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| List: Carolina-Leps Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2026 12:32:00 -0400 From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinaleps Mailing List) <carolinaleps...> Subject: Raulston Arboretum butterflies, Wake Co., NC -- July 5 |
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--0000000000001174b50655dfb362 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Folks, Thankfully, on the weekends the arboretum opens at 8:00 am instead of 9:00 am on weekdays. As today's forecast in Raleigh was again sunny and a high of about 100 degrees again, I decided to meet with Lori Arent at the arboretum in western Raleigh at 8:30 this morning. Of course, late June and most of July is the doldrum around much of the Piedmont; most of the grass skippers are between broods, as are some true butterflies. And, with the horrible drought all year long here, we were there as much to get exercise as we were expecting to see much. (It is currently 96 in Raleigh as I type this!!). Please, PLEASE rain this afternoon or this evening! Ditto for the next few days! Here is our wimpy list: Pipevine Swallowtail *18* the planted non-native pipevines at the garden are obviously "producing" plenty of swallowtails E. Tiger Swallowtail 4 Cabbage White 3 but NO sulphurs/yellows today Gray Hairstreak 2 Silver-spotted Skipper 12 COMMON SOOTYWING 1 a brief ID glimpse; a few do occur here, but usually missed; always a nice find Common Checkered-Skipper 3 Horace's Duskywing 10 this species is getting to be quite ubiquitous in much of the Carolinas in recent years Fiery Skipper 8 Sachem *3* a surprise; I think all males, rather worn; getting less common in Wake County EUFALA SKIPPER 1 regular here later in July into October, but good to see one this early A "whopping" 11 species in close to 2 hours Note the complete lack of ANY brushfoots -- no Variegated Fritillaries, Common Buckeyes, American Ladies, Pearl Crescents, etc. All of these species oviposit on herbaceous plants. Have they died off locally owing to drought? Did the eggs or larvae not survive owing to the drought? Have the arboretum staff removed the hostplants? Don't know, but even in July I seldom miss some of these and other true butterflies in July. Harry LeGrand Raleigh --0000000000001174b50655dfb362 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div>Folks,</div><div><br></div><div>Thankfully, on the we= ekends the arboretum opens at 8:00 am instead of 9:00 am on weekdays. As to= day's forecast in Raleigh was again sunny and a high of about 100 degre= es again, I decided to meet with Lori Arent at the arboretum=C2=A0in wester= n Raleigh at 8:30 this morning. Of course, late June and most of July is th= e doldrum around much of the Piedmont; most of the grass skippers are betwe= en broods, as are some true butterflies. And, with the horrible drought all= year long here, we were there as much to get exercise as we were expecting= to see much.=C2=A0 (It is currently 96 in Raleigh as I type this!!).=C2=A0= Please, PLEASE rain this afternoon or this evening! Ditto for the next few= days!</div><div><br></div><div>Here is our wimpy list:</div><div><br></div= ><div>Pipevine Swallowtail=C2=A0 <b>18</b>=C2=A0 the planted non-native pip= evines at the garden are obviously "producing" plenty of swallowt= ails</div><div>E. Tiger Swallowtail=C2=A0 4=C2=A0</div><div>Cabbage White= =C2=A0 3=C2=A0 =C2=A0but NO sulphurs/yellows today</div><div>Gray Hairstrea= k=C2=A0 2=C2=A0 =C2=A0</div><div>Silver-spotted=C2=A0Skipper=C2=A0 12</div>= <div>COMMON SOOTYWING=C2=A0 1=C2=A0 a brief=C2=A0ID glimpse; a few do occur= here, but usually missed; always a nice find</div><div>Common Checkered-Sk= ipper=C2=A0 3</div><div>Horace's Duskywing=C2=A0 10=C2=A0 this species = is getting to be quite ubiquitous in much of the Carolinas in recent years<= /div><div>Fiery Skipper=C2=A0 8</div><div>Sachem=C2=A0 <b>3</b>=C2=A0 a sur= prise; I think all males, rather worn; getting less common in Wake County</= div><div>EUFALA=C2=A0SKIPPER=C2=A0 1=C2=A0 =C2=A0regular here later in July= into October, but good to see one this early</div><div><br></div><div>A &q= uot;whopping" 11 species in close to 2 hours</div><div><br></div><div>= Note the complete lack of ANY brushfoots -- no Variegated Fritillaries, Com= mon Buckeyes, American Ladies, Pearl Crescents, etc.=C2=A0 All of these spe= cies oviposit on herbaceous plants. Have they died off locally owing to dro= ught? Did the eggs or larvae not survive owing to the drought?=C2=A0 Have t= he arboretum staff removed the hostplants?=C2=A0 Don't know, but even i= n July I seldom miss some of these and other true butterflies in July.</div= ><div><br></div><div>Harry LeGrand</div><div>Raleigh</div><div><br></div><d= iv><br></div><div><br></div></div> --0000000000001174b50655dfb362-- |
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