GWC Prior Butterfly Stories 2001 continued ( Page 2 )

John Swales and Roger Kuhlman went out butterflying April 29 and had an excellent day. They saw a total of 13 species and 14 varieties of butterflies. Since the morning was a bit cool the first butterflies did not really begin appearing until about 11 am.

Their first stop was at the Geology Center (now renamed the Discovery center) in the Waterloo recreation area. The first butterfly of the day was the uncommon Northern Azure (probably a subspecies of the Spring Azure).

For awhile they were only finding Spring Azures but when they went into the campgrounds at Cedar lake, they picked up the prize butterfly of the day a Pine Elfin. It was nectaring on Pussytoes near a stand of young White Pine trees, its host plant. A visit to the bog at Cedar lake produced several Brown Elfins. On the way back to the parking lot. John and Roger saw a large Polygonia species that they could not identify adequately through their binoculars. They could see that it was a dark "summer form" butterfly either an Eastern Comma or Question Mark. Size suggested Question Mark but the underside looked a bit like a Comma. Fortunately Roger was able to net the butterfly and put it into plastic container which allowed them to clearly see that it was the first Question Mark of the season.

A later stop along Embury road, produced the first Mustard White of the season. At locations along Hankerd road near Half Moon Lake, Juvenal's Duskywing and Tiger Swallowtail were added.

BROWN ELFIN ( INCISALIA augustinus )

PINE ELFIN ( INCISALIA niphon )

It is generally accepted that the bird migration in Southeast Michigan, particularly Washtenaw county has been exceptionally early this year. Many new early arrival dates have been established this spring. Some of the oddities were Pine Warbler in March; Barn, Rough-winged, and Bank Swallows in early April and Blackpoll Warbler in late April.

The story with butterflies that normally first appear in early Spring (March and April) was very different. It did not follow this pattern. Over-wintering butterflies (Mourning Cloak, Comma, the tortoise Shells) appeared about their normal time. Cabbage Whites and Spring Azures, the first true emergers, may have been a little later than normal. Compared to the past three years, the only species that was record early was the American Painted Lady.

A prototypical early Spring with early Spring butterflies occured last year. As can be seen in the accompanying table (click on "Early Butterflies"), most of the first sightings dates for early Spring butterflies were recorded in 2000.