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| List: Carolina-Leps Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2026 22:24:39 -0400 From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinaleps Mailing List) <carolinaleps...> Subject: A first record for a Carolina butterfly (and it's NOT a taxonomic split) |
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--000000000000c63ca5065857975c Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Folks, Yesterday (August 4), Bill Farnsworth photographed a pygmy-blue in Georgetown County, SC, and posted the photos to iNaturalist. He "thought it may be an Eastern Pygmy-Blue but when I uploaded it to iNaturalist they [the iNaturalist program] thought it may be a Western Pygmy-Blue". After sending the photos to several of us in the Carolinas, the butterfly is indeed a *Western Pygmy-Blue* (*Brephidium exile*), and not the expected Eastern Pygmy-Blue (*B.isophthalma = B. pseudofea*). This is the FIRST record for SC, and NC lacks records so far. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/388271567 This appears to be the first record of this more Western species north of Florida. Until a few years ago, it was barely known from the Gulf States (coastally), but it has not only spread to the west coast of Florida, there are also a handful of iNaturalist photos from the Florida east coast, north to about Jacksonville! So, the species is quite nomadic and is clearly moving eastward, just coastally so far. Colonies are established in the Tampa region, for example, but I don't know if the east coast ones are singles or not. There are no records of the Western Pygmy-Blue for Georgia, at least showing on iNaturalist. So, folks along the Carolina coast should be on the lookout for a pinky fingernail-sized butterfly (these are the country's smallest true butterflies) that is gray on the basal half of the wings below, and brown on the outer half, and with white wing fringes. As many of us know, the Eastern -- locally numerous along the SC coast but a one-time stray to NC -- has the wings a soft brown below (with no gray) and brown wing fringes. These two species are associated with salt marshes along the coast, so don't expect to see them very far from such marshes. Congrats, Bill, and thanks to you and Dennis Allen for sending photos around and getting them posted to iNaturalist so quickly. Harry LeGrand Raleigh --000000000000c63ca5065857975c Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Folks,<div><br></div><div>Yesterday=C2=A0(August 4), Bill = Farnsworth photographed a pygmy-blue in Georgetown County, SC, and posted t= he photos to iNaturalist. He "thought it may be an Eastern Pygmy-Blue = but when I uploaded it to iNaturalist they [the iNaturalist program] though= t it may be a Western Pygmy-Blue".=C2=A0 After sending the photos to s= everal of us in the Carolinas, the butterfly is indeed a <b>Western Pygmy-B= lue</b> (<i>Brephidium exile</i>), and not the expected Eastern Pygmy-Blue = (<i>B.isophthalma =3D B. pseudofea</i>).=C2=A0 This is the FIRST record for= SC, and NC lacks records so far.</div><div><br></div><div><a href=3D"https= ://www.inaturalist.org/observations/388271567" originalSrc=3D"https://www.i= naturalist.org/observations/388271567">https://www.inaturalist.org/observat= ions/388271567</a></div><div><br></div><div>This appears to be the first re= cord of this more Western species north of Florida. Until a few years ago, = it was barely known from the Gulf States (coastally), but it has not only s= pread to the west coast of Florida, there are also a handful=C2=A0of iNatur= alist photos from the Florida east coast, north to about Jacksonville!=C2= =A0 So, the species is quite nomadic and is clearly moving eastward, just c= oastally so far. Colonies are established in the Tampa region, for example,= but I don't know if the east coast ones are singles or not.</div><div>= <br></div><div>There are no records=C2=A0of the Western Pygmy-Blue for Geor= gia, at least showing=C2=A0on iNaturalist. So, folks along the Carolina coa= st should be on the lookout for a pinky fingernail-sized butterfly (these a= re the country's smallest true butterflies) that is gray on the basal= =C2=A0half of the wings below, and brown on the outer half, and with white = wing fringes. As many of us know, the Eastern -- locally numerous along the= SC coast but a one-time stray to NC -- has the wings a soft brown below (w= ith no gray) and brown wing fringes. These two species are associated with = salt marshes along the coast, so don't expect to see them very far from= such marshes.</div><div><br></div><div>Congrats, Bill, and thanks to you a= nd Dennis Allen for sending photos around and getting them posted to iNatur= alist so quickly.</div><div><br></div><div>Harry LeGrand</div><div>Raleigh<= /div></div> --000000000000c63ca5065857975c-- |
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