscellaneous "weeds." Butterflies flying around us, even brushing against us at times included:

Monarchs (Danaus plexippus); Mourning Cloaks (Nymphalis antiopa); many Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus); even more Silver-Spotted Skippers (Epargyreus clarus), Cabbage Whites (Pieris rapae), Clouded Sulphers (Colias philodice), and Alfalfa butterflies (Colis eurytheme). We also saw Red Admirals (Papilio polyxenes), Viceroys (Limenitis archippus), Great-Spangled Fritillaries (Speyeria cybele), Painted Ladies (Vanessa cardui), one Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus), and one Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes). Wherever we walked into the grass along the roads, at least one golden skipper (unable to identify species) would flutter briefly into view.

I would call this a very nice Fourth of July indeed!

Page created 14 July 1997