Michigan Off To Slow Start

 Michigan has had lower than normal temperatures nearly every single day during the month of May. We did have a few very warm days, but they did not last. 
If I had to choose a place to start my butterfly year in Michigan, it would be Allegan State Game Area. It is without a doubt a Michigan butterflying hot spot.
So, for my first butterfly excursion for 2022 I visited Allegan SGA. Most of the 10 species seen were located along 48th St south of M-89. This general area has a nice variety of habitats.
Species seen on 05/13/2022 were:
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - 1
Spicebush Swallowtail - 2
Olympia Marble - 8
Frosted Elfin - 1 (ovipositing on lupine)
Eastern Pine Elfin - 1
Spring Azure - 7
Silvery Blue - 1
American Lady - 2
Juvenal's Duskywing - 53
Sleepy Duskywing 1

Juvenal's Duskywing
5/13/2022
Allegan County, Michigan
Allegan SGA

Eastern Pine Elfin
5/13/2022
Allegan County, Michigan
Allegan SGA

Twenty twenty-one is going fast. We are half way through June already!
This year has been a very good for butterflies/skippers so far. 

May was very cold with snow in the early part of the month. I wondered if this would effect butterfly populations and/or emergent times. It seemed, at first, that species were emerging later, but as  temperatures warmed up, butterflies caught up and are emerging on time.

Hoary Edge is considered an uncommon specie in Michigan and can be difficult to find if you don't know were to look. So on May 30, 2021, I went to a location reported to have a good population of Hoary Edge skippers.

I arrive at the location in Washtenaw County, Michigan around 10 o'clock and starting exploring the area.
It took about 20 minutes to locate 1 of 2 Hoary Edge seen for the day. This was a lifer skipper for me!
There were a few other species at the location including - Little Wood Satyr, Pearl Crescent, Silver-spotted Skipper, Juvenal Duskywing and Common Road Side Skipper. 

Hoary Edge - Achalarus lyciades

May 30, 2021
Washtenaw County, Michigan

First Butterflies of 2021

 Hey All

March 21 was a beautiful day here in mid Michigan with temperatures in the low 60's and plenty of sunshine. So, I went out looking for my first butterflies of the year. My trational place to look for early season butterflies is Dansville SGA. Today did not disappoint.

The first of two species for the day was a beautiful Mourning Cloak, followed quickly by Eastern Comma. Great way to start the 2021 butterfly season here in Michigan.

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
3/21/2021

Ingham County, Michigan

Dansville SGA

Lenawee County, Michigan, 8/15/2020

 

     On 8/15/2020 I took a trip to Lenawee County, Michigan. The main objective was to visit Riverside Natural Area (just north of Morenci) where I had Zabulon Skipper on 8/11/2018 and to look for Zebra Swallowtail (no luck). I arrived at the natural area around 11:30 and stayed until 12:15. While here 10 species where found, including Zabulon Skipper (photo below). It was interesting to note that I observed the skipper in the exact same area ( I'm talking within 3 feet) of where I found it in 2018.

     My next stop was on Mulberry Road on the west side of M-52, just north of Morenci. There is a bridge out sign. I parked at the bridge and walked the road. I quickly found 2 Hackberry Emperors. Along the road there were so many Silvery Checkerspots I lost count. My estimate was at least 30 individuals, but there could easily be 40 or more. I did notice a nice group of Pawpaw trees which are the host plant for Zebra Swallowtail.

     The last stop was Morenci sewage ponds. On a previous visit I had Meadow Fritillaries on the south side of the ponds, no luck today. I did find 9 species of butterflies here, including at least 25 Pearl Crescents and 1-2 Common Sootywings.

So, on the day -19 confirmed species and at least 136 individuals. In the mix were 2 other possible species - Viceroy and American Lady.

An excellent day!

Zabulon Skipper
Poanes Zubulon
8/15/2020
Lenawee County, Michigan
Riverside Natural Area.

Allegan SGA, Allegan County 6/28/2020

Yesterday, 6/28/2020, David and I did some serious butterflying (6.5 hrs) at Allegan SGA, Allegan County, Michigan. We first searched the major powerline cuts south of M-89. We found very few species as the butterfly weed was not yet in full bloom. We then began searching locations along 116th ave. A few more species were found in a large dogbane patch on118th. Our last stop was on 116th just past Swan Creek. We ended the day with 25 species and 81 individuals.
Our list: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 2, Cabbage White 1, Clouded Sulphur 2, Orange Sulphur 2, American Copper 2, Coral Hairstreak 2, Edward's Hairstreak 25, Banded Hairstreak 5, Eastern Tailed-Blue 1, Summer Azure 1, Great Spangled Fritillary 6, Aphrodite Fritillary 1, Eastern Comma 1,American Lady 1, Red Admiral 1, Red-spotted Purple 5, Viceroy 1, Common Wood Nymph 1, Silver-spotted Skipper 6, Southern Cloudywing 5, Northern Cloudywing 4, Least Skipper 1, Northern Broken Dash 2, Little Glassywing 2, Delaware Skipper 1,

 Common Wood Nymph Cercyonis pegala 6/28/2020 Michigan
Allegan County, Allegan SGA

Edward's Hairstreak Satyrium edwardsii 6/28/2020 Michigan Allegan County, Allegan SGA

A Michigan Butterflier in Belize

I took the opportunity to visit Belize from December 5-11, 2019.
The weather was perfect for butterflies and birding. My home for the week was Birds Eye View Lodge located in Crooked Tree Village. From the lodge, day trips were taken to different locations and habitats.
Right at the lodge you can hike Limpkin Trail. It is an excellent trail to look for butterflies.
In the village of Crooked Tree there was a corner plot of land that had a nice variety of species.  Nectering sources were a little had to find outside of the village. I was told the "dry season" was getting an early start. .
Below is a brief summary of the butterflies I encountered during my week stay. There were more species seen than reported here, but I could not identify them to species.

SWALLOWTAILS 
Polydamas Swallowtail  Battus polydamas  –Dec 7, 1 in Crooked Tree Village
swallowtail sp. Papilio sp. - Dec 9, 1 seen in Crooked Tree Village

WHITES AND YELLOWS 
Whites and Yellows: Whites
Great Southern White  Appias drusilla  – 20+ every day in multiple locations

Yellows: Yellows and Dainty Sulphurs (land with wings closed)
 Cloudless Sulphur  Phoebis sennae – 20+ every day in multiple locations
Large Orange Sulphur  Phoebis agarithe – 5+ every day in multiple locations
Little Yellow  Eurema lisa – 2-3 most days, Crooked Tree Village
Mimosa Yellow  Eurema nise -  Dec 8, 1 at La Milpa Archaeological Site
Tailed Sulphur  Eurema neocypris – Dec 10, 1 in Crooked Tree Village
Barred Yellow  Eurema Yellow – Dec 10, 1 in pine-savannah area of Crooked Tree Village
Ghost Yellow  Eurema albula – Dec 6, 2-3 in Crooked Tree Village

LYCAENIDAES
Hairstreaks
Cramer’s Greenstreak  Cyanophrys amyntor – Dec 9, 1 in Crooked Tree Village

Ministreaks and Midstreaks:
Pale Ministreak  Ministyrmon una -  Dec 9, 1 in Crooked Tree Village

Coppers and Blues
Cerannus Blue  Hemiargus cerannus – 50+ every day in multiple locations
Eastern Tailed-Blue  Everes comytas – 5-10 every day in multiple locations

BRUSHFOOTS
Heliconians
Gulf Frirtillary  Agraulis vanilla – Dec 6, 1 in Crooked Tree Village
Julia Heliconian  Dryus Julia – Dec 7, 1 Lamani Archaeological Site
Banded Orange Heliconian  Dryadula phaetusa – Dec 9, 1 in Crooked Tree Village
Erato Heliconian  Heliconius erato – Dec 6, 1 in Crooked Tree Village
Zebra Heliconian  Heliconius charithonia  - Dec 10, 1 in Crooked Tree Village

True Brushfoots: Crescents
Phaon Crescent  Phyciodes tharos – Dec 7, 5-6 at Lamani Archaeological Site

True Brushfoots: Buckeyes and Peacocks
Tropical Buckeye  Junonia genoveva – Dec 10, 2 in pine-savannah area of Crooked Tree Village
White Peacock  Anartia jatrophae  - 30+ every day in multiple locations
Banded Peacock  Anartia Fatima – Dec 6, 1 in Crooked Tree Village

Brushfoots: Monarchs and Relatives
Monarch  Danaus plexippus  – 20+ every day in multiple locations
Queen  Danaus gillippus  – 20+ every day in multiple locations
Soldier  Danaus eresimus  – Dec 8^th,  1 in Crooked Tree Village

True Brushfoots: Patches
Bordered Patch  Chlosyne lacinia – Dec 8, 1 at La Milpa Archaeological Site

Brushfoots: Satyrs
Renata’s Satyr  Yphthimoides renata – Dec 8, 1 at La Milpa Archaeological Site
Carolina Satyr  Hermeuptychia sosybius – 10+ every day in multiple locations

Brushfoots: Admirals and Relatives - Sisters
Spot-celled Sister  Adelpha fessonia – Dec 7, 1 at Lamani Archaeological Site, Dec 9, 1 at Limpkin Trail
Brushfoots: Admirals and Relatives- Crackers
Gray Cracker Hamadryas februa –  Dec 7, 1 at Lamani Archaeological Site
Variable Cracker  Hamadryas feronia – Dec 8, 1 at La Milpa Archaeological Site
Guatemalan Cracker  Hamadryas guatemalena – Dec 9, 1 on Limpkin Trail
Brushfoots: Admirals and Relatives - Daggerwings
Many-banded Daggerwing  Marpesia chiron – Dec 8, 3 at La Milpa Archeological Site
Brushfoots: Admirals and Relatives - Sailors
Four-spotted Sailor  Dynamine postverta – Dec 10, 1 on Limpkin Trail
Brushfoots: Leafwings and Relatives - Agris and Preponas
One-spotted Prepona  Archaeoprepona demophan - Dec 9-10, 1-3 on Limpkin Trail

HESPERIIDAES
Spreadwing Skippers: Scarlet-eyes
Common Scarlet-eye  Nascus phocus – Dec 10-11, 2 at Bird’s Eye View Lodge, at dawn and dusk

Spreadwing Skippers: Longtails
Mottled Longtail – Typhedanus undulata – Dec 6, 1at Bird’s Eye View Lodge
Brown Longtail  Urbanus procne – Dec 7, 1 at Bird’s Eye View Lodge, Limpkin Tail, Dec 10, 1 in Crooked Tree Village
Dorantes Lontail  Urbanus dorantes – Dec 7, 1 at Bird’s Eye View Lodge

Spreadwings Skippers: Nisons, with white subapical FW spots
Purplish-backed Skipper  Nisoniades rubescens – Dec 9, 1 in Crooked Tree Village

Spreadwing Skippers:
Hammock Skipper  Polygonus leo  - Dec 9, 1 in Crooked Tree Village

Spreadwing Skippers: Scallopwings
Mazans Scallopwing  Staphyllus mazans – Dec 10, 1 in Crooked Tree Village

Speadwing Skippers: Mylons
Jason’s Mylon  Mylon jason – Dec 8, 1 at La Milpa Archaeological Site

Spreadwing Skippers: Spurwings
Dusted Spurwing  Antigonius erosus – Dec 8, 1 at La Milpa Archaeological Site

Spreadwing Skippers: Checkered Skippers
Tropical Checkered Skipper  Pyrgus oileus – 30+ everyday in multiple locations
Guatemalan Checkered Skipper  Pyrgus adepta – Dec 6, 1 in Crooked Tree Village

Spreadwing Skippers: White-Skippers
Laviana White-Skipper  Heliopetes laviana – Dec 10, 1 in the pine-savannah area of Crooked Tree Village.
Turk’s-cap White-Skipper  Heliopetes macaria – Dec 10 2-3 in pine-savannah area of Crooked Tree Village
 

 Grass Skippers
Fiery Skipper  Hylephila phyleus - 20+ every day in multiple locations
Fawn-spotted Skipper  Cyaenes odillia – Dec 9, 1 in Crooked Tree Village
Violet-washed Skipper  Damas clavus – Dec 7, 1 at Lamani Archeological Site

Grass Skippers: Panoquins
Ocola Skipper  Panoquin ocola – Dec 9-10,  2-3 in Crooked Tree Village
Purple-washed skipper  Panoquin lucas – Dec 6, 3 in Crooked Tree Village

 A few of my favorites

 Cramer's Greenstreak
Cyanophrys amyntor
Dec 1, 2019
Crooked Tree Village, Belize

 Banded Orange Heliconian
Dryadula phaetus
Dec 9, 2019
Crooked Tree Village, Belize

 Common Scarlet-eye
Nascus phocus
Dec 10, 2019
Birds Eye View Lodge
Crooked Tree Village, Belize
Only came to flowers at dawn and dusk.

 Mottled Duskywing
Typhedanus undulata
Dec 6, 2019
Birds Eye View Lodge
Crooked Tree Village, Belize








 https://birdseyeviewbelize.com

October 28, 2019

Most people that live in the north are thinking butterfly season is over by late October. True in many years. Occasionally butterflies get an extended season. Today after work I ventured out to Rose Lake SGA in Clinton County, Michigan. Temps were in the mid 60's with a little sunshine thrown in. A great day to look for late season species. I worked a field for about 45 minutes that has plenty of nectar. The results were excellent with ten species recorded.
Species seen were - Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Monarch, Question Mark, Eastern Comma, Amerian Lady, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, and Common Checkered Skipper.

Orange Sulphur
2019-10-28
Clinton County, Michigan
Rose Lake SGA

 Red Admiral
2019-10-28
Clinton County, Michigan
Rose Lake SGA

Eastern Comma
 2019-10-28
Clinton County, Michigan
Rose Lake SGA

Common Checkered Skipper
2019-10-28
Clinton County, Michigan
Rose Lake SGA