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| List: Carolina-Leps Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2026 07:04:22 -0400 From: Jeff Cagle (via carolinaleps Mailing List) <carolinaleps...> Subject: Re: Uwharrie NF butterflies, Montgomery Co., NC -- Oct. 8 |
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--0000000000003cf43f065d6650d1 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Leonard's has also apparently vanished from its former site Soldier's Delight in Baltimore Co, MD (last iNat sighting, Sep '20). That site has not experienced a lot of human disturbance. Interestingly, survey of iNat observations over the time periods 2017-2020 ; 2020-2023; 2023-2026 shows that Leondard's appears stable in the Ozarks and Appalachians, even into Southern states like MO and AK. This might rule out some temperature related hypotheses? But careful correlation would be necessary to say for sure. (other) Jeff On Fri, Oct 9, 2026 at 6:44=E2=80=AFAM Dennis Forsythe <carolinaleps...>= du> wrote: > Sorry to hear about the lack of Leonard's Skippers. They are > probably gone for locations in SC too! > > Dennis > > On Thu, Oct 8, 2026 at 9:23=E2=80=AFPM Harry LeGrand <carolinaleps...>= du> > wrote: > >> Folks, >> >> Again this fall several of us from the Triangle area ventured to a forme= r >> "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 i= n >> 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 t= he >> 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 o= ur >> list from about 9:45 - 3:45, with most of the time spent along Tower Roa= d, >> 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 >> >> >> > > -- > Dennis M Forsythe PhD > Emeritus Professor of Biology > The Citadel > Charleston, SC > 843-708-1605 <(843)%20708-1605> cell > --0000000000003cf43f065d6650d1 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Leonard's has also apparently vanished from its former= site Soldier's Delight in Baltimore Co, MD (last iNat sighting, Sep &#= 39;20).=C2=A0 =C2=A0That site has not experienced a lot of human disturbanc= e.=C2=A0=C2=A0<br><br>Interestingly, survey of iNat observations over the t= ime periods 2017-2020 ; 2020-2023; 2023-2026 shows that Leondard's appe= ars stable in the Ozarks and Appalachians, even into Southern states like M= O and AK.=C2=A0 This might rule out some temperature related hypotheses?=C2= =A0 But careful correlation would be necessary to say for sure.=C2=A0=C2=A0= <br><br>(other) Jeff</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_contain= er"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Oct 9, 2026 at 6:44=E2=80= =AFAM Dennis Forsythe <<a href=3D"mailto:<carolinaleps...>">carolina= <leps...></a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" sty= le=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);paddi= ng-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Sorry to hear about the lack of Leonard's= Skippers.=C2=A0 They are probably=C2=A0gone for locations in SC too!<div><= br></div><div>Dennis</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"= ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Thu, Oct 8, 2026 at 9:23=E2=80=AFPM Harry LeGr= and <<a href=3D"mailto:<carolinaleps...>" target=3D"_blank">carolina= <leps...></a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" sty= le=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);paddi= ng-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr">Folks,<div><br></div><div>Ag= ain this fall several of us from the Triangle area ventured to a former &qu= ot;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 combi= nation of: 1) poor management of powerline clearings and roadsides by utili= ty companies and NC DOT=C2=A0with herbicing rather than by mowing; 2) conti= nuing=C2=A0hotter summers and early autumns that might be putting the eclos= ing 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 Aren= t, Jeff, and I could not find a Leonard's Skipper, despite perfect weat= her 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 herbaceou= s plants; and 2) the <u>much hotter than usual temperatures have pushed bac= k the flowering of Large-flowered Aster (<i>Symphyotrichum grandiflorum</i>= ) about TWO WEEKS later than usual.</u> In former falls, this bushy purple/= blue-flowered species would be peaking in flowering around Oct. 5-12. Today= , Oct. 8, we 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 t= he Leonard's MUST have for nectar, including several <i>Agalinis</i> sp= ecies.=C2=A0 However, many of the butterflies below were nectaring on the l= arge amount 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> </blockquote></div><div><br clear=3D"all"></div><div><br></div><span class= =3D"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_s= ignature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>Dennis M Forsythe PhD</div>Emeritus Profess= or of Biology=C2=A0<div>The Citadel</div><div>Charleston, SC</div><div><a h= ref=3D"tel:(843)%20708-1605" value=3D"+18437081605" target=3D"_blank">843-7= 08-1605</a> cell</div></div></div> </blockquote></div> --0000000000003cf43f065d6650d1-- |
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