Field Reports

March 26 -- Harry Pavulaan: Sterling, VA. On March 26, I took the family on a hike to Hemlock Landing Regional Park along Bull Run near Clifton, VA. Spring was in full swing, about a week early, with many spring species on the wing. My older daughter, Sandra, was quite instrumental in bringing several butterflies to my attention, especially many of the Azures, which I kept missing for some reason. The following species were tallied: Zebra Swallowtail (2), Tiger Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (100+), Falcate Orange Tip (20+), Orange Sulphur (1), Clouded Sulphur (1), Brown Elfin (1), Summer Azure spring form (5), Question Mark (2), and Juvenal’s Duskywing (6).
The Tiger Swallowtail was nectaring on Virginia Bluebells. This is the earliest I have seen these flowers in bloom here. The Azures were netted/released (under permit) for identification. Interestingly, none of the four Azures that I managed to net were Edwards' Spring Azures (C. ladon ladon). These were all of the "spring form" phenotype of the Summer Azure. Odd how I keep finding these only along rivers and up on mountains, but rarely elsewhere like in scrub habitats or wetlands where Summer Azures are typically abundant in May. This really feeds the hypothesis that they may yet be another undescribed Azure.

Page created March 27, 2000