Last Updated:  30 December, 2007 03:58 PM

Note from OAP: This is the end of 2007, except maybe a report from Kyle, that I will insert below this note and maybe someone else's report or note.
I THANK ONE AND ALL WHO HAVE PROVIDED REPORTS, NOTES, AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO MAKE THIS SITE OF VALUE TO ALL INTERESTED IN LEPIDOPTERA, ESPECIALLY OF MICHIGAN.
I will attempt to provide a 2008 January address on this site for you to click on in the next few days!
I invite your input!

From: Kyle Johnson, 30 December 2007,
Attached are two pics you can post on Lepalert (so there is some real December material!).  They are from the Gardner Swamp in Door County, WI (December 27, 2007).  The moth is Agonopterix pulvipennella (Oecophoridae); moths of this genus can be found hibernating under bark.

Gardner Swamp in Door County, WI, 27 December 2007.
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright ©  2007   

Agonopterix pulvipennella, Gardner Swamp in Door County, WI, 27 December 2007.
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright ©  2007   

I'm headed to the UP tomorrow, and should get back on New Year's day...hopefully after getting my first lep of 2008!
Kyle
p.s. I plan on visiting the LP several days before heading to the Ohio meeting.

From: Thomas Bentley, 20 September 2007,
Here is one more out of state trip report. Happy Holidays.

Dec 13 I headed down to southern Florida and the Keys.  While waiting for my friends lost luggage, we spend half the day at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center  http://gumbolimbo.org/  in Boca Raton.  This is really a great place to see Statira Sulphurs, Julias, Ruddy Daggerwings, Giant Swallowtails, and Mangrove Skippers.  In addition, the 3 large orange sulphurs are all common as is Zebra Longwings.  The park has a great butterfly garden along with remnant hardwood hammocks and mangroves.


Mangrove Skipper (Phocides pigmalion)
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright ©  2007   

On Saturday the 14th, we made a short drive from our campsite to Bahia Honda State Park  http://www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda/default.cfm  Bad news was that it was blowing 20 plus in the keys which is not good for my photography.  In the butterfly garden, Martial Scrub Hairstreaks and Mallow Scrub Hairstreaks were clinging to their host plant, Bay Cedar.  Around the island Gulf Fritillaries, White Peacocks, and Florida Whites.  Some Ceraunus Blues were seen...possible Miami Blues but the wind did not make hunting easy.

Martial Scrub Hairstreak (Strymon martialis)
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright ©  2007   

Martial Scrub Hairstreak (Strymon martialis)
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright ©  2007   
[Note from OAP: BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPH ! ]

Next stop that day was Big Pine Key.  It was more or less the same...windy.  The Eastern Pygmy Blues were abundant in the right habitat with their host plant.  Went looking for Bartram's Scrub-Hairstreak in its habitat without any success. Its host plant, pinelands croton, was common but no Bartrams.

Eastern Pygmy Blue (Brephidium pseudofea)
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright ©  2007   

Last stop of the day was Key West...it was actually detour from butterflying to get a decent lunch.  Did stop by the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden.  This was a nice surprise.  Was sort of late in the day but some good stuff flying around including Giant Swallowtails, Dorantes Skipper and a Florida Duskywing to name a few.

Florida Duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus)
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright ©  2007   

Sunday we headed up to Key Largo and the mainland.  Stopped by Crocodile Lake NWR butterfly garden. This is a small but highly productive garden that we visited between storms.  We got a gorgeous fresh Hammock Skipper still with the purplish scaling!  Also a fresh Long Tail Skipper and a gorgeous Julia. 

Hammock Skipper (Polygonus leo)
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright ©  2007   

Hammock Skipper (Polygonus leo)
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright ©  2007   

From there we headed to Navy Wells in Homestead to look for more Bartrams Scrub Hairstreaks. Arrived during a rainstorm and were unsure where we could really enter this unmarked track of land.  Took a walk around but did not see any access.  Need to learn more about this for next visit. 

http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/bartram_s_scrub-hairstreak.htm 

* * * * * * * 
[Note from OAP: I have included a photo of Bartram's Scrub-Hairstreak since Tom had bad weather when he searched. BUT, I expect Tom will get a beautiful dorsal view on his next visit! What say, Tom?
I Goggled for a photo and this is what I found at: 
http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/florida_butterfly_gallery.htm ]


Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon acis)
All images are © property of Larry Manfredi and may not be used commercially without permission.
Larry Manfredi, Birding Tours Inc., "New address" P.O. Box 343002, Homestead, Florida 33034
E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
Phone: 305-247-3960 (new number)

* * * * * * * 

Decided to stop by the everglades and actually see some wildlife.  Of course we had huge storms but we wandered around any way.  Tons of Peacocks plus some blues. Highlight was a Georgia Satyr...also one Barred Yellow.

Last stop was Castellow Hammock Park.  This place is great...and I will visit again for sure.  We arrived while it was still dark but starting to brighten up.  Once the sun poked out, Julias and Zebras were everywhere.  Saw a few Hammock Skippers also.  Highlight was a fresh Ruddy Daggerwing that posed for over an hour.

Ruddy Daggerwing (Marpesia petreus)
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright ©  2007   

From: Thomas Bentley, 30 November 2007,
Here are 4 summaries of my Arizona trip in Oct.  Feel free to post on lepalert if you feel warranted.
[Note from OAP: The reports are surely welcome, and late on my part, but here it is!]

Sunday, Oct 21st / SE Arizona / Santa Cruz County / Sycamore Canyon. Skipped the planned Madera Canyon visit and headed back to Sycamore. Weather was beautiful which made for a much more successful day.
Times: 9AM - 3:30PM. Temps were mid 80s to mid 90s.
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) - 20+
Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia cesonia) - 70+
Tailed Orange (Pyrisitia proterpia) - 100s
Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) - 3
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) - 2
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) - 75+
Leda Hairstreak (Ministrymon leda) - 1
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) - 5
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) - 10
Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis) - 2
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus gyas)- 5
Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) - 2
Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis nemesis) - 20+
Arizona Metalmark (Calephelis arizonensis) - 1
Palmer's Metalmark (Apodemia palmerii arizona) - 2
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) - 10+
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) - 15+


*Mexican Fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia) -1

Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana texana) - 8
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) - 10+
Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia) - 1
Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas dymas) - 25+
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) - 300+
Tropical Buckeye (Junonia evarete nigrosuffusa) - 8
Arizona Sister (Adelpha bredowii eulalia) - 20
Tropical Leafwing (Anaea aidea) - 2

Queen (Danaus gilippus gilippus) - 40+

Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) - 2
Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) - 10
Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes) - 5
Unknown longtail (Urbanus ?) - 2
Common/White Checkered-Skipper - 150+
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca) - 10+
Possible Tropical Least Skippers
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) - 10+
Desert Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus philetas) - 10+
White-patched Skipper (Chimomara asychis georgina)
___________________________________________

10/20 - Garden Canyon - Sawmill Canyon
Times: 1-3pm Temps Uppers 70s to low 80s, windy

Chirichuaua White (Neophasia terlootii) - 25+ male; 4 female
Most were very worn. Some males still looked quite fresh. Worth the trip!

Arizona Sister (Adelpha bredowii eulalia)- 15+
Nabokov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon nabokovi) - 1

Huachuca Giant Skipper (Agathymus evansi) - 2

Funeral Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) - 1
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) - 2
____________________________________________________________________

Friday, Oct 19th / SE Arizona / Santa Cruz County / Sycamore Canyon Road was ok...one deep rut that I barely made it over.
Times: 10:30AM - 3:30PM. Temps were mid 80s to mid 90s.
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) - 15+
Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia cesonia) - 40+
Tailed Orange (Pyrisitia proterpia) - 100+
Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) - 3
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) - 3
Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside) - 1
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) - 50+
Leda Hairstreak (Ministrymon leda) - 2
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) - 2
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) - 2
Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis) - 5
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus gyas)- 5
Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) - 1
Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis nemesis) - 10+
Arizona Metalmark (Calephelis arizonensis) - 2
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) - 4
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) - 7+
Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana texana) - 2
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) - 3
Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas dymas) - 25+
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) - 250+
Tropical Buckeye (Junonia evarete nigrosuffusa) - 3
Arizona Sister (Adelpha bredowii eulalia) - 5
Queen (Danaus gilippus gilippus) -25+
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) - 1
Nabokov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon) - 2
Erichson's White Skipper (Heliopyrgus domicella domicella) - 1
Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) - 2
Common/White Checkered-Skipper - 100+
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca) - 3
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) - 1
Desert Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus philetas) - 10+
______________________________________________________________________________

10/19 - Pena Blanca Lake
Times - 4:15 to 6PM
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) - 20+
Leda Hairstreak (Ministrymon leda) - 5
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) - 2
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) - 1
Queen (Danaus gilippus gilippus) -1
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) - 2
Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis) - 2
Common/White Checkered-Skipper - 10+
In addition, there was a lot of really cool silkworm moth caterpillar feeding in the oaks.
 

November 25, 2007
Lower Rio Grande Valley Trip:
The morning started out looking the same.  We headed over to Frontera Audobon in Weslaco.  Found a resting Clouded Skipper and Fiery Skipper plus a bunch of other bugs. Then it happened!!!  The sun made an
appearance for a few minutes so we decided to head over to Santa Ana NWR.

After a quick drive to Santa Ana NWR, the sun really came out.  We were rewarded big time....and also thanks to some other butterfliers who spotted the good stuff!  First that we saw were a ton of Clouded Skippers.  A few minutes later a beautiful Malachite spent some time sunning itself at eye level.  Took a walk up the front gardens and was
immediately greeted by a Mexican Bluewing but we skipped it because some other had found a ISABELLA'S HELICONIAN!!!  It allowed for some photos before lazily flying into the woods.  

ISABELLA'S HELICONIAN!!!

Also seen at Santa Ana were a Giant White, Large Orange Sulphur, Julia, 2 Zebra, Gulf Fritillary, Queen, 2 or 3 Gemmed Satyrs, 2 or 3 Carolina Satyrs, and a Laviana White Skipper.

Headed over to NABA Park hoping to find some other goodies.  Just a few Clouded Skippers, a Queen, and Phaon Crescent. 
Can't wait for tomorrow and the full sun for once on this trip!

November 26, 2007
Bentsen 
Ocola Skipper - 1
Clouded Skipper - 1
Pipevine Swallowtail - 1

Silver-banded Hairstreak (cool brown one!) - 1

Queen - 1
Soldier - 1
Carolina Satyr - 2
Phaon Crescent -1

NABA
Ocola Skipper - 5
Clouded Skipper - 25 approx
Fawn-spotted Skipper - 1
Laviana White Skipper - 1
Checkered Skipper - 3
Sickle-winged Skipper - 1
Glazed Pellicia - 1

Two-barred Flasher -1

Long-tailed Skipper - 2
Dorantes Longtail - 2
Brown Longtail -1
Giant White -1
Orange Sulphur -1
Southern Dogface -1
Large Orange Sulphur -1
Little Yellow -1
Silver-banded Hairstreak -1
Mallow-scrub Hairstreak -1
Dusky-blue Groundstreak - 10 approx
Cassius Blue -1
Monarch - 5+
Queen - 10+
Soldier - 2
Gemmed Satyr -1
Carolina Satyr - 10+
Empress Leilia -1
Mexican Bluewing - 2

Malachite -1

Red Admiral -2
Painted Lady -1
Common Buckeye -4
Bordered Patch -1
Texan Crescent -1
Phaon Crescent -15+
Mexican Fritillary -1
Zebra Heliconian - 3
Gulf Fritillary -2

Tom Bentley
www.thomasbentley.com 
Brand New Website!

This data provided by Owen A. Perkins is a current (17 November 2007) update for the information in:
MICHIGAN BUTTERFLIES & SKIPPERS A Field Guide and Reference, Mogens C. Nielsen, 1999. 
I have not updated the County Records for years prior to 2007 except those that came to my attention when recording data while placing MLS Bar-code tags on private and museum specimens or by communication with collectors.

If you have EARLY or LATE dates for Michigan species that provide updates to the information in MO's book or the information supplied here, I would appreciate receiving such information for the Michigan Lepidoptera Survey (MLS) secondary data base that I maintain for Michigan Entomological Society MLS.