GWC Prior Butterfly Stories 2002 continued ( Page 6 )

On July 14, I found Euphyes dukesi (Dukes Skipper--a State-threatened species) at four different locations in southwest Wayne county. Three of the four are sites were where the butterfly was seen in 2001. These are on Sherwood road about a mile east of the Washtenaw county line, Ash road about 1/4 mile east of the new section of Crosswinds Marsh, and a site within Crosswinds Marsh. This year a second location for dukesi was found inside Crosswinds Marsh. It was here one dukesi was vouchered for the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.

For the day I saw maybe a total of 19 or 20 dukesi. However it would not surprise me if an extended count turned up more individual dukesi.

The species does not seem to have been harmed by the extended hot and dry conditions we have been experiencing in southeast Michigan for the past month. Other butterflies at Crosswinds Marsh were at reduced numbers. However I did find one Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite) and one (late?) Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing)--seemingly good finds.

The S. aphrodite was nectaring on Butterfly weed and was a member of the rarer alcestis subspecies that bears a close resemblance to S. idalia on the underside. For me the aphrodite was the first one I have found ever in butterflying at Crosswinds for five years.

While at Crosswinds Marsh I carefully looked for Eurema lisa (Little Yellow) and Junonia coenia (Buckeye) but could not find either. Eurema lisa has had a small breeding population at Crosswinds Marsh on several patches of Partridge pea during the past four years. This year growth conditions for Partridge pea have been uneven. In some places in Crosswinds Marsh, the plant has been doing ok but in others it has been badly stunted and wilted. Prospects for finding lisa at Crosswinds this year do not look promising.

Up to this date, I have not found any of the typical southern immigrant butterflies in southeast Michigan this year. Butterflies included in this category include Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady), Jumonia coenia (Buckeye), Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary), Eurema lisa (Little Yellow), Hylephila phyleus (Fiery Skipper), or Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak). I am curious if other people have been seeing any of these butterflies in Michigan this year.

Postscript: On July 17, a female Euphyes dukesi heavily laden with eggs was netted and released at the Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor Michigan. The butterfly was discovered along Flemming Creek. In this area there is some good sedge marsh and fen habitat in the flood plain. In many places Carex lacustris grows in shady swamp-type conditions. The dukesi found represented the first positively confirmed sighting of the species in Washtenaw county in the 7 year history of the Greater Washtenaw County Butterfly Survey. Later on the same day, a second butterfly was seen in a different part of the Flemming Creek flood plain.