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| List: Carolina-Leps Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2026 12:58:23 -0400 From: John Connors (via carolinaleps Mailing List) <carolinaleps...> Subject: Re: Raulston Arboretum butterflies, Wake Co., NC -- July 5 |
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--00000000000088839e0655e01166 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable This heat and drought has been tough on the butterflies and butterfliers. I've run my Pollard count at Durant Nature Preserve in Raleigh on three occasions since early June: 6/9, 6/24 and this morning.- with a grand total of 23 butterflies observed of 12 species. Pitiful compared to the last two years, and worrisome. Nobody has removed host plants there, though by the looks of it, some are drought-stressed. Really do have to wonder what these species do in severe drought? Do they die off or enter some type of diapause. If and when the rains come maybe we'll get a clue. John Connors Raleigh On Sun, Jul 5, 2026 at 12:32=E2=80=AFPM Harry LeGrand <carolinaleps...>= u> wrote: > Folks, > > Thankfully, on the weekends the arboretum opens at 8:00 am instead of 9:0= 0 > 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 a= nd > most of July is the doldrum around much of the Piedmont; most of the gras= s > 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 exercis= e > as we were expecting to see much. (It is currently 96 in Raleigh as I ty= pe > this!!). Please, PLEASE rain this afternoon or this evening! Ditto for t= he > 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 t= o > drought? Did the eggs or larvae not survive owing to the drought? Have t= he > 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 > > > > --00000000000088839e0655e01166 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">This heat and drought has been tough on the butterflies an= d butterfliers. I've run my Pollard count at Durant Nature Preserve in = Raleigh on three occasions since early June: 6/9, 6/24 and this morning.- w= ith a grand total of 23 butterflies observed of 12 species. Pitiful compare= d to the last two years, and worrisome. Nobody has removed host=C2=A0plants= there, though by the looks of it, some are drought-stressed.=C2=A0<div><br= ></div><div>Really do have to wonder what these species do in severe drough= t? Do they die off or enter some type of diapause.=C2=A0If and when the rai= ns come maybe we'll get a clue.</div><div><br><div>John Connors</div><d= iv>Raleigh</div></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_conta= iner"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Sun, Jul 5, 2026 at 12:32=E2= =80=AFPM Harry LeGrand <<a href=3D"mailto:<carolinaleps...>">carolin= <aleps...></a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" st= yle=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padd= ing-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>Folks,</div><div><br></div><div>Thankfu= lly, on the weekends the arboretum opens at 8:00 am instead of 9:00 am on w= eekdays. As today's forecast in Raleigh was again sunny and a high of a= bout 100 degrees again, I decided to meet with Lori Arent at the arboretum= =C2=A0in western Raleigh at 8:30 this morning. Of course, late June and mos= t of July is the doldrum around much of the Piedmont; most of the grass ski= ppers are between broods, as are some true butterflies. And, with the horri= ble 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 f= or 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 pipevines at the garden are obviously "producing" ple= nty of swallowtails</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>G= ray Hairstreak=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>Comm= on Checkered-Skipper=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 surprise; I think all males, rather worn; getting less common= in Wake County</div><div>EUFALA=C2=A0SKIPPER=C2=A0 1=C2=A0 =C2=A0regular h= ere later in July into October, but good to see one this early</div><div><b= r></div><div>A "whopping" 11 species in close to 2 hours</div><di= v><br></div><div>Note the complete lack of ANY brushfoots -- no Variegated = Fritillaries, Common Buckeyes, American Ladies, Pearl Crescents, etc.=C2=A0= All of these species oviposit on herbaceous plants. Have they died off loc= ally owing to drought? Did the eggs or larvae not survive owing to the drou= ght?=C2=A0 Have the arboretum staff removed the hostplants?=C2=A0 Don't= know, but even in July I seldom miss some of these and other true butterfl= ies in July.</div><div><br></div><div>Harry LeGrand</div><div>Raleigh</div>= <div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div> </blockquote></div> --00000000000088839e0655e01166-- |
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