2010 Butterfly Updates 

May and June were exceptionally good for butterflies at the LLNF and on Nantucket. This spring was so very different than last year’s rainy, soggy weather with a total lack of butterflies.

 Staggering numbers of migrant butterflies such as red admirals and American ladies have “attacked” the region as they head north from some very productive breeding success well to the south of New England. On one small patch of huckleberry in mid-May there were 65 red admirals and 10 American ladies and 2 question marks. Butterflies can be seen flying along Eel Point Road and coursing along the shores of the north head of Long Pond. Only 2 painted ladies have been spotted to date. Painted ladies differ from American ladies in that they are slightly larger with different false eye-spots on their ventral hind-wing and are more southerly in their distribution.

          Good numbers of American coppers emerged in mid-May and small numbers of eastern pine elfins and brown elfins were found on the western trail.  Pearl crescents have emerged and are currently widespread

A survey of the trails on June 1, 2010, a sunny day, turned up 6 question marks, a type of butterfly known as anglewings. They are dead leaf mimics that disappear when they fold their wings together and reappearing when they open them. These butterflies rarely nectar or come to flowers but do puddle and they are fond of sap runs and rotting fruit. Other interesting finds were a Juvenal’s duskywing, 2 clouded sulphurs, a gray hairstreak, and 3 Peck’s skippers.

Butterflies

Butterflies require abundant sunshine. Looking for butterflies on a rainy or overcast day is really a big waste of time. You only need to look for butterflies in really nice weather which makes them all the more fun to look for.

Brown Elfins

This species has been abundant for the past 3 weeks all over the property. They are more common here, in late April and early May than anywhere I have ever been butterfly watching in the northeast and all over the Cape and Islands. This species has a specific, rather short flight period and they seem to have peaked around May 10. I have not seen one in the past week. They are especially fond of nectaring on Bearberry and low bush Blueberry plants.
 

Eastern Pine Elfin

This species was found twice this spring in the Japanese Black Pines on the property. It is common in Pitch Pine stands in early May at several island locales.

American Copper

These grass loving, multi-brooded butterflies have been very active and widespread for the past 2 weeks. They are found all over the LLNF property and all over Nantucket. As the adults are synchronous in breeding, they experience several peaks of abundance about every 30 days from early May until the first frost in October

Mourning Cloak

Two individuals of these large and lovely butterflies have been seen so far this spring, both in the last week of April near the Warren's Landing walking easement over the Foundation Property.

Cabbage White

Several of these are seen most days when the sun is shining.

American Lady

These colorful butterflies have migrated in from the south in numbers. Dozens can be seen any day the sun is shining anywhere on Nantucket. They can be seen flying rapidly along shorelines, along roadways like Eel Point Road and nectaring on any suitable flowering plant. On May 18 some 250 individuals were seen.

Dragonflies a.k.a. Odes (Odonates)

There have been few sighting yet of dragonflies. The only species recorded yet this season has been the large Green Darner, immigrants that have flown in from the south on southwest winds. It is hoped and predicted that the "dragon" watching will improve dramatically in upcoming weeks. We need higher ambient temperatures and more southwest winds.