Alert Update

Report from Martin Bialecki, November 6:

Today I observed a small Red Admiral just northeast of the intersection of Mull and Wellwood roads, Manchester Township, Section 32, Washtenaw County. (Note from Owen: This is a late date record, the previous being October 29.)

Entomology Specimen Cabinet available:

Anyone you know that might be interested?
Mark O'Brien
Begin forwarded message:

From: "Margret Ann Chriscinske" <mchriscinske@usgs.gov>
Date: Tue Nov 2, 2004 10:23:14 AM America/Detroit
To: mfobrien@umich.edu
Subject: cabinet
Hi there,
Do you know anyone looking to purchase a used Cornell-type cabinet?
Its previous owner bought it ~15 years ago for ~$500 and is now in the process of liquidating some of his collections. Here's his description:
Entomology Specimen Cabinet, about 84" tall and about 23" wide, manufactured by Lane Science Equipment Corp., Model 402. All metal, double lined, steel construction throughout, gray finish outside. Holds 25 Cornell or U.S. National Museum drawers. Comes with 17 Cornell drawers, each with glass top and polyethylene pinning bottom, basswood construction.. Also 8 drawers that are without tops or pinning bottom that are used for vial storage (these drawers have smaller cardstock vial holders that fit into the drawers). All drawers were purchased from BioQuip, and are professionally manufactured. More specifications can be given if interested. The price is negotiable, and will depend on shipping or pick-up, etc.

If you know of anyone who may be interested, forward this info to them or have them contact me. I wish I had some way of fitting this in my place!

Thanks, Margi

***************************************
Margret Chriscinske
Great Lakes Science Center
1451 Green Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
phone: (734) 214-9323
fax: (734) 994-8780
***************************************

Report from Mark Schmidt, November 1:

As you may recall, I had a lone sleeve of 2nd brood S. cynthia larvae braving the late October elements. All but two had made cocoons, completing a full second brood. Interestingly, the cocoons are generally smaller than usual and are of a reddish-orange color. Some were even made in the leaf litter in the bottom of the sleeve without much of a peduncle
that really didn't secure the cocoon to anything of substance.

I have seen the reddish color of finished cocoons before after rearing late season cynthia in past years. The unusual coloration seems to be triggered by being exposed to the cooler fall temperatures. These, too, were small.

Anyway, I snapped some pictures. The one in which the blue body of the caterpillar is still visible early in the cocoon's construction is entitled "In the nick of time." You can see that food plant quality and availability presented quite a challenge for the creatures!

S. cynthia, Red Lion, Ohio, 1 November 2004
photos by Mark Schmidt © 2004

"In the nick of time."
S. cynthia, Red Lion, Ohio, 1 November 2004
photos by Mark Schmidt © 2004

Report from Mark Schmidt, October 30:

The other day, I received an interesting e-mail with the subject line, "We sell Regalis." I did not recognize the sender.
Against my usual protocol not to open things I don't recognize, I had to.
Come on, anyone selling regalis can't be bad.

It turns out, it was SPAM for an off-brand of Cialis from some foreign country! They call it Regalis. Considering the size of our hickory horned devil, maybe the name is appropriate!

Hope everyone has been doing well. The season is drawing to a close. I have second brood cynthia still feeding but the wind, today, succeeded in blowing off just about every leaf off of my sassafras trees. It looks like two caterpillars were starting to spin cocoons. Leaves were rolled but due to the violent wind, I thought I'd let things go and confirm things tomorrow. This would be the first time that I have seen a complete second generation for this species. Any caterpillar not initiating the pupation process is likely doomed.

Report from Kyle Johnson, October 26
A few recent lep sightings:
Oct. 9 Trombly, Delta Co. In the bait trap that I let sit from August were hundreds of moth wings, including probably 40 Catocala (mostly relicta, semirelicta, concumbens). One relicta was alive and in near mint condition.
Oct. 10 Menominee, Menominee Co. At a quick stop for lunch I noticed a near mint condition Catocala concumbens on the sidewalk; also saw one monarch.
On October 15-17 I headed to southern Illinois with the Undergraduate Entomology Club (at UW) for a collecting trip. Colder than usual; some interesting sighting were Eurema nicippe, Atalopedes campestris, and a dead Polygonia progne at a gas station (Benton, Franklin Co.) which might be a southern record unless it was brought there by some truck from up north! Also, a tiger moth larvae I kept for rearing ate the three walking sticks we had kept(stupid me for not separating
them!); well that s.o.b. is going in alcohol!

A few unusual late things for Madison (Dane Co, WI)
Everes comyntas- Oct. 23
Danaus plexippus- Oct. 24
Junonia coenia- Oct. 24
Vanessa cardui- Oct. 24

Report from John Farmer, October 26:

I'm still catching commas. Got 4 yesterday. Expect I may catch more over the next several days of 60-degree weather, I'm wondering if you'd like me to save out a specimen of each as vouchers for state, Washtenaw, or your own late dates? Mo's book lists late dates of October 15 for P. comma, October 11 for P. progne, and October 16 for interrogationis. Have any of those state late dates been surpassed since publication of Michigan Butterflies & Skippers?

Reply by Owen, edited:

Mo's dates of October 11 for P. progne is still valid to my knowkedge,

The late date for P. interrogationis is 30 October 1999 by me (Owen A. Perkins) for Branch County. You (John C. Farmer) provided 2 November 2000 for P. comma for Washtenaw County. The late date for L. c. bachmanii is 3 November 1965 for Washtenaw County by Paul DeMarroio in the U of M collection.

Report from Dr. Moth (Mark Schmidt) October 24:

It was a very pleasant day today. I had my last calleta eclose today so I thought that I'd spend some time with her shooting pictures. I'll share a few that seemed to come out OK.

Eupackardia calleta, Red Lion, Ohio, 24 October 2004
photos by Mark Schmidt © 2004

E. Red Lion, Ohio, 24 October 2004
photos by Mark Schmidt © 2004

E. calleta, Red Lion, Ohio, 24 October 2004
photos by Mark Schmidt © 2004

Note from Owen, October 9:

I apologize for the lateness of of the September entries, but other matters took precedence.

Email from Mo, October 4:

Owen, How are you doing, now that Fall has arrived!? I'm sorry to see it cool off so suddenly, as I had hoped to do more collecting!

On Sept. 24/25, Ted Herig and I journeyed to Berrien and Cass counties, primarily for collecting Papaipema moths. We encountered great evening weather with temperatures starting in the upper 60's under cloudy skies. Using a total of four UV traps, plus a MV/UV/sheet setup, we recorded a total of 14 Papaipema species. Some of the unique species were P. cerina, nepheleptena, astuta, cerussata, sciata, necopina.

On the 25th, we visited the Klumbis Road Prairie, south of Dowagiac and saw 14 species of butterflies and skippers with sun and 75 degrees. It was unusal to see hundreds of Euptoieta claudia, and many more Pieris rapae, Colias philodice nectaring on a white aster. Also seen were several Precis coenia, and a few worn Phyciodes tharos. A lone Strymon melinus was taken nectaring on white aster. The usual Pyrgus communis, and a single worn Epargyreus clarus were the only skippers seen at this location.

This MAY be my last field report!? Yet, I'm heading back down there this coming weekend. Ted Herig and Jim Vargo may join me.

Email from John Farmer, September 30:

CHECKERED SKIPPERS: Roger Kuhlmann, I read your posting. Slight correction on my sighting(s). I saw three Checkered Skippers in Hillsdale Co. on the same day, September 4 - none before or since. I caught one as a voucher specimen and saw another at the same location (Hog Creek Road 1/10 mile north of Youngs Rd.) a little later. Also saw
one next door to our cottage on McCune Road at Hemlock Lake. The two locations are both in Allen Township, but separated by more than a mile, so I assume the latter was a third individual.

BUCKEYES: Day Road has been rife with Buckeyes recently. Have seen the following numbers in September: within a mile of my home, most along Day Road - 9/6 (1), 9/10 (6), 9/13 (9), 9/21 (2), and 9/26 (10), and in my yard these additional individuals - 9/1 (1), 9/2 (1), 9/13 (1), and 9/30 (1).

MEADOW FRITILLARIES: One in my yard on 9/15 and another along Day Rd. on 9/26.

EASTERN COMMAS: Have you noticed unusually large numbers lately? I've had the following numbers in my trap in the past ten days: 9/20 (3), 9/22 (6), 9/23 (4), 9/24 (10), 9/26 (11), 9/27 (5), and 9/29 (3).

HACKBERRY BUTTERFLIES: I've had quite a few for September. In the listing that follows, "t" indicates trapped individuals in addition to free-flyers: 9/1 (3t), 9/7 (2t), 9/9 (2) & (4t), 9/10 (3t), 9/14 (1t), 9/21 (1), 9/26 (1t), 9/27 (2). Owen, I have the one from 9/26 for you as a late-date voucher. Didn't catch either of the ones seen the next day.
THANK YOU JOHN! I will visit you later this fall for the trophies.

Email from Roger Kuhlman, September 30:

The American Butterflies article has been published and copies are coming round.

Roger Wykes and I were out yesterday, but no real goodies. 7 bronze coppers on hack, plus a least skipper. A Milbert's on Burmestier.

Email from Christopher A. Rickards, September 29:

Chris takes superior photographs of butterflies and here are two examples that he is sharing. Thank you!

Pictures from Badlands, South Dakota, August 2004.

Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
Badlands, South Dakota, August 2004.
photo by Christopher A. Rickards © 2004

Email from Roger Kuhlman, September 29:

The hot weather we have been experiencing in southeast Michigan until the last few days has been great for butterflies. On Wednesday September 22, I found a Checkered Skipper on the Sharon Valley Road gamelands in sw Washtenaw county. It was nectaring on White Aster as were many other butterflies that day. This Checkered Skipper is only the third one
positively identified in the 11 years of the Greater Washtenaw survey and it was in perfect condition. I was pretty excited about finding it.

Having found one Checkered Skipper, I would definitely be sharp on the lookout for another one at least until the end of October. John Farmer found one in relatively nearby Hillsdale county not too long ago so there may be a weak movement of the species into our area. Also keep on the lookout for Variegated Fritillary and Gray Hairstreak. The same day I had the Checkered Skipper I had Variegated Fritillary on Sharon Valley Road. To the best of my knowledge no one has seen Gray Hairstreak in the Survey area this year but it is worth searching for it as it can also show up quite late in the season.

Email from John M Swales, September 9:

Today I had 1 Am. Copper, 1 GSF, 1 RSP, and 1 Variegated Frit in Camden Twp, Hillsdale county. And hundreds of sulfurs, several Monarch, etc.

Email from Roger Wykes and John Swales, September 9:

Yes, Roger W and I had our first fiery on your New England Aster last Friday. Yesterday (Wednesday), 2 Leonard's and 11 American Copper at Sharon Hollow; 3 more Leonard's at Hankerd. Nothing else of note.

Email from John Farmer, September 7:

Here at 13475 Petersburg Road I saw my first Fiery Skipper of the year around noon today. Also have seen several Buckeyes here over the past week.
Catching fresh Hackberry Butterflies and Question Marks in Owen's trap every few days.
Owen: have vouchers for Hillsdale County: Question Mark, Least Skipper, and Checkered Skipper (saw several on Hog Creek Road on 9/4&5/04. Also have seen several snouts and buckeyes there (Hillsdale Co.) over past three or four weeks, but have not yet caught any (have date and place records, if desired). Is there a site to update Mo's book regarding official records of Hillsdale Co. butterflies with vouchers taken since his book was published? (Note from Owen: email me at lepalert@comcast.net or Mo at nielsen4@msu.edu .

Note from Kyle Johnson, September 12

Hi Owen, I recently looked at the Lepalert website, and it seems that my report didn't get through, so here it is again.

(Catocala spp.) August 21, 2004, Trombly, Delta Co. MI.
photos by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Light colored (white per Kyle) form of Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona)
May 6 (male), May 12 (female), Madison, Dane Co WI.
photos by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

I have just finished putting together the butterfly portion of my collection and also the database for those specimens, so after I check over and organize the database I'll send it your way.

Maybe a little something to add on to my report: I have been to where I caught the white (light colored) B. bellona last spring several times this fall, and haven't noticed any white ones.

NOTE from Owen: Keep your eyes peeled for strays that may have been carried north by Hurricane Frances!
Mo in his latest email says: It will be interesting to see what impact Florida's hurricanes will have on the appearance of southern strays-if any!?

Especially the Sachem Skipper (A. campestris), the Eufala Skipper (L. eufala), and the Long-tailed Skipper (U. proteus), as well as the Goatweed Butterfly (A. andria), Mexican Sulphur (E. mexicanum), Orange-barred Sulphur (P. philea), and the Cloudless Sulphur (P. s. eubule). There are others!

I thought I saw a Cloudless Sulphur pass through my yard today (September 10) but it was flying about 10 feet above the garden and fast and erratic. I hadmy net handy, but it was of no use today. I would appreciate voucher specimens of any of the above with data should you sight any and be so fortunate to catch one or knock it down with a folded newspaper, magazine or other handy object!!! I would accept a photograph, but a voucher specimen would be more desirable.

Happy sighting!

Email from Martin Bialecki, September 9:

Today I had 1 Am. Copper, 1 GSF, 1 RSP, and 1 Variegated Frit in Camden Twp, Hillsdale county. And hundreds of sulfurs, several Monarch, etc.

Email from John Swales, September 9:

Yes, Roger Wykes and I had our first fiery on your New England Aster last Friday. Yesterday (Wednesday), 2 Leonard's and 11 American Copper at Sharon Hollow; 3 more Leonard's at Hankerd. Nothing else of note.

Email from Mo to Steve Ross, September 9:

Steve, I just examined your last box of butterflies/skippers from the Ottawa NF. Here are the results:

1-Papilio canadensis= one, Ontonagon Co.= county record;
2-Colias philodice= one worn alba female;
3-Celastrina lucia= one worn female;
4-Boloria selene atrocostalis= two;
5-Chylosne nycteis= three, Ontonagon Co.= county record;
6-Polygonia progne= one;
7-Megisto cymela= three, Iron and Ontonagon Co.= county records;
8-Coenympha tullia inornata= three, Iron Co. = county record;
9-Danaus plexippus= one;
10-Erynnis icelus= three, Ontonagon Co. = county record;
11-Polites themistocles= two, Ontonagon Co. = county record;
12-Poanes hobomok= one, Gogebic Co. = county record;
13-Amblyscirtes hegon= two.

I assume you have kept a log of all your data that have been sent to me, as I didn't cite counties for some of the above. Based on my findings, you had eight new county records-all were to be expected. Keep in mind that I have added 638 new
county records since May, 1999, and up to March 2004.

Once this season is over, I will tally, again, the total new county records. I'm certain it will be approaching 700 records!! It will be interesting to see what impact Florida's hurricanes will have on the appearance of southern strays-if any!?

Email from John Farmer, September 7:

Here at 13475 Petersburg Road I saw my first Fiery Skipper of the year around noon today. Also have seen several Buckeyes here over the past week.

Catching fresh Hackberry Butterflies and Question Marks in Owen's trap every few days.

Owen: have vouchers for Hillsdale County: Question Mark, Least Skipper, and Checkered Skipper (saw several on Hog Creek Road on 9/4&5/04. Also have seen several snouts and buckeyes there (Hillsdale Co.) over past three or four weeks, but have not yet caught any (have date and place records, if desired).

An email reply from John Farmer, September 7

I have specimens of Question Mark, Checkered Skipper, and Least Skipper from Hillsdale Co., and the earlier-mentioned Meadow Fritillary from there in '03, as well as one of this summer's American Snout's from this summer. They're all yours, Mo's, or whoever will put them to good use. You can pick up all five and any more I add when you get down this way. By the way, regarding Hackberry Butterflies, I gave Mo specimens caught on June 14 and September 5, 2001 when
you and he were here on 11/5/01. Last year I had many Hackberry Butterflies during September, with the last one recorded on September 18. I have two in my refrigerator right now from today (9/7/04), and will release them if/when I
catch later ones. Otherwise, I'll save one of them for you as a late date voucher for Michigan.

Email from David C. Etz, September 8:

Thanks for the quick reply - I appreciate the info. As a Lepidopterist, I'm just an amateur, but I have been fascinated since youth with the swallowtails & silkmoths. Unfortunately, I haven't collected any scientifically useful specimens during that time. I have been rearing silkmoths for the last several years, mainly for a science display in my wife's classroom at school, but also as a hobby. We've reared most of the native saturniids (cecropia, polyphemus, promethea, luna, imperial, &
regal), and a few exotics (Eupackardia calleta, Actias selene, Samia cynthia, & a couple Rothschildia species).

I grew up in southwest Ohio (Kettering), which isn't that far from Red Lion, where Mark Schmidt is located. As a kid, I collected all the local swallowtail species - as I recall, zebras and giants were the most difficult to find, but by no means rare in those days (early 70's). We would also look for cecropias & polyphemus moths at night under the street lights.

I asked about Mark in my original e-mail because I thought he might be located somewhere in Northwest Ohio (since he follows the Michigan Lepalert). It would've been interesting to have zebras & pipevines being observed regularly that close to the Detroit area (I'm hoping to see a pipevine or zebra someday in southeast MI). I know that pipevines (plants) and pawpaws are sometimes grown here (and there are at least a few stands of native pawpaws in the region) - since pipevine swallowtails are occasionally seen here, you would think zebras would be also (?). I live in St. Clair County, but work in Oakland County (Rochester Hills). I see giant swallowtails fairly dependably in Rochester Hills in late August (I have also seen a few here in St. Clair Co) - usually in the vicinity of prickly ash. I asked you about giants over-wintering here
because (if they're laying eggs in late August) I wondered whether they complete larval development before cooler weather (apparently they do). One additional Q on swallowtails - does the dark phase of the female tiger occur in Michigan?

I have seen Mo Nielson's book, but do not have a copy. I'll contact him for more info on the regal moth in Michigan. It seems as though there should be more of them around since hickory, walnut, & sumac are by no means uncommon here (especially in the rural areas).

I appreciate the offer to visit & take a look at your collection. Fall is generally pretty busy for me (kids school activities), but maybe during the winter (?).

Email from Owen to Dave, September 7:
In response to your email of September 3, 2004, I will attempt to answer your questions.
Mogens C. "Mo" Nielsen, nielsen4@msu.edu , has vouchered specimens from Lenawee County and would be the person to contact pertaining to any others and would be the one to answer any other questions you have related to C. regalis.

Mark Schmidt lives in Red Lion, Ohio. He regularly observes zebras at that location. I observed E. marcellus in Lenawee county in 1999. I am not aware of zebras using other than pawpaw for a host foodplant. Historical records indicate that the zebra swallowtail has been recorded in 24 counties in Michigan including St. Clair county. Michigan Lepidoptera Survey Collection records are only available for 11 counties. I have knowledge that since 1999, zebras have only been sighted in two counties, Cass and Lenawee. The St. Clair county record is prior to 1939! According to Voss, Michigan Flora, Pawpaw is not native to St. Clair county.

Giant Swallowtails are never common in any area by my observations and records and per Mo's book. I have vouchered Giants in my yard in Royal Oak (Oakland County) in June (first brood) and in August (second brood). They have laid eggs on my Prickly Ash, and have gone through all stages to adult. They overwintered as chrysalis, but I am not an authority as to
other stages that they might overwinter in Michigan. They were present in good numbers in 1999 in Lenawee county.

As for Pipevine Swallowtails, I have photo vouchered one in my yard attracted to A. durior vine in 1999 and Mo and I photographed the larva in Lenawee county in 1999. The last known vouchered specimen was in 1991 from Barry county. Do you have a copy of Mo's book: Michigan Butterflies and Skippers? Do you have a collection? I would appreciate further communication with you pertaining to your interest in lepidoptera. You are invited to visit me and view my collection.

Email from David C. Etz, September 3:

I noticed on the Lepalert that you replied to an e-mail from Melissa Lettick (8/20), regarding regal moths, that several have been vouchered in the last half dozen years in Michigan. I'm curious where in Michigan these were recorded? I assume one of them would be the Washtenaw Co moth found in early July? I obtained ova last year from Pennsylvania and reared half a dozen pupae that emerged in late July and early August of this year. I put 2 females outside overnight for about a week, but no wild males were called in. Do you know if regals fly primarily in early July here in Michigan? In your reply you also stated that the larval food plants (walnut, hickory, and similar trees) are not all that prevalent in Michigan, but it seems as though there would be some areas in Michigan where these trees are relatively abundant (?) Do you know whether regals also utilize sumac in the wild? (It was sumac that I used to rear them).

In Mark Schmidt's comments on 8/15, he notes that "no marcellus" were observed. Do you know where in Ohio he is located, and does he regularly observe zebras at that location? How often are zebras observed in southeast Michigan (I assume rarely, since their food plant - pawpaw - is uncommon here)? The USGS Butterflies of N America website indicates that zebras have been recorded in St Clair Co, but I have never seen any here, and don't know of any pawpaws growing in this area, either. On a University of Kentucky website ("Common Butterflies of Kentucky"), they list 4 food plants for zebras: hornbeam, pawpaw, spicebush, and tulip tree. Do you know whether zebras actually utilize these other 3 species
in the wild?

Question on giant swallowtails (I observed several giants over the last few weeks in western Oakland Co) - How often (and which months) are they normally seen in southeast Michigan, and do they overwinter in Michigan (as larvae or chrysalis?), or are they only a late summer visitor?

Report from Kyle Johnson, August 31:

Here's my report for two weekends ago with some pics. The first two are of the Catocala sp. from the bait trap (Aug. 21)

Sighting by Owen A. Perkins, August 26, 2004:

Monarch visiting garden at 2806 Linwood Avenue,
Royal Oak MI on August 26, 2004. First migrating sighted
this year.

Report from Mo, August 21:

August 12-18, Richard Henderson (KY), Ted Herig (MI) and Jim Vargo (IN), joined 'Mo' Nielsen at his Otsego County 'hut' for essentially a Catocala trapping 'foray'. Using 12 bait traps, 3-4 UV traps, a baited trail, MV/UV/sheet set-ups, and a SL/UV at the hut, they found 'Cats' in lower than usual numbers as compared to previous years.

Approximately 60 plus 'Cats’ representing 14 species were trapped in bait traps, plus a few others were seen/taken during this period. Included were C. antinympha, coelebs, ilia, cerogama, relicta, unijuga, briseis, semirelicta, concumbens, sordida, ultronia, crataegi, praeclara, blandula. We found several semirelicta, both sexes, in bait traps and on baited trees-more than expected! All of the 'Cats’ were in “immaculate” condition. Richard and Ted bagged several females for ova and rearing.

Other notable moths taken during this period were: Arctia caja americana (few), Syngrapha epigaea (1 ), rectangula (1 ), Apamea ophiogramma (1 ), Papaipema pterisii (1 ), Polia purpurissata ( common).Eurois asrticta (common), Schinia arcigera (1 ). Manyother noctuids were taken that must await later identification!

During the day, under sunny skies they saw/collected the following butterflies and skippers: P. napi oleracea, rapae, C. philodice, eurytheme, L. phlaeas americana, Satyrium titus, S. cybele, atlantis, B. selene myrina, P. progne, N. antiopa, milberti, L. arthemis astyanax, L. archippus, E. anthedon, C. pegala nephele, D. plexippus, H. leonardus, E. vestris metacomet. Most species were found in low numbers.

Temperatures during this period ranged from a low of 38-40 d. to a high of about 78d. We believe that the lower than normal temperatures had an impact on the low number of species and their numbers.

On August 16/17, we made a trip to Cheboygan Co. set UV traps along Elliot Creek and in Cheboygan State Park. Unfortunately, some of our traps malfunctioned and very few moths were taken; most notable were C. coelebs, Oligia bridghami. Hypocoena inquinata. During the day, a few L. dorcas were seen in an area of shrubby cinquefoil. Ted found a fresh pupal skin of P. appassionata in a dead Pitcher Plant leaf-indicating the population is emerging. It was exciting to see an adult and immature Bald Eagle in the Park-always a bonus on these trips!

Mo forwarded this (edited by OAP) email from Stan Lilley, August 23:

Yes, I do use a digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix 4500. I still occasionally carry my Canon EOS A2, but I really love the immediate review capability of the digital and the quality is getting pretty good these days.

By my notes I think I've sent you 46 new county records over the past three seasons: 42 from Isabella County, 3 from Mecosta County and one from Saginaw County. It has been lots of fun, but I've found most of the easy ones for Isabella, so I'm going to have to keep expanding my area.

Speyeria cybele krautwurmi
photo by Stan Lilley © 2004

Mo forwarded this (edited by OAP) email from George Balogh, August 18:

Visited Drummond Island last weekend. Nice sunny weather but very cool nights, 43 degrees on Sun morning when picking up traps on the Maxton Plains. Few moths in traps but one Cat. semirelicta taken (settled on the outside of one trap).

We wandered the cobble beach and wetland at Huron Bay on the south part of the Island Sat afternoon and found one specimen of Lycomorpha pholus on goldenrod. Checked the last MI macro DB that Martin sent me some time ago and L. pholus is on the list but I don't see it on Moore's old list. Don't recall seeing this moth in MI before. Has the moth been taken in the UP previously? What MI records are you aware of?

Email from Melissa Lettick, August 20:
mlettick@frontiernet.net

Hi. I just came across your site while researching the Regal Moth, wanting to find a photo to refresh my memory of its astounding beauty. None of the sites I've found really show the subtleties of the coloring very well, or give a sense of its size. I'm not a scientist or a collector but had a unique sighting last summer while riding my bike with some friends on the
"tow path" (the C&O Canal) on the Potomac River north of Sharpsburg, Maryland, that I'd like to share with you. Something caught my eye on a branch of a bush by the path, so I decided to turn my bike around and see if I'd really seen what I thought I'd seen. There on the branch were two gorgeous enormous moths, one much larger than the other, mating. They stayed there for at least 15 minutes, since that's about how much time I spent watching them, and who knows how long they had already been there and how long they remained after that. They were sort of "throbbing" together. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen...I felt a bit like a voyeur, but I also felt as if I'd stumbled onto something that was a gift,
and couldn't bear to leave. My friends were already 15 minutes up the path, so I had to leave sooner than I wanted. But I so wish I'd had a camera with me. I went online as soon as I got home that day and did a search for the moth based on its size and the colors, and there it was, the Regal Moth. I read that it was a night creature, but obviously it has some activities that it doesn't restrict to the night. Or maybe it was still partying from the night before! Who knows? Maybe you do. I know this isn't very scientific moth talk, but I think this was probably a very unique sighting. I've lived in this area for 21 years, quite near the river, and I spend a good amount of time outdoors. I've never seen this type of moth before or since. Well, that's it. Happy lepidoptering! --Melissa

Note from Owen: From what my entomologist friends have told me, the Royal or Regal Walnut Moth (the larva commonly known as the Hickory Horned Devil) is a seldom encountered moth. It has only been vouchered in Michigan less than a dozen times. Since the larva is a walnut, hickory and similar tree feeder and since these trees are not all that prevalent in Michigan, one wouldn't expect to encounter this species very often. It can be attracted to Mercury Vapor and Ultra Violet lights as I am aware of several being vouchered by this method in the past half-dozen years. It is one of the large moths and its common name implies its beauty - Regal Moth.

One good site is: http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/bfly/regal_moth.htm

Email from Mark Schmidt of Ohio, August 15:

Howdy Gang!

I had a relatively slow day around here! It gave me time to enjoy the yard and butterfly garden. Found an ash sphinx larva looking for a pupation spot.

For a season that has not been the best for butterflies, it was nice to be visited by a cloudless sulphur. Sorry, no photos. It seemed to be in a hurry and just blew by the yard.

I finally had a female troilus about, feeding and laying eggs high in my sassafras trees. It's been very strange not to have glaucus larvae this year but finally I am seeing a number of males at my blooms. Lots of wood nymph. They've been strong for a longer period of time than what I normally recall. No marcellus. Plenty of philenor as usual. Cresphontes showed up two weeks ago and larvae are feeding. No plexippus larvae but have seen a couple of adults.

That's pretty much the update. Will be hoping to mate a third brood bicolor tonight.

Report from Kyle Johnson, August 15:

Here are some Michigan pics. Perhaps one more report to come before I head back to Madison in only two weeks!

Willow area of Gogebic Station Bog, Gogebic Co., August 1
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Another part of Gogebic Station Bog, Gogebic Co., August 1
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

North of North McFarland Bog, Marquette Co., August 8
Kyle Evan Johnson, entomologist & herpetologist,
after expedition to the North McFarland Bog.
Photo taken by cousin Andrew Johnson.
Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Kyle Evan Johnson, 19 year old lepidopterist from Wisconsin, who in 2004 visited
his grandmother's property in Delta County and specialized this year in bog butterflies
in Delta and Marquette counties and explored for new bogs to survey in 2005.
Mo and Owen hope to meet up and survey with Kyle in the Upper Peninsula in the Spring of 2005!
Photo taken by cousin Andrew Johnson.
Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Report from Kyle Johnson, August 13:
Finally got a report together with a few more pics this time. I'll be sending another email shortly with 3 Michigan pics.

Report from Kyle Johnson for July 22 to August 9:

The past couple of weeks have been nothing but intense ento-action for me, leaving little time for rest. From July 22 to July 30 I was out west on “vacation”, which for me meant 9 days of hardcore ento surveying, and well over a hundred miles of hiking (and all for a grand total of $210, $180 being gas!). July 31st I spent in Douglas county WI and Gogebic co. MI surveying; that night I returned home in Green Bay only to return to the UP the very next day!

I’ll keep the details of the west trip to a minimum (yes, I know it’s not Michigan!). In summary: the butterfly action was insane! Hard to keep track of numbers of everything, especially the Speyeria! I didn’t notice too much in the way of moths, but did catch a couple of really neat looking Arctiids, and missed a huge one with a wild looking pattern. I stopped at a few places along the plains, but most of the time I was at higher elevations in Wyoming; two days east of Teton NP, and four days hiking the Bridger Wilderness of the Wind River Mountains.

Wind River Mountains, WY (July 28)
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Those four days in the Wind River Range were the most intense bug expeditions I have ever experienced - a 20 mile hike, then a 14 mile hike, followed by a 26 mile hike, and ending with a 30 mile hike that had me on the verge of collapse! All hiked through incredibly beautiful, rugged, mountainous, and very remote wilderness; I really had to work to see many of the species I encountered! I won’t get into detailed reports of what I saw, but to save time here’s a list of all the species I encountered (at least the ones confirmed by capture and/or vouchers, I probably saw many others but could not confirm them. Also, even with vouchers, can you really ever be sure of your Speyeria?!)

Papilio zelicaon, Papilio polyxenes asterias, Papilio rutulus, Papilio eurymedon, Parnassius clodius, Parnassius smintheus, Colias meadii, Colias eurytheme, Colias philodice, Colias pelidne minisni, Colias gigantea, Anthocharis stella, Euchloe ausonides, Pieris rapae, Pieris marginalis, Pontia protodice, Pontia occidentalis, Danaus plexippus, Coenonympha tullia ochracea, Coenonympha haydenii, Cercyonis pegala nephele, Cercyonis oetus charon, Erebia epipsodea, Erebia callias, Limenitis weidemeyerii, Vanessa cardui, Nymphalis milberti, Euphydryas chalcedona anicia, Euphydryas editha beani, Chlosyne palla calydon, Chlosyne whitneyi damoetas, Phyciodes selenis, Phyciodes tharos, Phyciodes campestris, Boloria napaea halli, Boloria selene tollandensis, Boloria chariclea helena, Boloria kriemhild, Boloria frigga sagata, Boloria freija browni, Speyeria mormonia eurynome, Speyeria hydaspe sakuntala, Speyeria callippe nevadensis, Speyeria egleis macdunnoughi x utahensis, Speyeria zerene picta x gunderi, Speyeria edwardsii, Satyrium titus immaculosus, Satyrium fuliginosum, Callophrys affinis, Lycaena cupreus artemisia, Lycaena helloides megaloceras, Lycaena heteronea, Lycaena editha, Everes comyntas, Everes amyntula, Glaucopsyche lygdamus oro, Euphilotes ancilla, Lycaeides idas atrapraetextus, Lycaeides melissa, Plebejus saepiolus insulanus, Icaricia icarioides pembina, Icaricia acmon lutzi, Oarisma garita, Thymelicus lineola, Polites draco, Polites sonora utahensis, Anatrytone logan lagus, Amblyscirtes vialis, Erynnis persius borealis, Pyrgus ruralis, Pyrgus communis

The Boloria probably deserve special mention (and I’m sure some of you out there might find interest in this genus). The best find by far was B. napaea halli. I encountered it halfway through my 20 mile hike in the Wind Rivers in an interesting boggy tundra-like habitat along a stream (the “bogs” that I saw are nothing at all like a UP muskeg).

Boloria napaea halli in the Wind River Mountains (July 26)
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Considering my interest in bog fauna (either the alpine zone or bogs are my favorite habitat [until I see the arctic some day], I can’t decide which) seeing frigga and freija again was a very interesting experience. Boloria frigga sagata was fairly common around Togwotee Pass east of Teton NP; I always found it flying around shrubby willows in moist areas along streams. Boloria freija browni I saw fairly frequently in subalpine to timberline habitats in the Wind Rivers, usually in boggy tundra like areas with shrub willows.

Boloria freija browni in the Wind River Mountains (July 28)
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Surprisingly I found no Oeneis (although I never got above 10,900 ft.), and the only noteworthy species of my favorite genus Erebia was callias; I searched quite a bit for theano ethela but found none. At Powder River Pass in the Bighorns I traversed the rockslides searching for magdalena; I think I saw two but raging alpine winds carried them far, far away before I could get a good look at them. The old Erebia “fly up high and let the wind carry you far away from Kyle” tactic that is often used by discoidalis. Only it is much, much easier to run in a bog after discoidalis than it is to frantically stumble across a steep rockslide after magdalena!

Back to something a little closer to home (or maybe not so close for those of you in the LP). On my way back from out west I swung up to Douglas Co. in the far northwest corner of WI. On Aug 1 I woke up and did some searching in the morning around the Milchesky Road Bog and the Bear Creek Bog (the one on county road A with all the chariclea). Just like the UP things seemed to be biologically behind, but I did manage to find one Boloria chariclea grandis along the edge of the Bear Creek Bog.

Bear Creek Bog (along county road A) Douglas Co., WI (Aug. 1)
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Some of the other notable species were Lycaena dorcas, Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis, and Euphyes dion. Now that I had surveyed the habitat of Boloria chariclea grandis and even vouchered a specimen, I headed off to Gogebic co. MI in hopes of a new state record.

That day (Aug. 1^st) I visited four out of the many bog sites that I located using aerial photos, all in Gogebic Co. The first was Bedboat Lake Bog, a fairly large bog around Bedboat Lake. Nothing too extraordinary in the bog itself, but I had two good captures along the road that circles south of the bog: Polygonia satyrus and Lycaena dorcas. Totals there were: Colias eurytheme 4, Colias interior 1, Pieris oleracea 2, Cercyonis pegala nephele 4, Limenitis arthemis arthemis 1, Polygonia satyrus 1, Phyciodes selenis 1, Boloria selene atrocostalis 1, Speyeria atlantis 10, Lycaena dorcas 1, Thymelicus lineola 4, Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis 61, Hesperia comma laurentina 5, Polites mystic 3, Euphyes vestris 5. This bog seems like a very good site for jutta and eunomia. There are no good dry hummocky areas for freija/discoidalis as far as I could find, but I didn’t do all that much hiking, most of which followed the lake edge, which I gradually moved away from after breaking though five times!

The next site I visited was the most interesting to me, although I had no unusual finds. I call it the Gogebic Station Bog (it is north of Gogebic Station along the north side of US-2). At first the site looks more like a cattail marsh/ cedar swamp driving by, but the tamarack areas are suggestive of a bog. After hiking through a thick cattail sphagnum bog area I came out to a semi open tamarack dominated bog with various shrubs and large amounts of what seems to be the very same bog willow present in the Douglas Co. WI frigga bogs. At least now I had an excellent place to check for frigga next year. After cutting across a marshy area I came to another more open and less shrubby bog with mostly tamarack and some spruce. By this time I had noticed that this bog shares some of the vegetation (as far as I can tell!) of the Douglas Co. chariclea bogs, especially the bog goldenrod. I was now even more excited about the site, but the temp had dropped a little and strong winds were blowing, so no chariclea. Totals there: Colias eurytheme 1, Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis 26, Hesperia comma laurentina 1, Polites mystic 1, Euphyes vestris 1. The bog looks very good for jutta, eunomia, and frigga. It also has some small open hummocky areas that might have freija. And of course, keep your eye out for chariclea!

The last two sites I stopped at very briefly (about 15 minutes each). The first was Bass Lake Bog, a few miles north of Watersmeet. Totals were: Cercyonis pegala nephele 2, Speyeria cybele krautwurmi 1, Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis 2 It is a good sized tamarack dominated bog that looks good for jutta and eunomia. There are some good sized open meadows which I didn’t have time to explore, but for the most part the bog seems too flat for freija and moist for discoidalis. The last site was the North Watersmeet Bog, a few miles north of Watersmeet on the west side of US-45. Totals there: Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis 10. Again, this bog looks good for jutta and eunomia. This bog has some very open meadows like the Ramsey Lake Bog, with some hummock development, so freija might be a possibility here. It still seems too moist for discoidalis, but I haven’t explored the site much.

Later that night I was back in Green Bay, only to leave the very next night for my Grandma’s house in the UP, staying up there for a week. In addition to surveying my Grandma’s property (Trombly) and the McFarland Bog, I also went with my family (or was it with the bugs instead?) up at Baldy Lake in Alger County and also a few random spots close to Munising.

August 3- For two hours in the morning I hiked around my Grandma’s property in Trombly (Delta Co). At first I didn’t find anything that was out of the ordinary, but toward the end of my hiking I captured two species which I have never seen on the property before (and I have been surveying here since the age of six!), Satyrium titus and Wallengrenia egeremet. This shows that even though you’ve been to a site a million times, you probably haven’t found everything. Totals there: Colias philodice 15, Enodia anthedon 3, Megisto cymela 1, Cercyonis pegala nephele 25, Phyciodes selenis 4, Boloria bellona 3, Speyeria cybele krautwurmi 43, Satyrium titus 1, Thymelicus lineola 3, Polites peckius 3, Polites mystic 13, Polites themistocles 5, Wallengrenia egeremet 1, Euphyes vestris 7

Later that day I did some hiking around Baldy Lake (Alger Co.). Lots of Geometrids, but not much in the way of butterflies, although I was surprised to find a Satyrium titus in the middle of a wet leatherleaf bog. Totals there: Enodia anthedon 1, Phyciodes selenis 1, Satyrium titus 1, Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis 16, Polites mystic 1, Euphyes vestris 2

August 4- I actually brought my dad to the McFarland Bog on this morning! Not sure if he enjoyed that muskeg as much as I did though! Most of the time was spent hiking the sandy trail on the south side of the bog, although I made him do a hundred meters or so in the bog. I spent a couple of minutes looking for dorcas but the wind was blowing and the temp was no more than 70 at best, so I decided to try later. I was happy to note that bog goldenrod was present along the trail close to the bog. Totals: Colias philodice 1, Colias interior 40, Satyrodes eurydice 1, Coenonympha tullia inornata 1, Cercyonis pegala nephele 12, Speyeria atlantis 3, Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis 4, Polites mystic 1

August 5- Most of the day was spent at a few places near Munising (Alger Co.), but it was only 60-65 and breezy most of the day, so I hardly saw anything. Totals for all sites: Colias eurytheme 1, Colias interior 2, Pieris oleracea 1, Enodia anthedon 1, Speyeria cybele krautwurmi 4, Thymelicus lineola 2. I also spent some time at Baldy Lake, but spent most of time searching for herps (for those who don’t know that’s reptiles & amphibians, NOT herpes!).

August 6- A little warmer (65-70) and I hiked for over four hours in the woods north of Baldy Lake on Bruno’s Run Trail, but ONLY saw ONE Euphyes vestris. Hmmmm.......

Driving back to my Grandma’s I took a few of the gravel forest roads (going past the Ramsey Lake Bog) to check out another site I had located by aerial photos south and east of the Ramsey Lake Bog. I wasn’t expecting much, but it turned out to be absolutely loaded with bog birch, more than any other bog I have seen. Another “must see” for next year.

August 7- Warmer still (70-80) and at least I saw a few things! In the morning I hiked around my Grandma’s place again (Delta Co.) Satyrium acadicum was a good find; I haven’t seen it for at least 3 years on the property. Totals were: Colias philodice 5, Enodia anthedon 3, Satyrodes eurydice 1, Cercyonis pegala nephele 7, Phyciodes selenis 6, Boloria selene atrocostalis 1, Boloria bellona 1, Speyeria cybele krautwurmi 12, Speyeria atlantis 4, Satyrium acadicum 1, Thymelicus lineola 3, Polites peckius 9, Polites mystic 11, Polites themistocles 2, Euphyes vestris 3

Later I went to some sort of family reunion thing at Rapid River Falls Park (Delta Co.), but of course I ended up doing some bug surveying. Saw one fresh looking Polygonia (probably progne) but couldn’t even get that close to it (I don’t record something unless I am absolutely certain of the ID). Totals: Colias interior 4, Pieris oleracea 5, Danaus plexippus 1, Cercyonis pegala nephele 7, Phyciodes selenis 4, Boloria selene atrocostalis 1, Boloria bellona 2, Speyeria cybele krautwurmi 10, Speyeria atlantis 7, Satyrium titus 1, Hesperia comma laurentina 1, Polites peckius 1, Polites mystic 1, Euphyes vestris 2

August 8- Nice until I got out to the McFarland Bog; when I arrived the sun decided to hide and the wind replaced it. My cousin also decided to tag along, wondering why he was spending part of his summer in a bog! My goal was mainly to search for chariclea, or considering the weather, chariclea habitat. I made out for the moist bog birch area, and sure enough there was a fair amount of bog goldenrod. I also noticed some bog willow (the frigga kind) hidden in with the birches. I did see two orange Boloria, but they were of course selene atrocostalis, same as the time when I was searching for frigga. Totals: Colias interior 23, Cercyonis pegala nephele 3, Euphydryas phaeton 1, Phyciodes selenis 2, Boloria selene atrocostalis 2, Speyeria atlantis 8, Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis 4, Polites mystic 3, Euphyes vestris 2

Considering the cool and cloudy weather, I then decided to drive a little ways north to check out a bog I had spotted using aerial photos, the North McFarland Bog (less than a mile north of the McFarland Bog). After driving in on a gravel road which caused my no ground-clearance Saturn to bottom out a few times, I parked my car in an open area about 0.25 miles north of the bog. The rest would have to be through the woods. This time my cousin stayed in the car (he would later be glad he did). The forest quickly gave way to nearly impenetrable alder swamp. I had my GPS out, but I felt it couldn’t get a good signal and was leading me the wrong way, so I decided to trust my own sense of the direction. And sure enough after 20 minutes I ended up back on the road close to where I started! Now I had no choice but to trust my GPS, and slowly made my way back into that awful alder swamp. After a little while the alders and other brush become much, much thicker- every step of the way I was trampling over shrubs, for there were no openings whatsoever. I then began wondering if the distance to this bog was in fact a quarter mile, or maybe much more! I climbed high into a tamarack to get a good look around, and could faintly make out were the bog was, but the brush looked very thick the whole way. After a while of more stumbling through the brush I made it to the bog. The soil must have a fair amount of nutrients, because there were a wide variety of shrubs, although I could not find bog willow or birch. Bog goldenrod was also present. Most of the bog seemed too flat and moist to support discoidalis or freija, but after some more hiking I found a few a few drier hummocky areas, although there are no really good open areas at all. Perhaps still open enough for discoidalis, I hope. On the way out I decided to find a different way back, and I probably was trespassing through some sort of clear-cut area just to avoid that awful brushy swamp. After all, I had torn an extra hole in my already holey beautiful bog jeans.

August 9- I went out to the McFarland Bog for one more try at chariclea. The weather was good for a little while, but later it began to rain. Near the start of the trail I found Satyrium acadicum, a new species for the site. I hiked to the far east side where I had found a marshy area with sundew, but I didn’t see any bog goldenrod there, although was some nearby back toward the bog. On my way back through the bog I did a bog sweep with my net, collecting several micro leps and countless tiny insects, including some neat micro Hymenoptera. Totals: Colias interior 37, Cercyonis pegala nephele 19, Phyciodes selenis 1, Boloria selene atrocostalis 1, Speyeria atlantis 15, Satryrium acadicum 1, Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis 22, Hesperia leonardus 1, Polites mystic 5, Polites themistocles 1

Well, no chariclea this time, but next year “I’ll be back”. Before I left for home I set up the bait trap back out on my Grandma’s property. On Aug. 20 I will be up in the UP for two days, so I can check the trap and rebait it then. Hopefully I’ll get Polygonia satyrus or gracilis (there is some currant in the area). Due to weather conditions this year the Catocala will not be emerging until sometime next June.

Email to Mo from Carly Kelly,
I was up in MIO yesterday (8-10-04) doing Michigan Bog Grasshopper surveys (Appalachia arcana) when I came across this white caterpillar on a raspberry leaf, it looks familiar but I am not sure what it is?
-Carly Kelly

Anania funebris glomeralis (Wlk.) Ogemaw County near Mio,
10 August 2004
photo by Carly Kelly © 2004

Mo Nielsen wrote:
Carly, Got your message; your 'white-spotted' moth is Anania funebris glomeralis (Wlk.).
Unfortunately, it has no common name that I know. It is figured in Covell's, "A Field Guide to the Moths of Eastern North America", 1984. This book is no longer in print, but may be obtained in used book stores. This is a common moth that occurs during the day in fields; its larval host is goldenrod. The species is Holarctic, i.e. occurring throughout the northern hemisphere.

Email from Julie A. Craves, August 4:

Mo and Owen,

Yesterday (8/3/04) I collected another Coenonympha tullia inornata from Wayne Co., this one from the northwestern part of the county in Canton Twp., versus the southeastern part of the county where I collected one last year (which I wrote up for the MES newsletter, pg 5 December 2003). This individual was also much fresher than last year's. I only saw one, but did not have much time to explore the whole vicinity, which was overgrown lots awaiting office development.

I have found it to be a poor year in general for both lepidoptera and odonata at most sites in Wayne Co.

--
Julie A. Craves
Rouge River Bird Observatory
University of Michigan-Dearborn
http://www.rrbo.org

Report from Kyle Johnson, August 02:
Kyle telephoned me today with results of his trip to Wyoming for Bolorias, etc., and his results on Sunday in Gogebic County where he obtained some county records. His report will follow when he returns to Wisconsin.

Report from John Farmer, July 31 & August 01:

1:00 P.M., 7/31/04

A fresh specimen (Libytheana carineta Snout Butterfly) hanging out around our red van in the driveway at 13475
Petersburg Road today. This Snout found at my home would duplicate the one you (Owen Perkins) found on Embury Road as a voucher for Washtenaw Co., since I live in the county.

By the time I read your reply to my announcement at 4:00 P.M. yesterday, the Snout had left the driveway. Fortunately, however, I saw it around 5:00 nectaring on a Wild Carrot blossom in my garden.

Report for July 16-19, 2004 on Northern Blue Survey by Mo Nielsen and Bob Kriegel

Our goal for this trip was to obtain specimen/photographic vouchers to confirm visual sightings of the Northern Blue, Lycaeides idas nabokovi, in and near the Ottawa National Forest’s McCormick Wilderness Tract in northwestern Marquette County. This Blue is listed in Michigan as a threatened species by MDNR and is one of our more poorly known butterflies. Although Owen could not join us, his legwork was critical in providing us habitat descriptions and GPS coordinates. A big thank you to Owen and Amy T. Wolf, Ph.D. (Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay WI 54311 wolfa@uwgb.edu) for these leads.

Mo and I left at 7:30 am on Friday July 16^th, hoping to beat an east bound weather front to the classic Northern Blue locality east of Shingleton, MI. Unfortunately, when we arrived at the Seney rest area around 12:30 pm it was already raining. A cell phone call to Owen confirmed that the rain was widespread and slow moving so we continued westward. When we arrived at Ishpeming, MI around 3 pm it was still cloudy and sprinkling. There would be no butterflying on this day. So we did the next best thing and focused on rocks including a quick trip to da Yooper’s Rock Shop, a tour of the Cleveland & Cliffs Iron Mining Museum and a walk up to the top of Jasper Knob. I think Mo had a good time. He was certainly impressed with the gnarled jasperlite bald overlooking downtown.

Here and at several other stops during our trip we saw beautiful but deadly mushrooms of Fly Agaric, Amanita muscaria. That night we set up UV traps and a sheet along an old railroad right of way through marsh a few miles west of town.

The next morning (Saturday, July 17) we arose to a beautiful sunny day and were soon heading north from Champion, MI on a county road (607) paralleling the Peshekee River. Mo described the undulating road as a rocking chair ride. A long tailed weasel darted across the road in front of us. The terrain here is very unique for Michigan, a combination of narrow outwash plains and precipitous granitic balds. Some of these knobs rise more than 100 feet above the river. Around 10:15 am we pulled into an old, overgrown borrow pit to get our gear in order and see if anything was flying yet. The butterflies were just starting to take wing. Over the next 45 minutes we encountered almost a dozen species, including one fresh Northern Blue male. This was a new locality! We searched the immediate area for more individuals and for its larval host, dwarf bilberry, but found neither.

Encouraged, we moved on to the first GPS coordinate Owen and Amy had provided. As soon as we got out of the van by the driveway we saw a couple of Northern Blues basking on the road. We spent the next hour and a half combing the area to get a handle on the extent of the population. We observed around 20 individuals, both males and females. One female was completely missing a hind wing, but she was still able to fly surprisingly well. Since almost all of the butterflies were in excellent condition, we surmised that we were still in the first half of their flight window. We found three small patches 4-6 ft in diameter of dwarf bilberry in the immediate area. The butterflies were nectaring primarily on daisy, yarrow and orange hawkweed.

Next, we drove to the entrance of the McCormick Wilderness Tract. According to our leads, a sizable population of Northern Blues and the host plant had been observed here in 1989 and 1994. Unfortunately, there were no specimens or photographs to document these observations. That’s why we were here. Mo and Owen visited the site in 2003 and were unable to find either the butterfly or its host. This year Mo and I returned with a more detailed site description in hand. According to the MNFI report the site was in a large open meadow just 500 ft NE of the bridge across the Peshekee River. To prepare for our trip I used Terrain Navigator Professional software to locate this meadow on aerial photographs and upload GPS waypoints at both ends of the meadow into my Garmin Vista GPS unit. We spent almost two hours at the site walking the trail and crisscrossing all of the little pockets in the meadow looking for the butterfly. It was a beautiful day and many butterflies were present, but no Northern Blues. We saw lots of daisies, yarrow, clover, vetch, lowbush blueberry, wintergreen and other plants; but we were not able to locate any dwarf bilberry. We searched the area for side trails and took the only one we found to be sure that didn’t lead to another meadow. The earlier observer had reported seeing over 200 butterflies on both occasions. We were stumped. We already knew that the species was flying. There was no evidence that the site had been disturbed. The open meadow was still intact. How could we possibly miss such a large population? Either we were at the wrong spot or the earlier observer had mistaken some other butterfly for the Northern Blue. It’s experiences like this that remind me why solid documentation is so important.

Disappointed, we drove north to another GPS coordinate lead at a curve in the road. Our instructions were that there was host plant to the north. The coordinate turned out to be in the road itself, very near a national forest boundary marker. The area north of the road was heavily forested with no openings. Mo was very skeptical, but I encouraged him that we should check it out. We walked about in the forest and eventually made our way to the top of a forested knob. It was quite a view down, but we saw neither bilberry nor blues. Folks, if you use GPS devices please be careful to take coordinates right on the spot in question, don’t take them at the car and then walk into the woods. Also, be very careful to keep track of which coordinates are associated with which observations. Or better still, use one of the mapping programs like National Geographic Topo, Delorme’s Topo USA, or Terrain Navigator to document and keep track of your waypoints and tracks. OK, I’ll get off my soap box now.

We continued driving north to see what the habitat was like. By now the asphalt road had turned to gravel and taken over the course of an old railroad grade. In some areas the outwash plain was completely covered with wetlands. A couple of times we drove through very impressive cuts that had been blasted through granite knobs for the railroad right of way. We eventually found ourselves almost 23 miles north of M28 in Baraga County, truly in the middle of nowhere.

We headed south back to the driveway spot to take more photographs. I walked both sides of the road for 200+ yards in both directions and only encountered the butterfly within about 100 ft of its host. This time around Mo estimated that he saw about 30 individuals of the Northern Blue. Sometime during this second visit to the spot I realized that this locality was also a shallow, overgrown gravel pit, significantly older and more overgrown than the one where I had encountered my first Northern Blue male.

We had one more GPS coordinate to check out and I had high hopes for this lead. The coordinate was for a patch of dwarf bilberry located by a botanist during a plant survey for the forest service. On the topographic map and aerial photo I could make out a trail that led from the county road, across the river and near the spot. The aerial photograph also showed that the trail bisected a large clearing. On the photo this clearing looked identical to images of the clearings near Shingleton, MI that we know harbor Northern Blues. It was going on 4 pm when we started down the trail. Around the first bend we discovered that the 2-track went right up to the river but there was no bridge. The river appeared to be too deep to cross here. At that point I think we reached our level of frustration for the day and turned around. In hindsight I wished we had plodded on and found a place to cross the water. A few days later three forest service personnel did just that. They sent an e-mail to Owen with 3 GPS coordinates where they found the Northern Blue. Those coordinates turned out to be along this trail and in the clearing. And this was a new locality for Michigan. Ah well, next year I guess we’ll cross that river when we come to it.

In any event Mo and I headed south along the county road back towards M28, stopping at several places to see what was flying. As we passed another gravel pit he pulled off and we got out of the car. Almost immediately I saw a Blue flying over the bare gravel and netted it. It was another male Northern Blue. A few minutes later I spotted a female Blue, but it eluded me. Soon after this I caught another Blue. This one turned out to be a worn female Silvery Blue, Glaucopsyche lygdamus. So now, I’m not sure what species of Blue the female was that I missed. We searched the area looking for dwarf bilbery, but didn’t find any. Unlike the earlier gravel pits, this one is very fresh and may, in fact, still be in use. During the day we recorded a total of 20 species of butterflies as follows: Papilio canadensis, Colias interior, G. lygdamus, L. idas nabokovi, Speyeria cybele krautwarmi, S. atlantis, Boloria selene atrocostalis, Chlosyne nycteis, C. harrisii, Phyciodes selenis, Nymphalis antiopa, N. milberti, Limenitis arthemis, Enodia anthedon, Coenonympha tullia inornata, Erynnis icelus, Thymelicus lineola, Polites peckius, P. themistocles, and P. mystic.

That night we set up a generator and UV sheet in one of the old gravel pits. We had an excellent night of blacklighting. There were many St. Lawrence Tiger moths. Kyle, this is the arctiid species you mentioned in your last report. It flies earlier in the season than the Garden Tiger Moth. We also had a male cossid, a female prometha moth, several Plusiinae, and a nice diversity of notodontids. The picture of the tiger moth on dew covered fern was taken the next morning (Sunday, July 18) as we were taking down the sheet.

In the morning, after we were back on highway M28, Mo humored me and we drove through Champion, MI to track down the mine dumps of the abandoned Beacon Iron Mine. There we collected a few shimmering pieces of specular hematite. You can bet I’ll be back to this location!

Then we were back on the road again heading to the classic Northern Blue locality east of Shingleton, MI in Alger County. When we arrived at the site we could see that someone had been walking there before us. There was plenty of dwarf bilberry in evidence, but we did not see any of the butterflies. We worked our way east to another nearby spot that Mo and Ted Herig found about 10 years ago. This is a significantly larger patch of habitat. We encountered both male and female Northern Blues very soon after entering the site. Owen, your flagging tape is still up and really helped us negotiate this confusing patchwork of openings. Mo and I watched a female L. idas ovipositing on dwarf bilberry. As we explored the area we discovered that the bilberry is much more extensive than we had previously realized. It even reaches quite a ways into dimly lit black spruce stands as a groundcover mixed with a creeping dogwood. However, it does not seem to do well in full sun in the really dry spots. Here the bilberry gives way to lowbush blueberry and reindeer lichen. As I was photographing a worn female Blue that I presumed to be L. idas, she turned around to display the underside of her wings. The white halos around her black hindwing spots revealed that she was in fact a Silvery Blue. We estimated that we saw about 30 Northern Blues at this locality.

That evening we blacklit for moths in the ballfield at the north edge of Seney, MI, adjacent to a beautiful bog of Greenwood peat. We had an outstanding night of mothing catching many species of Plusiinae, tortricids, and notodontids. On Monday morning we made several stops as we continued east but did not observe anything significant.

All in all, it was an excellent trip. Saturday was both a very productive and frustrating day. This was my first experience in the field with Northern Blues so that was a real treat. I learned a lot about the Northern Blue’s haunts and we found two new localities. We also learned that we have a lot more work to do in northwest Marquette County. This trip raised new questions like is the Northern Blue only found in the outwash plains near the McCormick Tract, or are they also found at the tops of the granite knobs? Several people over several different years have been unable to duplicate the McCormick Tract Northern Blue sightings reported in 1989 and 1994 by one individual. Is this really a Northern Blue location, or did this individual actually see the Silvery Blue instead? The meadow has lots of vetch, this species larval host; but we were unable to find any dwarf bilberry. Is it just coincidence that all 3 of the Marquette County spots where we observed Northern Blues were old gravel [borrow] pits or does this tell us something about the butterfly or host plant’s ecological niche? Is it an opportunist that quickly colonizes the edges of openings on dry, droughty soils? Will we be able to find other Northern Blue sites in the logged outwash plain along the Peshekee River? How extensive is the butterfly’s bilberry habitat in the Shingleton area? As always -- so many bugs, so many questions, so little time. rdk

John Douglass sent me this stamp with the notation:

Happy memories Owen, E. laetus = joyful

Thank you John!

Note from Owen, July 22:
Summer Azure visited purple coneflowers in my back yard in Royal Oak today.

Report from John Farmer, July 22:

Snout Butterfly - A pretty worn specimen visited the purple coneflowers just outside the screened in porch at 1:00 today, Thursday, 7/22/04. My first of the season.

BTW, a couple each of Tiger and Black Swallowtails yesterday around noon at York Township's Sandra Richardson Park. If you haven't checked out the area, you might like to add it to your butterflying loop. There's a nice mix of microhabitats along the trail and there were quite a few leps and odonates flying there as I redistributed the Girl Scouts' bluebird houses there yesterday. If you aren't familiar with the park, the parking lot is on the east side of Platt Road 1/2 mile south of
Willis Rd. I'm a member of the Parks Committee for York Twp.

That said, you might also like to park in the new lot at the northwest corner of the Township's other park - Mary McCann Park - 1/2 mile south of Bemis Road on the east side of Warner Rd. Roger Kuhlman and I have seen some interesting things there (browns, hairstreaks, pearly eyes, variety of skippers, buckeyes, fritillaries) during Saline River Counts in years past. There's a trail leading eastward from the small parking lot through the woods to an old field at the back of the park. The
woods and the field are crossed by a deep ditch - intermittently wet - that has produced some of the best sightings in the past.

Also, I've had two good days lately with the Owen Perkins trap. Thirteen catches Tuesday and 10 yesterday. Haven't processed yesterday's yet, but Tuesday's catch was 7 Tawny Emperors, 5 Question Marks, and 1 Wood Nymph. Things may be looking up in this year of few 'flies.

[Note from Owen: Keep up the good observations. I am particularly interested in the fermented fruit bait trap captures!]

Email from Karen M. VanDuser [ kvanduser@juno.com ], July 21:
Subject: Regal Moth

I found one in my front yard, yesterday. I have not written down the scientific name but found it using yahoo search as the regal/royal moth. A Florida site has the most information on this.

The moth is the adult of the Hickory Horned Devil. I saw this brilliant robin's egg blue larvae last fall in the back yard.

My sighting is in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Hope this helps you in identification.

Note from Owen, July 20:
Red Admiral visited purple coneflowers in my back yard in Royal Oak today.

Note from Owen, July 17:
Two Michigan Lepidoptera Survey (MLS) members are in Marquette County today (Saturday, July 17) surveying for the Northern Blue (Lycaeides idas nabokovi).

Report from Kyle Johnson for July 9-12:

Nice weather yet again in the UP, with a few interesting finds. Things are still noticeably behind the usual.

July 9- I did some hiking around my Grandma’s house near Trombly, did a little searching around Rock (also Delta Co.), hit the McFarland Bog area for over 2 hours, and made a short stop at Little Lake (a jack pine barrens area in Marquette Co.) My highlight of the day was finding Euphyes bimacula at the McFarland Bog site (a new species for me). No eunomia left over and no epixanthe flying, although the latter hasn’t been found before at the site. Totals for the day: Trombly (Delta Co.) Papilio canadensis 1, Enodia anthedon 2, Coenonympha tullia inornata 10, Limenitis arthemis arthemis 1, Euphydryas phaeton 10, Phyciodes selenis 29, Boloria selene atrocostalis 1, Speyeria cybele krautwurmi 1, Speyeria atlantis 1, Thymelicus lineola 38, Polites mystic 22, Polites themistocles 3 Rock (Delta Co.) Papilio canadensis 1, Danaus plexippus 1, Enodia anthedon 1, Megisto cymela 2, Euphydryas phaeton 10, Phyciodes selenis 17, Thymelicus lineola 27, Polites peckius 2 [Delta County record], Polites mystic 24, Polites themistocles 5 McFarland Bog (Marquette Co.) Papilio canadensis 1, Colias interior 24, Satyrodes eurydice 1, Coenonympha tullia inornata 12, Limenitis arthemis arthemis 1, Chlosyne harrisii 1, Phyciodes selenis 8, Boloria selene atrocostalis 3, Speyeria atlantis 2, Thymelicus lineola 5, Polites mystic 8, Polites themistocles 4, Euphyes bimacula 1 [Marquette County record] Little Lake (Marquette Co.) Coenonympha tullia inornata 5, Thymelicus lineola 1, Hesperia sassacus 1, Polites mystic 1, Polites themistocles 2

July 10- I spent the whole day at my uncles’ place near Brampton, Delta Co. Totals: Papilio canadensis 3, Enodia anthedon 1, Satyrodes eurydice 1, Megisto cymela 3, Coenonympha tullia inornata 48, Limenitis arthemis 4, Vanessa cardui 1, Polygonia interrogationis 1, Nymphalis antiopa 2, Euphydryas phaeton 14, Phyciodes selenis 45, Boloria selene atrocostalis 2, Carterocephalus palaemon 1 [This is a late date], Thymelicus lineola 235, Polites peckius 3, Polites mystic 30, Polites themistocles 7, Euphyes vestris 1

July 11- Cooler and cloudy most of the day. Aside from my uncles’ place in Brampton, I hiked a trail north of Brampton and stopped at Brampton Lake. My hike on the Brampton Trail wasn’t supposed to be a butterfly survey expedition (it was a fitness walk with my mother, without my bug net!), but I had to check out a little brown butterfly- C. niphon clarki- a little odd for July! [Note from Owen: This ties the late date record] Totals (all Delta Co.) Brampton Papilio canadensis 2, Enodia anthedon 2, Megisto cymela 2, Coenonympha tullia inornata 1, Limenitis arthemis 2, Euphydryas phaeton 1, Phyciodes selenis 5, Thymelicus lineola 25, Polites mystic 1, Polites themistocles 1 Brampton Trail Papilio canadensis 1, Megisto cymela 1, Callophrys niphon clarki 1 Brampton Lake Megisto cymela 16, Limenitis arthemis 1, Thymelicus lineola 3

July 12- The night before I finally got my light out for some great moth action. One luna, several sphinxes, a couple Arctiids, and of course countless Noctuids, Geos, micros, and many others. I think I’ll worry about some of their ID’s in the fall/winter when I have some time on my hands! The weather on the 12^th was nice for the most part, but when ever I try to look for Euphyes/Poanes sedge skippers the wind picks up so that it is almost impossible to spot anything unless it’s right under my nose, and if I did find something it would be carried far by the wind! I did find one E. bimacula at the McFarland Bog site, but it was on the sandy trail that leads to the bog. A good find indeed, but by far the rarest catch at the bog that day was none other than Pieris rapae! I also spent an hour or so at Little Lake hoping to find more H. sassacus, but no such luck. Totals: McFarland Bog Papilio canadensis 1, Colias interior 51, Pieris rapae 1, Satyrodes eurydice 1, Coenonympha tullia inornata 14, Limenitis archippus 2, Limenitis arthemis 1, Phyciodes selenis 11, Speyeria atlantis 5, Ancyloxypha numitor 1, Thymelicus lineola 28, Polites mystic 14, Polites themistocles 5, Euphyes bimacula 1 Little Lake Colias interior 2, Enodia anthedon 1, Megisto cymela 1, Coenonympha tullia inornata 5, Thymelicus lineola 23, Polites mystic 10, Polites themistocles 1

On Thursday July 22 I should be on my way to the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming, a little change of pace from WI and the UP. Over a week of nothing but bugs (and maybe a rattlesnake on the prairie, to satisfy the herpetologist side of me!). And all for under $200 (college budget!). Another chance to see my favorite genus Erebia (especially theano and magdalena) and also some beautiful Boloria (most notably napaea halli and improba harryi if I’m lucky). If I don’t fall off a mountain slope chasing alpine leps, get eaten by a grizzly, or have my car explode from the abuse I put it through, I plan to be back in Wisconsin early on August 1. Instead of heading directly home I plan to head to Douglas county to check out Boloria chariclea grandis, and then head east to Gogebic county in the UP to try my luck with the species (although it might be a little early considering how far behind everything is). The weekend after that I plan to head to my grandma’s again to check the McFarland Bog and a few other places for chariclea as well. After that its not long before I get to experience the joys of organic chemistry back at Madison!

Only one picture this time; this time the moths get a chance!
I can't remember what species it is, but I know I've seen it in Les Ferge's collection.
It doesn't look like the Garden Tigers I usually find (Arctia caja).
First time I've ever seen it.
Picture taken in the morning on July 12 at Trombly, Delta Co.
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

HELP -What is the scientific name? lepalert@comcast.net

REPLY FROM: Mogens C. "Mo" Nielsen
Kyle's large Arctiid moth=St. Lawrence Tiger Moth, Platarctia parthenos. It is fairly common in our northern counties, usually peaking around July 1 in most years. Our other large arctid is the Garden Tiger Moth, Arctia caja americana, which usually peaks a month later. Both are common at the hut (Otsego County)!

Thanks Mo!

News release provided by Harry King, July15:




Regal moth regales a crowd Large, majestic insect spotted for first time in Washtenaw County Thursday, 8, 2004BY ALLISON M. HEINRICHS News Staff Reporter A vibrant orange moth with a half-foot wingspan made its first recorded debut in Washtenaw County outside a Pittsfield Township company last week. The regal moth, which is typically found in the southeastern United States, was spotted on the pavement next to a recycling bin at Statprobe, a contract research provider for biotech and drug companies. A large, shimmering green luna moth, which is more common to the area, was seen in the spot in early June. Several employees went out to look at the regal moth, said Kathi Downs, administrative manager at Statprobe. "Nobody wanted to touch it because it was so big," she said. Finally one of the employees turned the moth over, revealing several bright white stripes. Downs later photographed the moth and took it home with her. With the help of Annette Pickard, a research assistant at Statprobe, Downs discovered that the moth had not yet been reported in Washtenaw County and contacted the Michigan State University entomology department. "It's a novelty," said MSU entomologist Howard Russell, noting that regal moths and larvae have occasionally been spotted in Hillsdale County but never in Washtenaw. Russell said that the moths, which are not harmful to trees or shrubs, are currently in the egg-laying stage of their development and will soon die. When the eggs hatch, the blue-green larvae - known as hickory horned devils because of their long orange scoli or "horns" and propensity toward eating hickory leaves - will emerge and grow to the size of a large hot dog. In the fall the larvae will burrow into the ground for the over-wintering or pupa stage and reemerge next spring as moths. "They're gorgeous moths," Russell said, but he forewarns prospective moth hunters that it is rare for even an experienced entomologist to find a regal moth, especially because they are usually only active at night. Downs planned to turn the moth over to the MSU entomology department. © 2004 Ann Arbor News. Used with permission Copyright 2004 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.

In an email from Harry to MI Lep Survey Members:
Is this a new record for regalis?
Harry

Response by Mo:

Harry, Yes, C. regalis from Washtenaw Co. is a NEW county record!!

There's more to the story than what's in the press release! To make a long story short, I had several Emails from the lady who saw/found the moth, and later the reporter. I instructed her how to kill it by freezing it, etc.

On Tues., I drove to Ann Arbor and retrieved the moth; just yesterday, I spread it, and now awaits a permanent label for the MSU collection! As Paul Harvey would say, "that's the rest of the story"!! ha.

You see, Harry, some of us will go to any 'end' for a moth! By the way, it is a large beautiful male; stop in someday and I'll let you see it.
Cheers, 'Mo'

Note from Owen, July 14:
Several MI Lep Survey members have plans to go to the Ottawa National Forest in Marquette-Baraga Counties to voucher the Northern Blue (Lycaeides idas nabakovi) in the next few days at potential sites for which no voucher specimens have ever been know to have been taken. Mo and I were there last year and were not able to locate the apparent sites. I wish them good fortune!

Report from Mo, July 14:
It WAS a good day (July 13) for me! First, I picked up the Royal Walnut Moth in Ann Arbor-a nice fresh male, and a county record.
Then I headed for the Morenci area, and netted two E. dukesi in my 'historic' site. I took two males in fresh-immaculate condition, saw an immaculate female but missed it! The site is extremely small and appears to be getting smaller each time I visit it. There is less wide-leaf sedge but more crowding of shrubs, other wetland plants and Galium vines!!!
(Note from Owen: The BASE 50 BE DEGREE-DAYS reading for Morenci, Michigan, for 13 July 2004 was 1434.)
Then I checked some Hop vines in the N. Morenci city park, and found a viable stem gall containing Papaipema circumlucens larva! Also a good find.

Report from Owen, July 10:
During a survey on July 9 for the determination of the presence of Dukes' Skipper at a site in Wayne County for an Environmental Firm I had the opportunity to find the species in a lush habitat of a Lake Sedge (wild leaf sedge) meadow. In addition:
The following species of Butterflies and Skippers were observed or vouchered as species associated with the habitat that supports Euphyes dukesi:
Lycaena hyllus, Satyrium acadicum, Satyrium edwardsii, Everes comyntas, Syeyeria cybele cybele, Speyeria Aphrodite, Phyciodes tharos, Limenitis arthemis astyanax, Limenitis archippus, Satyrodes eurydice, Megisto cymela, Cercyonis pegala nephele, Danaus plexippus, Pompeius verna, Wallengrenia egeremet, and Atrytone logan.

The BASE 50 BE DEGREE-DAYS reading for Dundee, Michigan, for 9 July 2004 was 1288. The reading for Saline, Michigan, which is at about the same latitude as the meadow, but not as close to the heat-sink of Detroit, was 1215.

Report from Kyle Johnson for July 1-5

The weekend before this was the first one that I failed to make it into the UP! The 4^th of July always finds me at my Grandma’s house, however, and this one was no exception. The first few days were beautiful, but the 4^th was rather crappy (rainy and cold) as far as weather goes, reducing the amount of firepower deployed. The 5^th was also rather horrid at first, with temps starting out in the 40’s and only breaking 60 after 1 pm or so.

July 1- I arrived around evening, but still decided to check the trails even though the sun was getting low and the mosquito numbers high. Totals were: Coenonympha tullia inornata 5, Thymelicus lineola 4, Polites mystic 1.

July 2- Beautiful weather for the early part of the day. The weather at night was also good; I wish I would have taken some time for moths because I could see all kinds of things flying in the headlights of the ATV I was driving, including a few Polyphemus and several drunken Poplar sphinxes (P. modesta), which seem to crash into everything. Aside from hiking around on my Grandma’s property (Trombly, Delta County) I also spent 2 ½ hours at the McFarland Bog (Marquette County) to see if I could still find eunomia, perhaps even a marked one from two weeks before (in the SE corner side bog). There were a few faded ones that I found, but none were the ones from before. That day I marked the new ones I caught with red dots to make sure I wasn’t recapturing the same ones over and over. I then decided to head out into the main McFarland Bog and look for eunomia. After a short time I spotted one, which turned out to be one of the ones I marked in the side bog not 30 minutes before! I then continued onward for almost ¼ mile in the moist east side, and recaptured that same one again! I suppose it enjoyed my company. After a little more hiking I turned up two more that I had not marked from the side bog, so eunomia is apparently not restricted to that tiny area. Totals for the day: Trombly (Delta County)- Papilio canadensis 7, Enodia anthedon 1, Megisto cymela 18, Coenonympha tullia inornata 33 [Delta County record], Vanessa atalanta 1, Nymphalis antiopa 1, Euphydryas phaeton 24, Chlosyne nycteis 1 [Delta County record], Chlosyne harrisii 3 [Delta Co Record],

Chlosyne harrisii, July 2, Trombly, Delta County record
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Phyciodes selenis 75, Boloria selene atrocostalis 50, Speyeria atlantis 5, Celastrina lucia 1, Carterocephalus palaemon 1, Thymelicus lineola 51, Polites peckius 1, Polites mystic 26, Polites themistocles 8, Erynnis icelus 2. McFarland Bog (Marquette County)- Papilio canadensis 6, Megisto cymela 1, Coenonympha tullia inornata 28, Limenitis arthemis arthemis 1, Chlosyne harrisii 1, Phyciodes selenis 11, Boloria eunomia dawsoni 12, Callophrys augustinus 3, Thymelicus lineola 8, Polites themistocles 3, Erynnis icelus 6

McFarland Bog (Marquette County) SE side, July 2     Boloria eunomia dawsoni, July 2, McFarland Bog SE side
                                                                                           (Marquette County)
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004                                         photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

July 3- Beautiful weather for the second day in a row. Unbelievable. From 10:30am to 3:15pm I hiked all over the property, then on to a clear-cut area (paper company land of some sort), and then on a dirt/gravel road over the Tacoosh River a few times back to the Trombly road. And were there the butterflies! I had a difficult time putting tick marks after each species spotted in my little field notebook because there were just too many (especially the northern crescents). Interestingly the clear cut area almost seemed to be carpeted by Atlantis Fritillaries (accounting for the high number recorded). Totals for the day: Papilio canadensis 23, Colias eurytheme 1, Colias interior 1, Danaus plexippus 1, Enodia anthedon 20, Satyrodes eurydice 1, Megisto cymela 37, Coenonympha tullia inornata 37, Limenitis archippus 2 [Delta Co record], Limenitis arthemis arthemis 12,

Limenitis arthemis arthemis & Speyeria atlantis on dung,
Trombly, Delta County, July 3
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Vanessa atalanta 1, Polygonia progne 1, Nymphalis antiopa 2, Euphydryas phaeton 12, Chlosyne nycteis 2, Chlosyne harrisii 2, Phyciodes selenis 290, Boloria selene atrocostalis 40, Speyeria cybele krautwurmi 7, Speyeria atlantis 210, Feniseca tarquinius 1, Thymelicus lineola 90, Polites mystic 23, Polites themistocles 72, Euphyes vestris 1, Amblyscirtes hegon 1, Erynnis icelus 7

July 5- As mentioned before very cold to start! By 10:00am the temp had just reached 50, bringing back memories of a very cold May this year. With the way the degree days are climbing in this neck of the woods some species may never emerge! At 12:40pm I was back at the McFarland Bog in my sweatshirt (is this July?), partly to collect bog birches for my buckmoth larvae that I thought were frigga (I never said I was an ace with larvae, especially 1^st or 2^nd instar!). After vouchering some fantastic bog birch I decided to check on my eunomia to see if they were still out, despite the cold and clouds. After a little search in the side bog I saw one fly right by me at a smoldering 2 mph, but somehow managed to miss it! I never found out if it was one I marked or not. Later I hiked the main bog to the far, far east end (which I had not previously explored). And finally I could take off my sweatshirt! Along the way I recorded a second eunomia. Eventually the bog opened up into a large marshy area with some sphagnum and sundews. It reminded me of a picture I had seen for the habitat of Boloria chariclea grandis (formerly B. titania) in Ontario. Another habitat to think about in addition to bog edges. In early August I plan to check the McFarland Bog for this species, after first observing it in Wisconsin (and I also plan on searching extensively for Erebia mancinus as well in the next few years, for Erebia is my favorite genus). Totals for the day: McFarland Bog- Colias interior 1, Coenonympha tullia inornata 4, Limenitis archippus 1, Phyciodes selenis 5, Boloria eunomia dawsoni 2 [Flight Period - Late Date], Boloria selene atrocostalis 2, Thymelicus lineola 1, Polites mystic 1, Polites themistocles 6, Poanes hobomok 1, Erynnis icelus 1 Trombly- Satyrodes eurydice 1, Megisto cymela 4, Coenonympha tullia inornata 1, Nymphalis antiopa 1, Phyciodes selenis 18, Boloria selene atrocostalis 2, Speyeria atlantis 7, Thymelicus lineola 5, Polites peckius 1, Polites mystic 8

I first recorded B. eunomia at the McFarland Bog on June 18, and my last observance was July 5, proving that their flight period can last 18 days, a little shy of 3 weeks. Their flight probably began a few days before the 18^th, and will probably continue for at least a day or two more (or still more with such cold weather!), so in a cool year their flight period can probably last a little over 3 weeks at a given locality.

This next Friday I should be in the UP yet again (surprise, surprise!). If I’m extremely lucky I could find a eunomia barely hanging on to life by a tarsus. More realistically I hope to find L. epixanthe and perhaps even dorcas, although I’m not so sure how the degree days are looking for that to happen. The weekend after that I might try again, but the one after that I’ll be off to the Wind River Mts. of Wyoming for some awesome alpine adventures! Erebia and Boloria galore, I hope!

Hi, I am Laurie Schneider. I took this photo of a promethia moth which my cousin Linda Scholton had eclose from a cocoon collected winter 2003. This was our first year gathering cocoons. It was collected in Harborcreek,PA. We would like to hear from any collector who would be interested in buying this moth.

laurie- lauries21@hotmail.com

linda- lscholton@porterie.com

Promethia gyandromorph moth, winter 2003, Harborcreek PA
photo by Linda Schlton © 2004

Telephone report (preliminary) from Kyle Johnson, July 6:

On Monday, July 5 at the McFarland Bog in Marquette County, I vouchered a Boloria eunomia. This is a late date for the flight period.. [Note from OAP: The BEDD for July 5 at Cornell is 460. This is behind the DD for July 5 for the past several years.]

Report from Mo, July 5:
I went out on Saturday to Barry and Allegan SGA's looking for butterflies, especially H. ottoe. Didn't see it, it may be late this season? I checked out the usual stops in both areas, and found lots of vetch, and some cacti in bloom, but only one skipper, Thorybes bathyllus at ASGA. Also saw P. glaucus, S. cybele, aphrodite, L. phlaeas americana, S. edwardsii, E. anthedon, M. cymela, C. pegala nephele.

Late, I check an AMTRAC prairie NE of Lawton in VanBuren County for signs of Eryngium yuccifolium, where I found it many years ago. I'm still searching for signs of Papaipema eryngii that bore into the stems! Must have forgotten the exact site, or it is no longer there!? While there, I netted an immaculate S. melinus humuli on Black-eyed Susan and one C. neglecta female. It was a hot sunny day in the PM, and finally returned home!

Report from Mo, June 12 (delayed because of snafu by the U. S. Postal Service):

Collecting experiences after the great 50th meeting.
I'll be brief and yet hit the highlights. At any time during Sun. PM to Tues. PM, we were from 4 to 6 collectors: Ted Herig, Bob Kriegel, Dr. Jane O'Donnell, Eric Quinter, MCN, Jim Wiker. Most of the butterflies/skippers were collected/observed during sunny periods, generally in the PM (actually, we had great weather for both diurnals and nocturnals - considering our lousy weather earlier).

The 'action' was either at the hut around three large clumps of lilacs in full bloom (P. canadensis were out in splendid form), and on the dry pine barrens in T29N R2W, Sections 13, 16, 17 and 21. At times, the ambient temperatures were close to 90 degrees F., requiring a drink or two! ha. (while catching my breath, sitting on the van 'tailgate', a P. batesii flew in!)

During this period we collected/observed 28 species of butterflies and skippers: including E. olympia, L. helloides, I. polios, niphon clarki, G. lygdamus couperi, B. selene myrina, P. batesii, M. cymela, O. chryxus strigulosa, C. palaemon mandan, H. metea, sassacus, A. hianna, A. vialis. We found many Arabis drummundii plants with E. olympia ova. It was fund to see Jane, Eric and Jim see/catch their very first chryxus! We search for P. centaureae wyandot around two 'well-heads', surrounded by many wild strawberries, but saw none (two were taken earlier on May 28).

We also set out UV/bait traps, and MV/UV/sheet set-ups in the same locations for moths under almost ideal night conditions. One night, it never dropped below 72d. F., while manning the sheet 'til 4 AM. The mosquitoes were almost too 'much', but we persevered !!?? Despite hordes of 'June-bug' beetles in the UV traps and at the sheets, we are still tabulating the tremendous number of 'macro-moths', but can mention: H. cecropia, A. polyphemus, S. drupiferarum, luscitiosa, poecila, H. gracilis (daytime), Notodonta simplaria, Spilosoma dubia, Drasteria graphica, Syngrapha microgamma neartica, Cerma cora, Panthea acronyctoides, pallescens, Acronicta quadrata, superans, Elaphria georgei, Sideridis rosea, maryx, Phrr hia exprimens, Schinia bina (daytime) - to name a few.

Ted tried to lure H. columbia to a caged female without success; though he did find ova of the 'Cherry Gall Azure' on a few tiny leaf galls on Choke and Wild Black cherries near the hut!

All participants were very satisfied with their experiences, and left the area as 'happy campers'!! ha.

FOR SALE !

I have some Birdwings for sale. If interested e-mail me at B.FREIJA@CABLESPEED.COM

Harry D. King

Teinopalpus imperialis...3 males...........................insect universe.........150.00

approx. cost Connie butterfly / Ianni / Thorne / insect world
O. rothschildi 1pr. A1 30.00
O. chimaera 1pr. A1- 200.00
o. tithonus misresiana 1pr A- 65.00
O. goliath samson 1 male A 40.00
O. croesus lydius 2pr A1 75.00
O. priamus posedion 3 females, 4 males. (1m is f. poseidon, 2m f. cronius) 70.00
O. priamus urvillianus 1 female, 5 males. ( 1m is f. flavomaculata yellow 80.00 spot on hindwing subcoastal)and the males
are from three differant islands for var..
T. trojana 1 male A1 35.00
O. victoriae regis A1/A- 2pr. 180.00ea. pr 360.00

total 1105.00

**make offer on any or all**

shortly I will put these on insect classified or perhaps e-bay.

Report from Mo, June 25 in a message to Mark Churchill:

HI!, THANKS for your message at the hut!!! Ted Herig and I had just returned around 5 PM from the Alpena/Presque Isle co's areas, and >the pine barrens, about 4-5 miles east of hut.

Congratulations on collecting O. macounii and P. machaon at Nipigon!! Ted, especially, would love to find both, and rear them! ha. I trust you and Olga enjoyed your trip in Canada!

Ted and I enjoyed our 'Father's Day' weekend at the hut, even though the temperatures could have been higher! We went north on Sat. to the Luce Co., '421' bog, under a beautiful blue/cloudless sky. We were hoping to collect a couple live Boloria frigga females for rearing; Ted had one in his net, but somehow, it escaped!! ha. He, too, was NOT a 'happy camper'! ha. We did get a few B. eunomia dawsoni males and females, plus a couple Boloria selene atrocostalis.

Near the hut, we observed/netted P. canadensis, L. helloides, I. niphon clarki, P. batesii, C. inornata, H. sassacus, P. hobomok ; most were nectaring blackberry and orange hawkweed. The cooler temps, plus a good N'ly breeze, undoubtedly kept us from seeing more. So it goes in the north country! ha. The week after the MES '50' AM, we all netted several immaculate P. batesii, at and next to the hut!

Tell me more about your sighting of E. mancinus! I've never seen it alive, but consider it a 'possible' in the UP-about the same time as O. jutta ascerta. I'd look for it in the black spruce/tamarack perimeter that outlines many of our northern bogs. It may be difficult to find in MI, given that it MAY be a 'biennial species!!??

You can also add, that we did stop at the Laketon 'Lilacs' on our way to and from the hut. We saw nectaring on lilacs: P. canadensis (few), Polygonia comma (one), V. atalanta (one), D. plexippus (one) and a few C. palaemon mandan. I tried to 'bottle' a female G. lygdamus couperi on the gravel road, but you know the story.......D&S.......!!!! ha. The lilac flowers were on the wane! Only a couple of Arctic Skippers were nectaring on the vetch; saw NO Hemaris! The temps were in the 60's, with a cool N/NW chilling wind!!

Maria Albright reports, June 30:
Two fresh male Karner Blues were seen this afternoon at the Monroe Road site in Allegan County, thus the beginning of the second flight. (OAP info: BEDD = Fennville 930, Allegan 1001.)

Report from Owen, June 22:

On June 22 1982, Michael R. Jeffords, photographed what is identified as a Karner Blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis Nabokov) in Ogemaw County, Michigan. This photo was subsequently published on page 125 of Field Guide to BUTTERFLIES OF ILLINOIS by John K. Bouseman and James G. Sternburg. This is the northern most location at approximately 44.3491 Degrees N.

At the request of Mogens C. Nielsen in a communication with Michael R. Jeffords, the specific location was subsequently indicated on a map. Michael stated in the communication, "This is as near as I can remember, it was a while ago."
". . . on a sandy rise with scattered lupine. . . "

In an attempt to document the current existence of this Federally Endangered species in Ogemaw County and the host plant, Lupine (Lupinus perennis L.), several expeditions have been conducted. The vicinity has been surveyed on several occasions since 2000 by Owen A. Perkins (member of the Michigan Entomological Society - Michigan Lepidoptera Survey), Rodger H. Lyons II (DNR Wildlife Assistant, Houghton Lake) and Jennifer Fettinger (Michigan Natural Features Inventory Associate Program Leader -- Zoology, Lansing).

It was surveyed especially to relocate the site that Michael indicated on the map, for both the host plant and the butterfly.
No evidence of any stage of the butterfly has been determined and no one has found any lupine!
The latest expedition was conducted on June 22, 2004, when Owen and his wife Grace traveled from Royal Oak to Ogemaw County and met up with Jennifer Fettinger who had traveled from Lansing.

Surveying along the road we encountered the following species (listed in no particular order): Canadian Tiger Swallowtail, Viceroy (Ogemaw County Record), Red-Spotted Purple, Least Skipper, Indian Skipper, American Copper (Ogemaw County Record), Wood Nymph, Northern Pearly Eye, Question Mark, and the Northern Pearl Crescent.

The site that we suspect was the "sandy rise" was thoroughly examined by Owen. It appears that the site had been plowed since 1982 and the current predominate flowering plants were Vetch - Vicia spp. and Orange Hawkweed - Hieracium aurantiacum. NO LUPINE WAS OBSERVED. Jennifer and I hope to return next spring when lupine would be in bloom as locating the blooming flower raceme would be much easier than locating the leaves of this host plant. The oak trees in the area are scattered and there wasn't a oak forest edge with lupine contiguous for the type of habitat familiar to those observing the Karner Blue in southwest Michigan.

Sandyrise, T23N R3E Section 35 contiguous to 26                 Vetch and Orange Hawkweed, T23N R3E Section 35
photo by Owen A. Perkins © 2004                                                                    photo by Owen A. Perkins © 2004

Report from Martin Bialecki, June 18:

Today and yesterday I spent at least 5 hours (each day) in sec 5 of Somerset Twp. Hillsdale Co. ( just west of the Goose Creek Fen Preserve.) Approx. 100 acres is high quality sedge fen surrounding the undisturbed, heavily-marled Brasee Lk.
The main components (besides sedges):
Shrubby cinquefoil, Pencil reed, Poison sumac and in lesser/varying degrees: Blue flag, tamarack, alder, buttonbush, dogwood, scrub willow, grass of Parnassus, cattail, swamp thistle.
The Purple loosestrife has gained a significant foothold, dominating about 40% of the 100 acres I visited. A few expanses up to 3 acres each appeared loosestrife free. Although the "air" temps were only around 70, the sun was intense and the breezes nil.
Anyway the point of this message is to brag about the absurdly low #'s of butterflies. (I had high hopes upon entering this area...)
This is my COMPLETE (dammit, do you hear me??!!) list for both days out on the marl sedge-fen, only (I had a few of the usual suspects in the shade of the nearby woods).

2 Question Marks
2 Great Spangled Fritillaries
4 Clouded sulfur
2 Cabbage
1 Delaware Skipper
1 Lil' Glassywing
3 European Skippers
I Azure
THE END (miserable gasp)
Well, this is only to illustrate the impact of a "NON" list -- we all love to gloat when we've discovered new haunts full of great bugs!

[Note from Owen: This site sounds like a likely habitat for the Swamp Metalmark and/or the Powesheik Skipper. June 18 was too early but since it is now June 30, both may be present or soon present.]

Report from Kyle Johnson for June 18-19:

Despite the fact that I was to do a triathlon this past Sunday, I still chose the head back to the UP on Friday and return home on Saturday. And I’m glad I did! The weather was somewhat decent both days, but still good enough for some interesting finds. On Friday I got out to the McFarland Bog by noon, with temps in the low 70’s and sunny. My goal was mainly to document frigga and secure a female for eggs. For the first few hours I searched the dwarf birches, but all I found were several selene atrocostalis. I chased every Boloria like thing I could find, but as I got closer to each one my disappointment grew as I could see that they clearly were not the frigga I had hoped for. I also hiked the NE meadow for a little bit in hope of finding a very faded discoidalis, but no luck there either. At 3:50pm I ended up at the little side bog with bog willow (on the SE side of the McFarland Bog) for a last ditch effort to find frigga. By that time it was cloudy and windy but still warm (75 or so). I searched the willows, not really expecting to find anything, when a darker Boloria not resembling selene or frigga slowly flew past me in an almost surreal moment. I quickly broke out of my stupor to catch it in order to confirm my suspicion- enomia dawsoni [This is a Marquette County record]! A little early I thought, considering everything was around 2 weeks behind or so. Must have been the first to emerge. Even though it was dark and cloudy (but still warm) I began to realize that there were in fact quite a few slowly flying around in the open part of the bog. Soon after the sun came out again and their numbers increased even more. With such good numbers in a very small bog (this side bog is only about a 100 feet wide and maybe 300 feet long or so) I suddenly came up with the idea of yet another capture and release project: to figure out the lifespan of eunomia (and see if they only fly for only a few days as some literature states, or several weeks). Within an hour and 25 minutes I had vouchered 2 males, 2 females (one dark and one light for each gender) and marked 40! During the marking I recaptured only 2, so there must be a good size population present in that little area. I noticed a female laying eggs on cranberry, so I kept her and hope she keeps laying! Several of the specimens were worn, so they must have been out for at least 2 or 3 days.

Boloria eunomia dawsoni, at the McFarland Bog SE side, 18 June 2004.
This is a Marquette County record.
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

In addition to the eunomia, I vouchered 1 O. jutta, so that could be a new locality if you want to count the side bog as a separate site, even though it is only about 200 feet away from the large McFarland Bog itself! Seeing that eunomia was out in full force, I then decided to check the rather moist West McFarland Bog (a completely separate bog on the west side of M-35 along the curvy portion, about a half-mile from the McFarland Bog). Leaving my eunomia behind I quickly made my way back down the sandy trail toward my car to get to the site as soon as possible. I was stopped for a moment by a large female jutta that I saw slowly flying in a dry open sandy area close to the bog. By 5:40 I was at my car, and in less than 10 minutes I was at the West McFarland Bog. Still warm and sunny, but very windy. The first capture I made was jutta, which is a voucher for yet another new locality for the species. Then in the distance a saw an orange Boloria, but it turned out to be selene atrocostalis. Not to long after I spotted another Boloria, but this time I was pretty sure it was eumonia. I never found out though, because it was hard to track in the strong wind and I took yet another dive into the bog, this time a very moist one! I got up, wet and humiliated. Soon after I spotted another at a distance which also got away in the wind! Finally, the next one I spotted I did in fact catch, and it was eunomia. Finally! And good thing too, because I saw no more afterwards. I saw one more jutta which I managed to snap several photos of with my digital camera (a Cannon Power Shot G2 with a macro lens, so I have to be a foot away to get a good shot- not easy for many species!).

Oeneis jutta ascerta at West McFarland Bog, 18 June 2004.
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Totals for the day: McFarland Bog- Papilio canadensis 22, Pieris napi oleracea 1, Oeneis jutta ascerta 4, Polygonia progne 1, Nymphalis antiopa 1, Phyciodes selenis 6, Boloria selene atrocostalis 14, Callophrys augustinus 14, Lycaena phlaeas americana 1, Celastrina lucia 1, Carterocephalus palaemon 5, Polites themistocles 2, Poanes hobomok 5, Erynnis icelus 22 McFarland SE side bog- Oeneis jutta ascerta 1, Boloria eunomia dawsoni 45+, Callophrys augustinus 1 West McFarland Bog- Oeneis jutta ascerta 2, Boloria eunomia dawsoni 1, Boloria selene atrocostalis 1, Boloria sp. 2, Callophrys augustinus 3.

On Saturday morning the sun was shining, but it was in the 50’s to start out! I headed east, and got to the USFS 2219 bog to hopefully get some frigga females, if they were still flying. When I got there at 12:25 it was 65 and sunny, but fairly breezy. Not long after it was about 70, but partly cloudy. I spent almost the whole time in the dwarf birches. After about 10 minutes I saw my first Boloria, but it turned out to be selene atrocostalis. Aside from one faded C. augustinus, I didn’t see any more butterflies actually in the bog, not even Papilio canadensis. I was not feeling very optimistic at the time. Then suddenly I made a chance discovery when I noticed two peculiar dark blobs in the bog birches. On closer inspection they turned out to be gregarious blackish brown larvae with black spines. They must be frigga! I must admit that I’m not so great with immatures of anything, including butterfly larvae, so I’ll need Mo or someone to give me a positive ID, unless of course I can raise them to adults (hopefully something doesn’t go wrong, as is usually the case!). After taking some pictures (at least larvae can’t fly!) I kept one of the groups to try to raise through the winter. The other I decided to leave in the bog and try to observe later (and have the bog take care of them instead of me!). With yellow ribbon I marked a tamarack close to the birches, and also the individual plant they were on, so they shouldn’t be too hard to relocate (I also took GPS coords.). [Note from OAP. I will forward photo to Mo, but they look like buck moth larva.]

At 1:55 I was out of that bog; for some reason on 2219 the butterflies (at least P. canadensis and 2 Morning Cloaks) were out, but they weren’t in the bog. By 2:25 I was at my HW-13 Bog to see if eunomia dawsoni was flying there yet. Sunny and low 70’s, but that damn wind just wouldn’t leave me alone! Finally after about 20 minutes I finally spotted eunomia, which was not easy to catch with the wind blowing. In my 40 minute stay I vouchered 2 in different habitats within the bog, marked 4, and missed 3 others. Papilio canadensis was also present, of course. My last stop was at the Ramsey Lake Bog complex from 3:35 to 4:45pm. A little warmer (mid 70’s) and partly cloudy, with that ever present wind. I started out by searching the bog birch area on the west side of the road (can’t remember the number) for frigga, but without any luck. I then hiked the east side, which just happened to have a lot more bog birch over a large area. Still no frigga, but you can bet that I’ll be back there next year! I then followed the east margin to a very wet part of the bog. Almost immediately I spotted eunomia in the open wet meadow, but my nemesis the wind carried it far out of sight! I soon spotted another, but with the same result. I headed toward the tamarack studded margin where hopefully I would have better luck. Nothing at first, but later I caught a female that I nearly stepped on. Now that I had a voucher for this bog (a new site) I headed back to my car, where I caught and released another female that I find in a fairly wet area with scattered dead jack pine. I was now ready to leave, my legs sore and a half-Ironman triathlon (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, & 13.1 mile run) awaiting me the following morning (which actually went pretty well except for the swim; it was shorted to .25 miles because of 3 foot high waves and waters that almost made me go into hypothermia!).

Next weekend I’m not sure if I can get back into the UP, so anyone wants to check out the McFarland SE side bog with my marked eunomia they could help get some concrete data for their lifespan! To get to this site follow M-35 north of McFarland. Soon after the road curves you will cross railroad tracks; before the tracks take a right on a narrow blacktop road (heading north). A little ways in you will notice a sandy trail/road to your right. I usually park there and walk the trail, but I suppose you could drive it as well. After several minutes along the trail you should be near the margin of the McFarland Bog. Keep following the trail (a little over a mile I would guess) until it ends in an open sandy area before a hill (climb the hill to get a good look at the McFarland Bog). To the left (north) is the large S meadow of the McFarland Bog. To the right is the side bog with eunomia.

For Sale by Harry King:
I have a Garmin GPS 12, I would like to sell. Interested make me an offer. It has hardly been used, never taken out in
the field. Interested e-mail me at B.FREIJA@CABLESPEED.COM

Photos from Jennifer Fettinger, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Associate Program Leader -- Zoology, June 17:
email: fettingj@michigan.gov
http://www.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/
http://www.karnerblue.org

We observed Karner Blue mating on private land in Kent County while on a field trip for our Karner blue working group meeting, and I was able to snap photos of two separate pairs. That was a couple weeks ago.

Lycaeides melissa samuelis (Karner Blue), two separate pairs mating, private land Kent County, May 25, 2004.
photos by Jennifer Fettinger © 2004

Karners are at the end of the first flight at most sites I've visited in the last week, but I managed to find 15 females and one male on private land in Ionia County on Tuesday. Most of the females were well worn (see photo), but the male was remarkably fresh and was observed courting a relatively fresh female.

Worn female Karner Blue in Ionia County, June 15, 2004. This updates Nielsen's distribution record to include Ionia County.
photos by Jennifer Fettinger © 2004

Fresh male Karner Blue in Ionia County, June 15, 2004.
photo by Jennifer Fettinger © 2004

I also observed early instar catepillars at the same site (a 62 ac parcel with very dense lupine on ~3-4 acres) and took
some photos of them and the feeding damage they left behind.

Larva of Karner Blue in Ionia County, June 15, 2004.
photos by Jennifer Fettinger © 2004

I also observed A. hianna along powerlines in Muskegon County, and miraculously snapped a photo of one that had probably recently emerged - not flying much. I collected a more worn individual at the same location as a voucher and will get in contact with Mo' later this summer to get it into the collection.

Atrytonopsis hianna (Dusted Skipper), Muskegon County, June 15, 2004.
photo by Jennifer Fettinger © 2004

I never did see any elfins this spring, Frosted or otherwise. I wonder if anyone else had better luck?

Report from Kyle Johnson for June 11-13:

Yet another weekend in the UP for me! And once again the weather and I were at odds with one another. On Friday the 11^th I woke up to sun, and when the temp had risen to 60 I made the long, arduous 10-15 minute drive from my grandma’s house to the McFarland Bog (anyone in the LP jealous?), getting there at 10:25am. It was 60-65 and sunny, but to my disdain it was rather windy, so not much was flying. I started in the large south bog meadow, making my way along the edge to the bog birch area that divides the NE and south meadows. Vanessa cardui was the first thing I noticed; oddly it had completely replaced virginiensis in the bog. I later spooked up two jutta; one I caught and marked. Not too far from the bog birches I spooked up what I had been waiting for- discoidalis! Unfortunately this one decided to use the discoidalis escape tactic: fly high into the air and get sucked away by the wind! I ran frantically to where I thought it landed, but it was nowhere to be found. I then scanned the bog birches for a little while, but the wind kept everything undercover. Moving onward to the narrow NE meadow, I hiked the grassy path that cuts through it in hopes of uncovering another discoidalis. Sure enough, not even one foot from where I spotted a mating pair the week before I flushed a female discoidalis and caught and marked it- #33! (#33- the dark in the middle of the hindwing is a hole)

Erebia discoidalis used in capture/release at the McFarland bog.
11 June 2004, this is a late flight period date for this species.
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Just in time too, as clouds began to roll in and the wind picked up. I decided to cut through the spruces and into the NW meadow, where I caught and marked another jutta. From there I made the long trek back to the far SE side of the bog to check a small side bog with bog willows. And the sun came out! In the large south meadow there were two more jutta; only one I was fast enough to catch and mark. Nothing in the little side bog, but it was somewhat windy. When I took the sandy trail back to my car for water, the wind stopped and sun was shining brightly! Papilio canadensis and Erynnis icelus were common, and I saw my first Carterocephalus palaemon, Poanes hobomok, and Amblyscirtes hegon of the year. After refueling at my car I headed back toward the bog birch area, but the weather amazingly went from beautiful to cloudy and windy in under 10 minutes! In my hiking I did make one interesting discovery: The area between the south end of the NW and NE meadows is just loaded with bog birch- many acres! So much, in fact, that it would be difficult to find frigga if there were only a small population present. Still in the birches heading one more time back to the NE meadow I saw a medium-sized orange butterfly! My heart raced as I went for it, but it was only selene atrocostalis. Later on in the NE meadow the sun again came out, bringing a short burst of discoidalis activity! I marked three and vouchered an odd looking one. I marked a few jutta, bringing the marked total to 5. I even made a recapture: jutta #2 which I had marked in the NW meadow but recaptured in the NE one! The clouds again returned, crushing my hopes of a discoidalis recapture, perhaps even one from two weeks ago! And not even one friggin’ frigga for the day! Totals were: Papilio canadensis 9, Colias philodice 2, Erebia discoidalis 6, Oeneis jutta ascerta 8, Vanessa cardui 10, Boloria selene atrocostalis 1, Callophrys augustinus 10, Lycaena phlaeas americana 1, Carterocephalus palaemon 6, Poanes hobomok 3, Amblyscirtes hegon 2, Erynnis icelus 12.

June 12- Didn’t even reach 60- I had on a sweatshirt the whole day! Later in the afternoon I headed out to the large bog along USFS 2219 where I set up my bait trap last weekend. To get to the bog I walk along a sandy trail marked 2627, so I guess I could call this the USFS 2627 Bog. Before I even got out of my car I could see the mosquitoes waiting outside for me! When I arrived at the bait trap, I was excited to find that I had caught something other than flies! There were no jutta like I had hoped, but there were 8 Question Marks and several Noctuids. Something! I released the Polygonia and took some pics (easy because of the cold!) and vouchered 11 Noctuids because I have no idea what they are! They all seem to be different species, I just don’t know which! Maybe I’ll have Les Ferge look at them when I get back to Madison next fall (my sophomore year).

Trap with 8 Polygonia interogationis. 12 June 2004 at
USFS 2627 Bog
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Driving back on USFS 2219 I spotted a Monarch, and after stopped to hike a sandy trail. A ways down I found two very large bogs, and an even larger number of mosquitoes! I decided to twirl my net for a few minutes and take a picture of the result- a handful of mosquitoes! Not nearly as bad as last weekend, though!

Mosquitoes on sandy trail at bogs near USFS 2219.
12 June 2004
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

June 13. I woke up at 5:50am to check my light (but I am the type who used to sleep until noon unless there was proper motivation to get up, like bog butterflies!). It was 60 and muggy, and I had one Luna moth and many sphinxes by my light. I knew if the sun came out it would be a great day! I waited, but it never came. I ended up planting my Grandma’s flowers instead, which was followed by a good (for the flowers but not me!) rain. Not long before I had to leave the sun did come out, as if to mock me! I gave my brother a four-wheeler ride on the property before I left. Papilio canadensis and Boloria selene atrocostalis were abundant, as were a few other species that I couldn’t identify from whizzing by on an ATV. Oh, I could just picture the frigga out and about, just laughing at me right now, along with my marked discoidalis!

I failed to get any freija to lay eggs this year, and didn’t get any frigga whatsoever this weekend (for an overwintering study I had planned) so if anyone will be out in the bogs in the next week or so a female frigga or two (alive!) or eggs would be much appreciated! This next Friday or Saturday I might try to get back into the UP for frigga (maybe even an extremely faded discoidalis if I’m lucky!), but on Sunday I will attempting a half Iron-man triathlon with a friend and his dad, so I probably shouldn’t do too much hiking!

Mo, June 2004, USFS3344

Report from Bob Kriegel for May 30-31, June 6-8:

Let's take up where I left off last time, on Sunday May 30th. I did indeed wake up to sun and headed East to the MacFarland Bog NW of Escanaba. I was fortunate to voucher one Erebia discoidalis in the morning before the wind picked up and clouds rolled in. I continued east and spotted my first Monarch in the UP at the rest area east of Nabinway on US-2. Spent the second half of the afternoon in the bogs north of Trout Lake and walking the trail at Eckerman Corners, but the cloudy windy weather kept all the leps under cover. I met up with Mo at St. Ignace Sunday evening and rain on Sunday forced me home.

After the MES meeting on June 4-6, I headed north into the UP on Sunday June 6th. At the USFS 3344 bog a few Boloria freija were still flying as were the Northern Spring Azures, Brown Elfins and a couple of Erynnis icelus. In the bog I also saw BUT MISSED both Heliothus borealis and Anarta cordigua. Papilio canadensis numbers were on the rise. At Eckerman Trail there were still no skippers flying and azure numbers were low. Raspberry has not bloomed yet. Headed south that evening to join a large crew of mothers at Mo's hut. We had a good evening at the sheets with a very respectable diversity of noctuids. The saturniids and sphingids are starting to appear and we were treated to a couple of cecropia and polyphemus moths stumbling around the lights. On Monday morning June 7th, I joined the group in observing butterflies in the barrens West of Mo's hut. We saw Phyciodes batesi, Oeneis chryxus, Boloria selene atrocostalis, Euchloe olympia, Colias sp., and Schinia bina [Ted Herig got that one]. The Grizzled Skipper flight appears to be over in that area. Later in the day I headed north across the Mighty Mac and arrived at Paradise late in the day where I saw a Question Mark, Olympic Marble and a Monarch at Whitefish Point.

On Tuesday I hit 3 bog areas. First I walked the entire bog opposite the Harbor facility at Whitefish Point. I did not see Boloria freija, but this is a very nice and safe bog. It must be over a sand base because nothin is floatin here. I found Monarchs, a Question Mark, Colias sp. [boy they fly fast], and Olympic Marble flying through this narrow strip bog. The bog does not contain a good stand of sphagnum hummocks, but there are small clusters of low wide sphagnum mounds scattered about so this certainly could support a small population of B. freija. The bog is loaded with Large Cranberry and should be checked for Boloria eunomia! I found a little bit of bog birch, but probably not enough to support a frigga
population. The bog also has both sundews and a small species of pitcher plant that only stands 3-4 inches tall. If you are part of the Bog Crew please add this bog to your hit list for repeated visits.

My second stop was in Tahquamanon Falls State Park. I drove NW on Clark Lake rd [a very slow 1.4 mi drive on a tiny 2-track] to a trail head surrounded by bogs. I walked the trail to Clark Lake and a bit beyond looking for butterflies. After 90 minutes of hiking in 85+F heat [I should have left my camera gear in the car] I had almost made it back to the van when a Boloria shot past me and disappeared into the bush. After getting rid of my camera and drinking some water I searched the immediate area for another 20 minutes, to no avail. This is stunning habitat and will undoubtedly be the subject of multiple forays in the future. I would also be a really cool place to go blacklighting!

My third and final stop for the day was the truck trail through Paradise bog. There I saw another Question Mark, some Monarchs, Hemaris thysbe, a Red Admiral, and a Harvester. Serviceberry was stilll in full bloom there so I had hopes of finding B. freija, but no such luck.

On Sunday the lilacs in the eastern UP were starting to show some dark purple color but the flowers were still firmly closed. On Monday, a few individual flowers were open on lilacs up against houses in Trout Lake. By Tuesday evening when I headed home, lilacs were open everywhere across the eastern UP. With the heat yesterday and today things are popping
quickly. I predict that Boloria frigga saga will be flying this coming weekend in the eastern UP. I'm going out on a limb here Owen because I haven't even looked at degree days yet. It will also be prime time to search lilacs for day-flying sphingids, especially Proserpenis flavofasciata. Finally, I believe that Erora laetus time is upon us in Chippewa County. It will be interesting to see what folks find up north. Let us know because I will have to spend this coming weekend doing chores. If I'm lucky I may get out in southern Michigan to experience the 17 year cicada emergence that has started in the Ann Arbor area.

Keep the net end up and your cameras loaded with film.

More photos from the MES 50th Anniversary meeting:

Tom Wallenmaier and Eric Metzler                                             Ron Hodges & Julian Donahue


Ginny Nielsen and daughter Sandy                                              Therese Poland


John Keeler, Bill Westrate, Tom Wallenmaier, Jim Vargo            Ed Voss

Toby Petrice, Sandy (Mo's daughter), Ginny & Mo, Bob Haack

I enjoyed the highly successful Michigan Entomology Society 50th Anniversary meeting held at the Ralph A. McMullen Center at Higgins Lake on June 4-6. My wife Grace and I met some outstanding ent persons, enjoyed the talks, reminisces, food and photographs. Here are several photos from the event. More to come.

President-elect Robert D. "Bob" Kriegel.

Mogens C. "Mo" Nielsen, Julian Donahue, Fred Stehr and Mrs. Donahue.

Ron W. Hodges, editor of
Check List of the Lepidoptera of American North of Mexico,
and "Ted" Herig, the entomologist with an eye for finding unusual
insect species, stages of development, and rearing expert.

Julian Donahue and Dr. Fred Stehr

Report from Kyle Johnson for June 4-6:

This past Friday morning I left Green Bay headed back up to my grandmother’s house in the UP for three more days of beautiful bog action.

June 4- After arriving at my grandma’s place I quickly loaded my car and headed toward the McFarland Bog, getting there at 11:10am. I finally had some nice weather for a change- 75 degrees and sunny with just a slight breeze for the whole day. Not a cloud in the sky!

McFarland Bog in Marquette County, 04 June 2004
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Along the sandy trail there was the usual Callophrys augustinus and Celastrina lucia, with also the first Erynnis icelus of the year for that locality. One of the Callophrys looked a little funny in flight, so I took a swing and ended up with seemed to be C. niphon clarki, but it looked a little funny. One hindwing was crumpled and the other had some chips in the margin, but it seemed to have a stronger zigzag than usual- C. eryphon? Looking at it now I think it is only niphon with a stronger zigzag, but it is conveniently missing part of the margin which is crucial for a good ID! Plus I forgot my books in the UP and I have no eryphon specimens to compare it to, so Owen I’ll send you a photo of the specimen to check out! Back to the story now! When I got to where the bog is right next the trail I checked the area for only five minutes and quickly found and marked a male discoidalis. At the end of the sandy trail I checked a small separate bog just to the east, perhaps no more than 200 meters from the McFarland bog itself. It was moist and fairly flat with large amounts of bog willow, but no dwarf birch as far as I could tell. I searched it for about 10 minutes for frigga, and saw a fast orange butterfly (probably Polygonia progne), but next weekend I hope to be back there and document frigga there (perhaps the first bog willow locality in Michigan?). Back in the McFarland bog I went straight through the middle of the large muskeg meadow, and marked 4 more discoidalis where the short spruce/tamarack open meadow began, far from the margin and a little after high noon! My experience with discoidalis this year suggests that they prefer a certain thickness of spruce/tamarack (not necessarily the margins of bogs) and when it 75 or cooler they are most active mid-day. I was then making my way to the dwarf birch area that separates the large meadow from the more narrow NE meadow when I saw something far too large to be discoidalis- jutta was finally out! I thought I had it with my first swing, but instead took a graceful dive into a bog mound. My hand then started going numb! I still managed to catch it though- a female. This is a new locality for jutta, I believe. I saw another soon after, but it disappeared into the thicker margin. I found no frigga in the birches, so I then headed to the long narrow meadow where the discoidalis were out of control! Only 2 hours later I had marked 16 more, spotted several others, and found a mating pair along the grassy trail.

Erebia discoidalis in the McFarland Bog, 04 June 2004
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004
This is a late date for the Flight Period of E. discoidalis, previously it was 03 June.

Once I had 3 in my net at one time! One of the females I marked had eggs coming out of her abdomen, and seemed to fly around the cotton grass clumps, but I didn’t observe any ovipositing at the time. I took one male jutta at the far NE meadow. At the very far NE corner of the bog I recaptured one male discoidalis that I had marked the week before! And it was still in fair condition. I then cut through the thicker west margin to get into the large NW meadow, which has thicker spruce and tamarack than the other meadows. When I emerged I found myself in another area filled with dwarf birches. I found only one discoidalis in this part of the bog, and missed one jutta, but I was quickly making my way back to the highway to walk to another nearby bog to hopefully find another discoidalis location. At 4:40pm I was on the highway and by 5:00 made it to a smaller bog on the west side of the highway; I’ll call it the West McFarland Bog. It was moister than I expected, so I didn’t find anything special. Perhaps eunomia dawsoni later on. Totals for the day- McFarland Bog: Colias philodice 3, Erebia discoidalis 34, Oeneis jutta ascerta 4, Polygonia sp. 2, Callophrys niphon clarki? 1, Callophrys augustinus 45, Celastrina lucia 5, Erynnis icelus 1 West McFarland Bog: Callophrys augustinus 8, Erynnis icelus 3.

June 5- The day started nice, but progressively got worse. From 9:00 to 10:00am I searched a bog on the north end of the Hope Lake complex at the coordinates Owen had given me, but only found 4 Callophrys augustinus and many mosquitoes. It was around 65-70 and overcast for much of the morning. From 10:40am until noon I searched the Mastadon Bog, hoping to find frigga, but no such luck. Totals there: Colias philodice 1, Boloria bellona 3, Callophrys augustinus 14, Celastrina lucia 2, Erynnis icelus 1. I then stopped at 12:10 at the Mastadon Barrens (little over a mile from the bog) hoping to find discoidalis, but the weather apparently had other plans- storm clouds and a stronger winds quickly rolled in! After only 15 minutes I left angered by the weather (it has almost always been against me!) I found only 1 Oeneis chryxus strigulosa and 3 Boloria bellona. When I got to Channing I decided to stop at the bog there to see if freija was still flying and to get a female or two for eggs. The weather was a little better, about 70 and breezy but still cloudy. I stayed from 12:55 to 1:45pm and had some luck at least. I kept one female freija for eggs- still in good condition! Because of the weather they were not too active, but I did see a few flying about- most appeared rather faded. I also caught a very dark male jutta. Totals at the site: Papilio canadensis 1, Oeneis jutta ascerta 1, Boloria freija 6, Callophrys augustinus 6. I then headed north on M-95 where I stopped at a bog on the west side of the road south of Co. road FFZ in Marquette Co. (I have GPS coords.) I found 1 Colias philodice and 1 Erynnis icelus, but it was cloudy and windy. Looked great for eunomia and epixanthe. As I headed north to the Porter site the weather decided to head south. It had cooled down to about 65 with a cool breeze and off and on drizzle. I saw one chryxus as I arrived- apparently running it over with my car was enough to make it active. I saw a total of 5 Oeneis chryxus strigulosa and one Erynnis icelus. One of the chryxus I found sleeping on its side on a sandy trail. For once it was easy to take some pics! I even rapidly waved my hand only inches from it without causing so much as a twitch. I then began poking at it to get it in a better pose! It would only flop around an inch or so off the ground and land inches away, lying on its side as if it were dead.

Oeneis chryxus strigulosa at the Porter site, 05 June 2004
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

I later checked the cotton grass at the spruce forest margin to look for discoidalis eggs, hoping for better weather, and spooked a wolf! At 4:40 the rain picked up more, so I left disappointed. I was hoping to mark and recapture more discoidalis and observe ovipostion.

June 6- On this day I head to eastern Delta Co., mainly hoping to find discoidalis. I stopped first at a large bog along USFS 2219 (along the county line) where I was most hoping to find discoidalis. From 9:25am to noon I was there. Upon my arrival I was greeted by one of the most viscous clouds of mosquitoes in all of Michigan! The rains the day before had brought about an enormous hatch! It was a little overcast and humid at first, but warm. Overwhelmed by the mosquitoes (I twirled my net around for a minute and ended up with a ball of mosquitoes over an inch in diameter after being crushed to a pulp!) I made my way into the bog, hoping for a hot sun to drive them away. Following the grassy trail I found an open meadow with lots of cotton grass that looked perfect for discoidalis. And as I had wished, the sun came out, bring the temps around 80 or more. Sure enough the mosquito numbers dropped, but out came the black flies, hungry for my blood! I headed back on the grassy trail toward my car to get the bait trap, and saw jutta cross right in front of me! Unfortunately, it decided to head into thicker spruces, and soon lost me. This is a new jutta location I think, but I don’t have any concrete proof yet. Hopefully my bait will get it in the coming week! Totals at the site: Papilio canadensis 1, Colias philodice 2, Oeneis jutta ascerta 1, Nymphalis antiopa 1, Callophrys augustinus 35, Celastrina lucia 1, Erynnis icelus 3. From 12:10 to 12:40pm I visited the 2219 Bog where frigga had been recorded. It took me a little while, but I eventually found a part with good amounts of dwarf birch. Not long after I spotted a good-sized orange butterfly flying lazily over the birches- frigga! Much easier to catch than I expected! In Wisconsin I found them in open bog with bog willows; one male I saw patrolled rapidly about 2 feet off the ground as fast or faster than freija. Where I found this one there was rather thick jack pine and tamarack around, and it was flying higher and slow- completely different! Totals for the site: Papilio canadensis 2, Boloria frigga saga 1, Callophrys augustinus 15. Excited by the frigga find, I headed to the Ramsey Lake Bog to hopefully find frigga in an open area with tons of dwarf birch. Along the road I took (USFS 2229) I spotted 3 Papilio canadensis, 5 Pieris napi oleracea (I stopped my car- I was hoping for a late virginiensis) and 1 Vanessa atalanta. I was at the bog from 1:20 to 1:55pm, but found no frigga. Next weekend, I hope. Totals there: Papilio canadensis 1, Danaus plexippus 1, Callophrys augustinus 16, Celastrina lucia 1. After that I headed to my HW-13 bog, where I experienced various combinations of mosquitoes and black flies, now with some deer flies in the mix. I was there from 2:30 to 3:40pm with temps 80 or so, hot and sunny. I chased one jutta, but this one got away as well! I had vouchered jutta here last year with a photo that I took on July 6! A late record as well, according to Owen. Totals here: Papilio canadensis 1, Oeneis jutta ascerta 1, Callophrys augustinus 25, Celastrina lucia 4, Erynnis icelus 1. My last stop for the day was at the USFS 2223 Bog where freija had been recorded. I was there from 4:00 to 4:40; 40 minutes in the most hideous mosquito Hell known to man! To get to the good part of the bog I took a shortcut through some pine/spruce forest with standing water. In the light that filtered down through the trees I could clearly the ridiculous numbers of mosquitoes- so thick that there was a constant brushing against my whole body. I knew I was in trouble! Those clouds followed me into the bog, and later back to the car. Relentless, blood-sucking monsters! Most of my time was spent swinging my net in vain to keep them off of me instead of looking for freija (and maybe discoidalis). Most people whine about “millions of mosquitoes” when there are only ten or so flying around! Every thirty seconds I was dropping an inch diameter ball of crushed mosquitoes from of my net, with no effect on the clouds around me! Totals there (sketchy because of the loss of blood!) Callophrys augustinus 15, Celastrina lucia 1. I then left for Green Bay, my body still in a state of shock from mosquito bites!

Next weekend (and Friday) I plan to be back in the bogs again. I plan on visiting the McFarland one for more discoidalis recapture and observation (they should still be out) and hopefully find frigga. I might make it to the Porter site if I have time. I also plan on checking the Ramsey Lake bog for frigga. That’s all for now!
[Note from Owen: If Kyle finds discoidalis the weekend of June 11-13, it will be a late late Flight Period date.]

Note from Owen, 01 June 2004:
Grace and I plan to be the host registrars along with Ron Priest on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
We hope to see our entomology friends at the 50th Anniversary MES meeting!
Have a safe trip!

Report from Kyle Johnson, 01June 2004:
Report from Kyle Johnson for May 16-29

I am now back in Green Bay, WI after staying two weeks at my Grandmother’s house near Rock, Delta Co. For the most part the weather was cold and wet, with everything at least two weeks behind! Despite this, I still had some luck and some interesting finds.

May 16- I spent the majority of the day hiking in the McFarland Bog (Marquette Co.); my unsuspecting cousin was with me as well, not realizing just how many miles he would have to trudge across the uneven terrain! The weather was decent, in the 60’s but fairly sunny, but it had been cold for the past few weeks so everything was way behind. Along the sandy trail leading to the bog I spotted several Celastrina lucia and two Vanessa virginiensis, many Callophrys (Incisalia) augustinus, and took one C. polios. In the bog augustinus was everywhere, and there were a few C. lucia and V. virginiensis as well. Totals at the site: V. virginiensis 4, C. polios 1, C. augustinus 75+, C. lucia 8

Later that day I stopped at my chryxus site just north of Little Lake, also in Marquette Co. The weather was cooler and partly cloudy. As I was going back to my car after 40 min of unsuccessful searching, I caught my one and only chryxus, a recently emerged male.

May 17- I spent part of the day searching the forest trails at my Grandma’s house to get a better idea of just how far behind things really were! Totals for the day: Vanessa atalanta 1, V. virginiensis 3, Nymphalis antiopa 1, Celastrina lucia 10

May 18- I spent the day searching several bogs in eastern Delta Co. From 8:40 to 10:10am I searched the USFS 2223 bog where B. freija had been recorded. The sun was out, but was only 55 degrees. Totals there: C. augustinus 3 From 10:45 to 11:45am I was at the USFS 2219 bog where B. frigga had been recorded. It was sunny and about 60 deg. Totals there: Vanessa virginiensis 3, Nymphalis antiopa 2, Callophrys augustinus 43, Celastrina lucia 8 From 12:00 noon to 12:20 I took a quick look at a larger bog along USFS 2219, which I’ll call “site B” for now. Totals there: Vanessa virginiensis 1, Callophrys augustinus 24. From 12:50 to 2:10pm I visited Thunder Bowl, a sandy barrens area in Schoolcraft Co. Totals there: Vanessa virginiensis 2, Callophrys niphon clarki 4, C. augustinus 2, Celastrina lucia 2. My last stop for the day was at my bog along Forest HW-13 back in Delta Co. Totals there: Vanessa virginiensis 2, Polygonia interrogationis 3, Callophrys augustinus 68, Celastrina lucia 7

May 19- I was at the McFarland Bog again from 1:30 to 5:50pm. Totals there: Vanessa virginiensis 4, Callophrys augustinus 84, Celastrina lucia 8

May 20- A great day! Weather was well in the 60’s (70’s in the sun) and mostly sunny with a little breeze. From 12:30 to 2:05pm I visited the Mastadon Bog in Iron Co. Finally, B. freija! I vouchered one female, then later one male. I didn’t find any more, but I was still happy that I found more than the big “0”! Totals there: Vanessa virginiensis 1, Boloria freija 2, Callophrys augustinus 6, Celastrina lucia 5. While driving back on the logging roads I saw in my rearview mirror a slow black bobbing shape flying on the road, which I now have good reason to believe (after my later experience at the Porter Barrens site in Marquette Co.) was Erebia discoidalis! I stopped my car and ran to where I saw it, leaving the car running and doors open for the next 25 minutes as I searched the area, a clearcut jackpine barrens (don’t worry Owen, I took GPS coordinates (and a few vouchers), as with all my sites), which I’ll call the “Mastadon Barrens”. I could not find any discoidalis, but did find O. chryxus almost right away, so I figured at the time that I was seeing things and that what I had seen was only chryxus. Totals there: Oeneis chryxus strigulosa 9, Vanessa virginiensis 1, Callophrys polios 1. I then went to the Channing Bog from 3:20 to 6:20pm. It was in the high 60’s (70’s in the sun) sunny and breezy. B. freija was out in good numbers, with mostly males but several females as well; several specimens showed a little wear. I also found E. discoidalis! One I fell down chasing after (I wear tennis shoes in the bog to take advantage of my track and cross-country running skills, but it is still hard to run flat out in a moundy, spongy bog!), another I vouchered, and a third I followed with my digital camera for ten minutes! I took some good notes and pictures during my three hours there. I marked 4 freija with dots from a Sharpie marker for traking/recapture studies, and take time and GPS coordinates for each discoidalis/freija sighted or captured. Totals at the site: Colias philodice 1, Erebia discoidalis 3, Vanessa virginiensis 2, Boloria freija 53, Callophrys augustinus 35, Celastrina lucia 5 Later when it was getting dark I tried to visit the Porter barrens site in Marquette Co, but my GPS coordinates took me to the middle of a jack pine forest, so I had to call Owen later about that!

May 21- The day was cold and rainy, but I visited the Ramsey Lake bog complex in Delta Co. anyway. I was there from 2:20 to 3:50pm, and lucked out with a bit of sun, bringing the temperature just into the 50’s! I found an area with lots of dwarf birch, so I hope to find Boloria frigga there later in June. Totals there: Vanessa virginiensis 3, Callophrys augustinus 35

May 22- I went to both the McFarland Bog and the Channing Bog for a few hours. I finally got the bait trap set up in the McFarland Bog, but the rains which were to follow ruined my beautiful bait! Highs made it barely above 50 degrees, with clouds, wind, and drizzle!

May 23- Rain, rain, and more rain! Daily high of 47 degrees!

May 24- I visited the McFarland Bog for an hour and checked the trap- a few flies! My bait had been watered down a little, but I didn’t change it because the forecast called for more cold and rain! High of 50 degrees!

May 25- I hiked Thunder Bowl for over 4 hours- nada! Cloudy and windy with a scorching high of 50 degrees!

May 26- A little nicer today-got to a little above 60 with some sun! I first went to the USFS 2223 bog from 11:10am to 12:35pm to see if freija was out. Totals there: Callophrys augustinus 19. After that I went to my HW-13 bog, where the black flies were awaiting my arrival! I was there from 12:50 to 2:05pm. Totals were: Callophrys augustinus 10, Celastrina lucia 1. The next stop was at the Ramsey Lake Bog complex from 2:50 to 5:15pm. While in the bog I hiked up on one the eskers that snake their way through the bog to get a better view. I was pleasantly surprised by two chryxus, one which made its way into the bog before I caught it. Totals there: Oeneis chryxus strigulosa 2, Vanessa virginiensis 3, Callophrys augustinus 35, Erynnis icelus? 1 (I was eating a quick snack at my car at the time and it went right in front of me, but I was slow on the draw with my net!) From 6:35 to 7:40pm I visited the McFarland Bog; the temp into the upper 50’s with some sun. Saw one Callophrys augustinus and one Celastrina lucia.

May 27- Cold...can’t feel my hands!

May 28- I woke up to frost, but the sun was out and temp quickly climbed 10 degrees above freezing, so I made out for the Channing Bog. I was there from 10:10am to 12:55pm. I found B. freija only about 10 minutes after I got there; the temp was almost 60 deg. and sunny with a very light breeze. After a little while the temps went into the 60’s with sun and a light breeze, and the freija came out! I marked 9 more with dots, bringing the total marked there to 13. Totals there were: Boloria freija 48, Callophrys augustinus 2. After that I made my way toward the Porter barrens site with the intention of merely checking it out and going right back to the Channing Bog. Along my way just east of Republic in Marquette Co. I stopped at a bog which looked interesting. It was rather wet with waterbed-like areas, but I never broke through! Looked good for B. eunomia dawsoni and Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis. Totals there: Nymphalis milberti 1, Callophrys augustinus 5. I then got to the Porter site (with the correct GPS this time!) at 2:25pm and planned to spend a few minutes there; little did I know that I would be there until 7:40 pm! Not more than 2 minutes after my arrival as I was drinking my water I saw an unmistakable black shape bobbing about 2 feet off the ground in a dry grassy area- discoidalis! Within 2 minutes I had caught 3 of them; 2 vouchers and 1 that I marked. I now knew that I would be here a while! It was bright and sunny and at least 65 degrees (70+ in sun) and the discoidalis were out and about. I marked a total of 6 of them, vouchered 3, and saw 6 more, for a total of 15. Lots of good notes, and pictures as well. At the edge of the black spruce forest that borders the barrens I found a boggy area with a few healthy clumps of cotton grass, but not much. Later as I followed the road west across the stream I found another boggy area over a half mile away with a little cotton grass, and eventually found a muskeg bog suitable for discoidalis (and freija) about .9 miles from the west edge of the Porter site barrens where the road crosses the stream. In the bog I found 1 Callophrys augustinus and thought I saw one freija, but by the time I got to where I thought it landed it was nowhere to be found. No discoidalis. When I got back to the barrens site by my car at about 7:00pm, chryxus was still out but discoidalis had apparently retired for the night. I hiked the barrens some more, and found a small (about 60-80 feet in diameter) bog right in the barrens, with some cotton grass. I now had all kinds of hypotheses about discoidalis spinning in my head! What a day! Totals were: Erebia discoidalis 15, Oeneis chryxus strigulosa 20, Callophrys augustinus 3, Erynnis icelus 1

May 29- I woke up the frost again, but like the day before it was going to be a good one. This time I went to the McFarland Bog from 11:35am to 6:00pm; it was in the 60’s (70’s) in the sun) sunny and breezy. On the sandy trail I finally found my first Pieris napi oleracea of the year. Not long after I got into the SW corner of the bog there it was, that favorite dark bobbing shape of mine- discoidalis! I then hiked through the drier middle of the muskeg toward my bait trap, only to find about a hundred flies caught in it! I never changed my bait! Oh well, at least I had caught discoidalis myself, which is much more satisfying anyway! From there I took the sandy trail/road that runs along the eastern side of the bog back to my car for water, and spooked up a female discoidalis that had been sitting on a damp sandy spot on the road (right next to the bog). Although she was the first female discoidalis I had ever seen, she had a little scratch so I marked and released her, taking some photos. I found and marked another male in the process, at the edge of the bog with taller and thicker spruce growth. After a quick stop at my car I went back out to far north side of the bog, where I was delighted to find many discoidalis awaiting me. That day I marked a total of ten, vouchered two, and saw four others that made a fool of me as I ended up crashing into the bog in hot pursuit! I took a tumble for some of the ones I caught as well- it’s not easy running flat out on boggy terrain! As I made my way back south through the bog I made my first recaptures. One I had first marked probably over .25 miles (I haven’t made the exact calculations yet) north of where I recaptured it not even an hour later. More discoidalis hypotheses were beginning to brew in regards to the Porter site. Yet another fine day for me! Totals were: Pieris napi oleracea 1, Erebia discoidalis 16, Vanessa virginiensis 1, Polygonia progne 2, Callophrys augustinus 50+, Celastrina lucia 3

That is all until this next weekend. I believe that Erebia discoidalis could be found in other jack pine barrens adjacent to bogs (such as near the Mastadon Bog). They (the males at least) tend to move along natural corridors such as bog edges or grassy paths in bogs. If the females have movement patterns anything like the males it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to imagine a fertile female discoidalis flying from the bog .9 mile from the Porter site along the edges of the black spruce forest until it reached an area (the Porter site) with cotton grass (it that is the host they use) or perhaps another suitable host. According to what little literature I have found on discoidalis they apparently inhabit dry jack pine forest and other non-boggy areas in the western part of their range, where Poa grasses are their host. I also have read that in Minnesota they have been found in a dry area with acidic soils and Poa (I think) grasses not all too far from a suitable bog. Perhaps the discoidalis at the Porter site (dry jack pine barrens) have reverted back to using grasses such as Poa for their host. Unfortunately I am no botanist, so I have no idea what any of the grasses at the site are. I hope to observe oviposition at the site (and in bogs as well) to clear up the host plant being used. If they indeed use cotton grass, it shouldn’t be too hard to later locate the larvae because there are not that many clumps of the sedge to check! With more tracking data and observations I hope to figure out the mystery of the Porter site.

This next weekend, and perhaps Friday as well, I plan to be back in the UP checking out sites in Delta, Marquette, Dickinson, and Iron counties. I also plan to go up other weekends after that. If anyone would be interested in joining me for some wild, crazy, and out of control times in the bogs this spring/summer let me know! I can be reached by phone at my father’s house (hey, I’m only 19!) in Green Bay: (920) 339-0547 or at my grandmother’s in the UP: (906) 356-6874. You could also drop me an email: kejohnson4@wisc.edu

Erebia discoidalis at the Porter site, Marquette Co., 28 May 2004
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004
Adam H. Porter first vouchered this species at this site, T48N R28W Section 27,
26 May 1980.

Erebia discoidalis at the McFarland bog in Marquette Co., 29 May 2004,
a new discoidalis site!
photo by Kyle Evan Johnson © 2004

Report from Bob Kriegel, May 29:
Report from Bob Kriegel for May 28-29th:

As I drove north on Friday, May 28 lilacs were just starting to bloom in the northern Lower Peninsula (LP). Trilliums are in bloom from the northern LP into the eastern Upper Peninsula (UP) from Mackinaw to as far west as Dickinson County. At mid afternoon at the USFS 3344 bog north of Trout Lake it was sunny, in the lows 50s F with a light breeze. Brown elfins were flying in good numbers, but I only saw 1 northern Spring Azure. I did not see any Boloria freija in the bog, but Mark Churchill has already reported the species from Chippewa County. Lowbush blueberry, V. angustifolium, was just starting to bloom in full sun exposures. At the Eckerman Corners Trail I saw one Vanessa virginiensis and one Question Mark. I did not observe any Spring Azures or skippers (i.e., no A. hegon). The Trout Lily bloom at Eckerman was fantastic. Leaves of many tree species, mostly notably maples, are just starting to expand. Serviceberry was in early bloom throughout Chippewa County. Lilacs throughout the eastern UP showed no hint of bloom.

I started Saturday, May 29 with a visit to the Jack Pines Barrens ~25 mi SSW of Ishpeming, MI. I arrived around 9:30 am; nothing was flying. The weather was sunny, 51-53 F, with a light breeze. By 9:45 a.m. I started flushing Oeneis chryxus. Each individual would fly a short distance, land, and orient itself wings overhead so the closed underside of a wing was
perpendicular to the sun. Since the sun was still low in the sky a butterfly would nearly tip over sideways trying to orient itself to absorb the most radiant heat. By 10 a.m. O. chryxus was flying more actively. At this time the first Erebia discoidalis also appeared, flying quite lazily and repeating the same basking behavior that O. chryxus exhibited when it first appeared. I spent another hour at the site and only observed a total of 9 chryxus and 6 discoidalis. Half of the discoidalis had been flying for awhile, the other half were immaculate. Sometime after noon, while rockhounding for pegmatite at an old mica mine a few miles north of Republic, MI, I captured a Boloria bellona and observed my first Papilio canadensis on my drive back to the highway. At Channing I drove north along the eastside of the bog and parked at the big White Pine well north of the
Channing Bog. I walked north along the railroad tracks for 20 minutes to reach a nice bog I found a couple of years ago. On the way I encountered a Mourning Cloak carefully checking out a stand of small willows. At the bog I vouchered two E. discoidalis and saw 4 more. I also believe I saw at least 2 Boloria feija, but both eluded me. This is a NEW Michigan locality for E. discoidalis, the 8th in the state I believe. Next I headed to the Mastadon bog (i.e., Tim Bowers bog) south of Crystal Falls. As I passed through Sagola, the bank thermometer read 70F – nice. As I cleared the Jack Pine high ground and headed downhill towards the bog I was greeted by the entire meadow covered with Serviceberry in full bloom. Wow, this is usually an excellent indicator of proper flight time for B. freija. Unfortunately, when I stepped out of the car around 3 p.m., I realized that the sky was completely clouded over, the temperature had dropped at least 10 degrees, and it was windy. I worked the bog for about 45 minutes, but nothing except a few geometrids were flying. My sampling for the day was done.

In summary, B freija flight in the eastern UP is still in its early stages. If we are lucky peak flight might occur next weekend after the MES annual meeting. B. freija and E. discoidalis flight in the west central UP is well underway, but peak flight is at least several days, perhaps a week, from now. It’s now about 11 p.m. Lansing time and I’m holed up in Iron Mountain, MI with thunder storms on the way, watching the Weather Channel and trying to decide which direction to head tomorrow. It looks like it might be a rainy day. Lilacs in Iron Mountain, MI are starting to bloom. Thanks to the high speed Internet connection in this motel room I can send this right off to Owen so you can still read this while I’m still on the road. Wish me sun.

Report from Kyle Johnson, May 29:
Kyle indicated that he took E. discoidalis at the Porter Jack Pine Barrens in Marquette Co. on May 28 and located a bog about 0.9 mi west of the barrens site. He also found scattered cotton grass in the barrens area. On May 29 he took E. discoidalis at the McFarland bog in Marquette Co. Kyle captured and placed dots on specimens at both sites for capture and release project. At the Porter site he recaptured one specimen 0.25 mi west of the release. He was in the area for only about 40 minutes.
(Note to Bob: Check your discoidalis specimens to see if any have Kyle's dots on them from the Porter site. OAP)

Report from Bob Kriegel, May 26:
All the rain over the last week has kept butterfly activity in the Lansing area to a low level. On the plus side my Silphium perfoliatum is already almost 3 feet tall. I did not see much new in the Lansing area over the last week. My only new sightings were one Pearl Crescent and a nymphalid that could only have been a Red Spotted Purple. However, I only got a
glimpse and it was gone so this one is only hearsay. Yesterday (5/25/04) on the MSU campus I spotted a freshly emerged female Cecropia moth sitting in the road. She is now in my refrigerator and will, hopefully, do her best to call in males as I travel to the UP in search of bog butterflies this coming weekend.

For those of you who are interested in moths -- particularly the small ones; I strongly encourage you to pay a visit to Todd Gilligan's site on Tortricidae at http://www.tortricidae.com/. Todd's site has over 1,500 high quality photos of these moths, including hundreds of photos of type specimens. If you are interested in Tortricids add this site to your favorites today.

Report from Mo, May 26:
I received the following from a friend at the Chippewa Nature Center, Denny Brooks.
Thought you would be interested. He's keeping his 'eye' open for 'missing counties'!

Mo
       I don't know if this these are records for Arenac County. They are not listed in your book.
       We were netting Wigwam Bay area Sunday and had:
     Orange Sulfurs (Colias eurytheme) and American Painted Ladies (Vanessa virginienis).
       The American Painted Ladies we found appeared to be both fresh and well worn.
                               Denny Brooks, Midland

(Note from Owen:
These two species have been documented for Arenac County since the publication of MICHIGAN BUTTERFLIES & SKIPPERS and thus would not be known by the general public or others that the master copy for revision of Mo's book has these two species recorded for Arenac County. However, I want to thank Denny for providing the info and encourage him and others to continue to assist in filling in the records for counties for species that do not appear as recorded from a particular county! OAP)

Report from Martin Bialecki, May 25:
Today in extreme s.w. Hillsdale County I found my first Milbert's Tortoise Shell. It was flying into Indiana across Cope Rd., a few hundred yards north of Ohio.
The emergence of the 17-years Cicada right at that spot was nothing short of spectacular. Hundreds, many hundreds, of bugs within a stone's throw.

Report from Kyle Johnson, May 25:
As best as I can remember the facts from his telephone conversation today:

Kyle is in the U. P. at his grandmother's home at Rock, Delta County. He reported that the weather has been lousy, but on May 20 he recorded Boloria freija and Erebia discoidalis at the Channing bog in Dickinson County and Boloria freija at the Tim Bowers Pond bog (aka Mastadon bog) in Iron County. The BEDD50 at Stambaugh for May 20 was 125. Some of the specimens he vouchered were slightly worn.

He is attempting to document the presence of these two species at the Federal Highway 13 and the Ramsey Lake and the Ted Herig bogs in Delta County. He is also attempting to document the presence of these two species at the McFarland bog in Marquette County and redocument E. discoidalis at the Jack Pine barrens in Marquette County where Robert Kriegel and Harry King have previously documented it. He has visited all of these sites but with no positive report as yet. He is also searching out other bogs in the area.

One of the most valuable projects he is endeavoring to accomplish is to observe the habits of these two species and possibly do a life span study from adult to the following season. He is also doing a capture and release study.

His research will also aid my (OAP) DegreeDay study. I loaned him a Fermenting fruit bait trap that he is using at the McFarland bog site.

Report from Martin Bialecki, May 24:

Saturday, May 22, I found my first Red-spotted Purple and Viceroy at ICMP.
(Iron Creek Mill Pond, the home of Martin)

FOR SALE !

I have some insect drawers I purchased from Bio Quip back in Feb.-March 2004. Cornell style 1013C basswood, hardboard bottom, knob and cardholder. These have never been used. They take unit trays. I’ve played with them some but just can’t get used to them. I got to used to drawers with pinning bottoms I guess. Got these to house birdwings, being Cornell they will except #7 pins, and some of the smaller species hoping they would be more convenient.

Just don’t like the tray style I guess. Wish I had got more of the California style like I’ve used for years. Anyway would like to sell them so I can buy the others. I’m willing to take a loss.

drawer + trays cost me about $ 65.00 a drawer.

I’m willing to let them go for $ 45.00 a drawer, I have eight, or $ 320.00 for all eight.

interested e-mail me at B.FREIJA@CABLESPEED.COM This site address was incorrect and has been corrected 1 Jun04

Harry D. King

Report from Mo, May 24:

Mark Churchill called this PM regarding a couple of northern trips taken on May 16 & 19. He collected several P. centaureae near the hut on the 13th, along with O. chryxus. He said the skippers were males in immaculate condition; he found some tippling on wet spots along trails.

On the 16th, he was in the U. P. (not certain just where) but saw a couple of I. eryphon and augustinius. He thought it was too early for E. laetus. Churchill also saw/collected a couple B. freija, presumably north of Trout Lake, on the 16th!
I'll be going north this Fri. to St. Ignace and may have an opportunity to check on these species, either on my way up or down. Weather will dictate on my options.

(Note from Owen: The BEDD50 data for the eastern U.P. weather stations of MSU provide the DD for the following eastern U.P. stations for May 16, 2004.

CHATHAM   67
CORNELL   70
MUNISING 58
NEWBERRY 68
SSMARIE   59

The generally accepted DD for the first emergence of B. freija was calculated at <90 BEDD50 for the purposes of giving a clue for those who are surveying for this species to make the long trek to the U.P. Mark's documentation of B. freija presumably north of Trout Lake on the 16th provides interesting DD info. I am ever on the prowl for early date and early DD information. Mark has done that for me on this occasion, Martin Bialecki has done that for me for some Washtenaw County early date and DD info this year. END OF NOTE FROM OWEN.)

Report from Martin Bialecki, May 18:

Today while working at previously detailed locale south of Quincy in Branch County, I found 2 Roadside Skippers.

Report from Bob Kriegel for Sunday, May 16, 2004

In Fennville, MI the lilacs were in full bloom, but 5 miles east on the dry sandy soils of Allegan State Game Area lilac bloom had already ended. Here the primary nectar sources were honeysuckle, hoary puccoon, birdfoot violet, a tall yellow hawkweed and lupine. Most lupine racemes were 80-90% open, with only a few flowers at the very tip still closed. Some of the best savanna land is a carpet of blue, always a delightful sight. The area appears to have had plenty of rain recently and the new growth is very lush. Both Papilio glaucus and P. troilus are flying, although still in low numbers. Both sexes of the Olympia Marble, Euchloe olympia, are also present. The only lycaenids seen were a few American Coppers, Lycaena phlaeas americana. I was surprised to not see a single elfin or spring azure anywhere I stopped. I carefully checked numerous lupine stands, but none of the lupine obligate butterflies were observed. I did see one American Painted Lady, Vanessa virginiensis, nectaring on honeysuckle; along with a female cobweb skipper, Hesperia metea. Dusky wing skippers were very common. Every one I examined carefully appeared to be Erynnis juvenalis (both sexes). But I did bring back a few vouchers and we'll let Mo be the final judge. It was a delightful, sunny day with high temperatures around 70F, very light wind and almost no clouds. Definitely not a day for mower monitoring.

Report from Martin Bialecki, May 17:

I observed three Pearl Crescents yesterday in Section 20, Manchester Twp., Washtenaw Co.

Report from Marcia Albright, May 17:
They (Karner Blue Butterflies) are flying at Allegan SGA. In less than 5 minutes today I was able to note about a dozen males and two females. My best guess is that they have been out since last Wednesday or Thursday. I was off last week and it was very rainy so I didn't get a chance to check. John Lerg also forwarded a note from Jim Dunn this morning noting that there are KBB flying in Oceana Co.

Report from Martin Bialecki, May 14:
Today I had one Little Wood Satyr at the same location south of Quincy in Branch Co.

Report from Martin Bialecki, May 13:
I had 2 Giant Swallowtails today just south of Quincy in Branch Co., within a mile of where I reported my first Tiger.

Report from Bob Kriegel, May 10:

I went up to Mo Nielsen's to blacklight for moths on Saturday evening, May 8th. Unfortunately, after two days of poor weather Mo left to head home just a few minutes before I arrived. I did not know this at the time and was sure he would show because I could still smell the sweet aroma of a wood fire as I pulled up to his hut. I found half a dozen empty promethia cocoons on small cherry trees scattered around the barrens clearing on his 40. Each one had a small parasitoid emergence hole on the side of the cocoon. As I drove east to place a UV trap at the edge of one of the natural gas well clearings, I saw pairs of wild turkeys in two different spots. Mothing was slow but better than it had been for him the previous night, I learned later. Small numbers of noctuids and geometrids and a single Eupethecia continued to straggle in until I turned my MV light off at 1 am. Visitors included a beautiful green sallow (Feralia sp.), the prominant Clostera albosigma, a few tortricids (Alceris sp., Rhyacionia sp.) and some dull Orthosia looking noctuids (don't worry Mo I took some vouchers we'll figure out what they were). There were no sphingids or arctiids. Sunday morning was dreary so I headed home. By the time I arrived it was sunny and warming, after a night of heavy rains. As I drove south the fields from Maple River to St. Johns were badly flooded.

Play time over I proceeded to chores. My lawn mower monitoring was particularly fruitful. Quite a few species are starting to emerge. Every species I saw was represented by one individual, except for the Pieris rapae which have been on the wing for a couple of weeks now. My first visitor was a Polygonia (either comma or interrogationis) that darted around the house. Then I encountered a lone American Copper, Lycaena phlaeas americana, flitting between patches of sheep sorrel as I mowed. A single Erynnis icelus was single-mindedly tippling in the damp gravel driveway. A bit later a lone Colias philodice also flew past on a mission to who knows where. Last but not least, the first male Spring Azure of the season, Celastrina ladon, danced lazily by the wilting daffodils as I headed back into the pole barn with the mower.

Report from Mo, 10 May 2004:

Just a few comments about this past weekend at the hut. Bob Bloye and I drove north on Fri. AM. After stopping to unload some gear at the hut, we continued north to Chippewa Co. and scouted the area along USFS 3344 trail. It was a beautiful sunny day, however a north breeze and 55d.m/l temps didn't produce much to excite me! ha. I caught one immaculate male I. augustinus and a fresh P. progne. Saw one N. antiopa and another Polygonia, which I believe was faunus ( I tried but couldn't 'nail' it!). Not even a Spring Azure was seen there!

Before leave the hut on Fri., we drove to the trail just past the Lone Pine, and saw one or two Azures, but nothing else.

We came back to hut on Fri. eve. and set out two UV traps, plus my SL/UV at the rear of the hut. We also ran a UV using an inverter from Bob's pickup and collected one lousy 'dirt common' noctuid! Only two micros were in the UV traps!!! The temps were in the low 40's and overcast. On Sat., we awoke to a cold rain and overcast skies! Later in the day, Bob took me a 'cook's\tour' in the Pigeon River SF east of Vanderbilt. We checked out the large DNR staff log-cabin, where Bob will be finishing his research on forest fires this season. He has offered any of us 'lepers' to stay there during the season!

We called it quits and left the hut around 6:15PM for Home. Kriegel (earlier in the week) said he may join us, so we stayed there till then. On Sun. AM, Kriegel called me on his cell phone on his return from the hut; he arrived there about 15-30 minutes after we left!!! ha. So, we can't 'win' all the time! He still had fun collecting a few moths at and near the hut!

Report from Linda Koning, May 9:

Ruth Harder and Linda Koning found two Olympia Marbles Euchloe olympia on May 7, 2004, which were hanging on the tiny flowers of their host plants, Rock Cress Arabis lyrata and Drummond's Cress Arabis drummondii.

Rosy Mound County Park - Lakeshore Drive and Rosy Mound Drive, South of Grand Haven. The park entrance is across the street and South of Rosy Mound School. Grand Haven Township. Ottawa County. From Grand Haven go South on US- 31, West on Rosy Mound. South on Lakeshore Drive to the park entrance.

The Second Picture is unknown. The caterpillar was found on Hoary Puccoon in Muskegon on 7-25-03. Do you know the species?

If you know the ID of this larva, email me at lepalert@comcast.net and I will post it. OAP

Report from Martin Bialecki, May 4:

Yesterday (May 3) in Sec 1 of Wheatland Twp, Hillsdale Co. I found 2 more Reds whilst the temperature was barely above 50. They were low in the rampant madder in the woods, along the south side of Posey Creek. The wind was strong and the sun only intermittent.

I found this observation rather noteworthy because it seemed too brisk for any leps to be out.

Reply to Mark Schmidt's message from Paul Cavalconte, May 4:.

Could the flush of yellow scaling be related to temperature during pupal development, right after diapause is broken? Cecropia's often are affected in this way.

This looks like the typical spring luna found in the New York City area, though ours peak around Memorial day.

Message from Mark Schmidt, May 3:

Thought I'd share a picture of a [wild] male luna that was attracted to one of my first female hatchlings of the season. He shows some unique yellow coloring on the hind wings and body. The female was more traditional with white body and pure green wings.

Report from "Mo", April 29:

Yesterday, I journeyed to the Flat River SGA, and the Langston SGA, to see what was flying, especially with the 70+ weather. I've been going to these favorites areas for now 50 years (believe it or not)! ha. My first stop was the 'seasonal road' just north of Race Lake, T9N, R7W, Sec.30. Just after stopping, I saw two species, an Erynnis and an Incisalia!! I caught E. brizo, but (stupid me) I missed the elfin, which I'm certain was I. henrici!! (I know, "D & S"). I stayed there for about a half hour, around 9:30-10.00. Unfortunately, the wind was just too damn strong most of the time, and I never had another chance. Also, a few Celastrinas were seen (awaiting ID). Later, I drove to the Langston area, and finally took a long hike on a trail in T11N, R8W, Sec. 28, extending south from Briggs Road. About 600 ft into the trail, I saw, and missed, another Incisalia, which I believe was I. henrici!. I have no excuses except to say between the damn wind, and me getting older, I missed what was an easy shot!! After a quick lunch, I walked back to that site and saw more Azures and took Strymon melinus humuli.

(Note from Owen: The early Flight Period date for S. m. humuli is April 23. So April 29 is only 6 days later that the earliest known date. This is an early Spring!)

I stayed around for about a half hour but no elfin! I then drove back to the above Flat River site, and took another E. brizo. No elfin was seen, except a few more Azures. Stopped in Ionia to get a beautiful Fuscia for Ginny-Mother's Day! ha.
I pass this info on should any of you have some time to visit these two areas, as I fully expect that I. henrici is just emerging, and will be around for another two weeks. Previously, I usually 'hit' henrici on May 15th in the Langston SGA.

(Note from Owen: The early Flight Period date for I. henrici is April 28. So if Mo could have vouchered the Incisalia he observed to actually KNOW that is is henrici, then April 29 would be another early date to use for Degree Date data.)

It was great to get out with my net and find that SPRING has finally arrived! ha. Cheers, 'Mo'

(Note from Owen: Spring has arrived. I have observed many instances of bloom of shrub and tree flowers that are out early this year. Today, the lilacs are in bloom, but not fully yet. This is early for lilacs.)

Report from Martin Bialecki, April 28:

Erynnis juvenalis: One today near Iron Creek Mill Pond, T4S R3E Section 29 Manchester Twp., Washtenaw Co.
It was patrolling a stretch of backroad on a hilltop.

Report from Martin Bialecki, April 26:
While surveying section 20 of Bedford Twp. (T8S, R7E), Monroe Co., I found one Variegated Frit, a Red admiral (my 3rd), and at an agonizing distance what I believe was a Monarch (I was in an ash tree/my binocs were on the ground). Also several azures, whites, sulfurs and 3 comma.

Comment from Owen:
This is an early date (April 26) for Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary) for Michigan. The Flight period previously was May 13 to October 31.
This would also be an early date for the Monarch, but since it wasn't a positive observance, I do not desire to report this to Journey North. EVERYBODY, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN for any observances of the Monarch and please report it to me. They had reached Pennsylvania last week and so it is possible that they could be advancing North earlier than in other years.

Report from Martin Bialecki, April 25:
Today I had one Red Ad over my windshield on Wolff Rd. Also seen nearby were one Mourning Cloak, 6 Azures, and 4 Cabbage.

I am surprised I'm not finding any duskywings yet while the bullfrogs were already singing here (sec 29, Manchester Twp. Washtenaw) yesterday.

Report from Martin Bialecki, April 23:

Today I had a Red Ad. in T8S R7E Sec 21, Bedford Twp, Monroe Co. That was just north of Dean Rd. on the school property.

Owen's note: This ties the early Flight period date in Mo's MICHIGAN Butterflies and Skippers!

I really appreciate your observations Martin!

Report from Martin Bialecki:

Yesterday (April 21) I found my earliest ever Tiger. This was just s. w. of Quincy in Branch Co.
Just thought you'd be interested in early dates.
Martin Bialecki

Note from OAP:
Thank you Martin. I certainly am.
The earliest previous early date according to MICHIGAN BUTTERFLIES & SKIPPERS by Nielsen is May 2.
This is 11 days earlier. The BEDD50 for 21 April 2004 at Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan was 138.
The Southeastern Lower Peninsula Norm for that date is 95. SPRING is upon us in her full glory!
It is interesting to note that I vouchered a P. glaucus on 8 May 1949 in Branch County east of Union City.

The degree days are piling up! Incisalia henrici should be on the wing!
My health is going to prevent me from getting out very much this spring, but keep me posted for others to know what is happening in the field! Owen...

I received the following from Kathy Kirk and I and others of the MI Lep Survey are attempting to assist her in her project.

This spring and summer the Wisconsin DNR is beginning a study of peatlands across the state for the purpose of collecting baseline data on abiotic and biotic elements to later evaluate changes in those communities specifically in terms of global warming. Mammals, birds, herps, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and plants will be surveyed. Thirteen sites have been chosen to be surveyed each year for four years. Also, 200 sample sites will be randomly chosen for visits during the study.

The butterfly sites will be stratified by size in order to secure enough sample sites that are large and to increase the probability that the rarely encountered peatland butterflies will be found. The minimum size of a sample site will contain no less than 40 acres of open peatland. We hope to gather sufficient data to formulate an understanding of the requisite habitat characteristics for peatland species in Wisconsin and to offer an assessment of the status of these species in the state.

Above is a brief description of the peatlands study. I will be looking for people to help visit these sites who know their butterflies and those degree days are going to start piling up faster pretty soon. We have roped Les Ferge into helping but will need others. We can be quite flexible concerning scheduling, etc. So if any of your people who keep sneaking into Wisconsin from the North want to be paid for it, have them contact me.

I have to agree with Boloria Bob. When you're out in those bogs and it's sooo quiet and your feet are still miraculously dry, it's hard to imagine being any place better. Kathy

"Kathy in a bog, it's sooo quiet and your feet are still miraculously dry!"
Thanks Kathy for the photo!

Regal moth regales a crowd