GWC Prior Butterfly Stories 2001 continued ( Page 3 )

After last year's "bonanza" we had hopes this year of breaking through the 50 species barrier. We had added two new sites (a xeric upland and another sedge meadow) and planned an increase in party hours. Alas, these hopes were dashed by the weather. In two respects. The cold and wet spring delayed the emergence of sedge skippers and hairstreaks; the weather on count day was decidedly indifferent. We finished up with 42 species and 1012 adult individuals, plus two Baltimore caterpillars. Milbert's Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady were new for the count, raising the cumulative total to 67 [since 1995]. The Red Admiral "invasion" was well represented by 111 individuals. One of the hobomoks was the uncommon Pocahontas variant. A full tabulation is available if anybody wants it. Thanks to Barb Barton, John Mills, Roger Kuhlman, Paul DesJardins (all the way from Windsor), Martin and Stas Bialecki, and Roger Wykes.

The last of the NABA Butterfly counts in the Greater Washtenaw county area was held on Sunday July 8 in the Saline River Watershed area. This count covers portions of southeast Washtenaw and northwest Monroe counties near Saline. For the day, we had good weather conditions--mostly sunny and temperatures reaching 90 degrees--which produced a very respectable count. New records for the count were established in both species (42) and butterflies (1064) seen.

For the first time ever, a Variegated Fritillary was found on the count. Other highlights included Hickory Hairstreak, Acadian Hairstreak, Horace's Duskywing, Common Sootywing, Meadow Fritillary. Unprecedented numbers of Painted Ladies (10), Red Admirals (192), and Monarchs (60) were seen.

Thanks are given to the dedicated volunteers who made the count a great success: Paul Desjardins, John Farmer, John Mills, John Swales, and Roger Wykes.

On Saturday November 17, I found the ninth butterfly species of this month at Lake Erie Metropark. It was a very worn Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) that from a distance appeared to be a white form female Colias species. Close inspection of the butterfly revealed the black dot. I believe this is a record late date for the Greater Washtenaw County Survey. The latest prior date I could find was November 9 in the year 1999.

Besides Cabbage White, the other eight species found this November are: Mourning Cloak (Nov 6 last date), Red Admiral (Nov 2 last date), Painted Lady (Nov 4 last date), Eastern Comma (Nov 3 last date), Buckeye (Nov 3 last date), Clouded Sulphur (Nov 23 last date), Orange Sulphur (Nov 23 last date), and Monarch (Nov 16 last date). The Monarch last date is another record. It was seen by Craig Fosdick the paid Hawk counter at the SMRR Hawkwatch at Lake Erie Metropark. Last year when I saw a Monarch November 11 at Point Mouillee I thought that was exceptional but five days later--wow! It just goes to show that Monarchs are pretty tough butterflies. They can survive cold weather including temperatures below freezing if the cold temperatures are not sustained for several days in a row.

How this season's late butterfly sightings compares with the last few years can be seen in the accompanying table (click on "Late Butterflies"). Along with 1999, this year has many late sightings dates.