 |
 |
 |
 |
| List: Carolina-Leps Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2026 21:23:12 -0400 From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinaleps Mailing List) <carolinaleps...> Subject: Uwharrie NF butterflies, Montgomery Co., NC -- Oct. 8 |
||||
--000000000000c74411065d5e31ed Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Folks, Again this fall several of us from the Triangle area ventured to a former "stronghold" in NC for the Leonard's Skipper, now essentially a ghost in NC except at a few mountain sites. Jeff Pippen and I think a combination of: 1) poor management of powerline clearings and roadsides by utility companies and NC DOT with herbicing rather than by mowing; 2) continuing hotter summers and early autumns that might be putting the eclosing of adults and nectar plants in a mis-timing condition; and 3) long-term drought conditions. As I expected, Lori Arent, Jeff, and I could not find a Leonard's Skipper, despite perfect weather for the day -- sunny, warm, and no wind. However, we noted two weather issues: 1) the near year-long drought has been tough on many herbaceous plants; and 2) the *much hotter than usual temperatures have pushed back the flowering of Large-flowered Aster (Symphyotrichum grandiflorum) about TWO WEEKS later than usual.* In former falls, this bushy purple/blue-flowered species would be peaking in flowering around Oct. 5-12. Today, Oct. 8, we barely had a few dozen flowers here and there, with about 98% of the potential flower buds on the many plants not yet even beginning to bud out!!. Thankfully we did find lots of blooming Shaggy Blazing-star (*Liatris pilosa*), among a few other pink to blue flowers that the Leonard's MUST have for nectar, including several *Agalinis* species. However, many of the butterflies below were nectaring on the large amount of white and yellow flowering species. Thankfully, we did have a few goodies, nonetheless. Here is our list from about 9:45 - 3:45, with most of the time spent along Tower Road, both within and outside the national forest boundaries. dark swallowtail sp. 1 LITTLE YELLOW 1 FOY for one or two of us; rare in the Piedmont this year Sleepy Orange *150* Orange Sulphur (albino) 1 killed by an orb spider; RIP Cloudless Sulphur 40 Gray Hairstreak 1 E. Tailed-Blue 25 Monarch 4 Variegated Fritillary 55 Red-spotted Purple 1 American Lady 2 Common Buckeye 32 Pearl Crescent 22 Common Checkered-Skipper 10 presumed this species, but can't rule out White CS Fiery Skipper 30 WHIRLABOUT 1 worn male; NEW for Montgomery County! Crossline Skipper 4 Swarthy Skipper 3 Clouded Skipper *140 * all over the blazing-stars Ocola Skipper 4 a decent Piedmont count so far this year! 20 species Harry LeGrand Raleigh --000000000000c74411065d5e31ed Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr">Folks,<div><br></div><div>Again this fall= several of us from the Triangle area ventured to a former "stronghold= " in NC for the Leonard's Skipper, now essentially a ghost in NC e= xcept at a few mountain sites. Jeff Pippen and I think a combination of: 1)= poor management of powerline clearings and roadsides by utility companies = and NC DOT=C2=A0with herbicing rather than by mowing; 2) continuing=C2=A0ho= tter summers and early autumns that might be putting the eclosing of adults= and nectar plants in a mis-timing condition; and 3) long-term drought=C2= =A0conditions.</div><div><br></div><div>As I expected, Lori Arent, Jeff, an= d I could not find a Leonard's Skipper, despite perfect weather for the= day -- sunny, warm, and no wind. However, we noted two weather issues: 1) = the near year-long=C2=A0drought has been tough on many herbaceous plants; a= nd 2) the <u>much hotter than usual temperatures have pushed back the flowe= ring of Large-flowered Aster (<i>Symphyotrichum grandiflorum</i>) about TWO= WEEKS later than usual.</u> In former falls, this bushy purple/blue-flower= ed species would be peaking in flowering around Oct. 5-12. Today, Oct. 8, w= e barely=C2=A0had a few dozen flowers here and there, with about 98% of the= potential flower buds on the many plants not yet even beginning to bud out= !!. Thankfully we did find lots of blooming Shaggy Blazing-star (<i>Liatris= pilosa</i>), among a few other pink=C2=A0to blue flowers that the Leonard&= #39;s MUST have for nectar, including several <i>Agalinis</i> species.=C2= =A0 However, many of the butterflies below were nectaring on the large amou= nt of white and yellow flowering species.=C2=A0 Thankfully, we did have a few goodies, nonetheless.=C2=A0 Here is our list = from about 9:45 - 3:45, with most of the time spent along Tower Road, both = within and outside the national forest boundaries. </div><div><br></div><di= v>dark swallowtail sp.=C2=A0 1</div><div>LITTLE YELLOW=C2=A0 1=C2=A0 =C2=A0= FOY for one or two of us; rare in the Piedmont this year</div><div>Sleepy O= range <b>150</b></div><div>Orange Sulphur (albino)=C2=A0 1=C2=A0 killed by = an orb spider; RIP</div><div>Cloudless Sulphur=C2=A0 40</div><div>Gray Hair= streak=C2=A0 1</div><div>E. Tailed-Blue=C2=A0 25</div><div>Monarch=C2=A0 4<= /div><div>Variegated Fritillary=C2=A0 55</div><div>Red-spotted Purple=C2=A0= 1</div><div>American Lady=C2=A0 2</div><div>Common Buckeye=C2=A0 32</div><= div>Pearl Crescent=C2=A0 22</div><div>Common Checkered-Skipper=C2=A0 10=C2= =A0 presumed this species, but can't rule out White CS</div><div>Fiery = Skipper=C2=A0 30</div><div>WHIRLABOUT=C2=A0 1=C2=A0 worn male; NEW for Mont= gomery County!=C2=A0=C2=A0</div><div>Crossline Skipper=C2=A0 4</div><div>Sw= arthy Skipper=C2=A0 3</div><div>Clouded Skipper=C2=A0 <b>140=C2=A0 </b>=C2= =A0all over the blazing-stars</div><div>Ocola Skipper=C2=A0 4=C2=A0 =C2=A0 = a decent Piedmont count so far this year!</div><div><br></div><div>20 speci= es</div><div><br></div><div>Harry LeGrand</div><div>Raleigh</div><div><br><= /div><div><br></div></div> </div> --000000000000c74411065d5e31ed-- |
||||