Field Reports

October 4 - 20 —The Farrons: Although butterfly flying season is winding down, October has yielded some excellent sightings in the Farron back yard. On October 4, a White M Hairstreak (a yard first) was spotted using white Globeflower. This same day, a fresh Comma was seen using Buddleia, and 6 Monarchs also were counted, probably fueling up for their long flight. On October 12, the first of several Ocola skippers was observed. A beautiful Viceroy stopped by on October 14 (for some reason, these are rarely seen in our yard). On October 19, an exciting and unexpected visitor was a Mourning Cloak: it landed high on a tree trunk in full sun and stayed just long enough to allow a few photographs. October 20, a more cooperative White M Hairstreak, apparently a different individual, was observed for some time, mostly using Zinnias and Tithonia. This hairstreak allowed us to get close enough to enjoy flashes of its stunning fluorescent blue upperwings while it performed its characteristic hairstreak wing rubbing. And as of October 21, two Monarchs were still hanging around floating lazily from flower to flower.

Page posted October 21, 2000