Ingham County, Michigan has it's first snow fall of the 2022-2023 season today. And it is still coming down. We are expected to get 1-3 inches today.
2022 has been a pretty good year. Many of the southern migrants that did not show up last year made appearances this year. Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Fiery Skipper (Hylephia phyleus) and Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon) all had nice numbers this year.
It appears that Zabulon Skippers are here to stay and have been expanding their range northward in recent years. Ingham and Eaton counties both had their first records in 2022.
Marine Blues had a northward movement in early summer 2022 with sightings in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. There was a probable siting of Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) in Kent County, Michigan.
Already planning for 2023. Perhaps the biggest trip I hope to do in Michigan next year is to visit the western area of the upper peninsula. Like a lot of Michigan, the western UP is a very under butterflied area. The Holy Grail of such a trip would be finding a Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone). The Gorgone Checkerspot has been seen in 6 Michigan counties, but has not been seen in Michigan since 1958.
Hoary Comma (Polygonia gracilis) would be another amazing find. It is currently list as a species of special concern in Michigan. There are no confirmed records of this species in Michigan for more than 50 years. I believe it still exists in Michigan. I need to find one.
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