Listedspecies

From: Steve Katz, 30 September 2007,
Well here is 2 days in 1 report.
I was on my way into Romeo, When i spotted a larger sulphur flying. I made the wife pull over and go back to the spot, and when I was walking I managed to catch a fairly good condition Buckeye that was on Saturday the 29th.

Sunday i planned a trip out to Kern Road. in Lake Orion. As i walked into the opening I caught my 2nd Fiery Skipper of my life. Also while I was walking I managed to catch a few American Coppers then I called Dwayne and while on the phone with him I caught another Buckeye, good day all in all but that’s all I have for the weekend.
[Note from OAP: Steve is in his first year as an avocation lepidopterist.]

From: Jack Reinoehl, 28 September 2007, in an email to John C. Farmer,
John,
Thanks for the records. This is quite a good year for those 3 species (Variegated Fritillary, Fiery Skipper, and Checkered Skipper), and I saw them all on September 27 near the college (Hillsdale). I am enclosing an up-to-date list of butterflies recorded in Hillsdale County. There are many immigrant species still to look for. This also seems to be a better-than-average year for Meadow Fritillary.

I also want to take this opportunity to mention to Owen some other overdue county records of these same species:
Fiery Skipper: Ingham (9/23) & Gratiot (9/8 & 9/9, several at Maple River SGA-- not in Mo's book), Common Checkered-Skipper: Clinton (9/16, Bath -- not in Mo's book) and to send a photo of the first Hillsdale Co. record of American Snout, at Lost Nation SGA, taken by Karin McElroy, Snout, Hillsdale, 7-13-07.jpg.

American Snout Butterfly (Libytheana carinenta bachmani) at Lost Nation SGA,
Hillsdale County,13 July 2007.
photograph by Karin McElroy copyright © 2007

From: Brenda Dziedzic, 27 September 2007,
I have one more Eastern Tailed Blue (Everes comyntas) to come out of its chrysalis. So far six have emerged. The eggs were laid 8-29-07. The picture of the chrysalis was taken yesterday and the male butterfly emerged today.

Eastern Tailed Blue (Everes comyntas), chrysalis, 26 September 2007, Westland, Wayne County, MI
photograph by Brenda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

Eastern Tailed Blue (Everes comyntas), male adult, 27 September 2007, Westland, Wayne County, MI
photograph by Brenda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

Eastern Tailed Blue (Everes comyntas), male adult, 27 September 2007, Westland, Wayne County, MI
photograph by Brenda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

[From: OAP - GREAT work and photos BRENDA!
I am going to request you assist me in raising some leps next spring, summer, OK?]

From: John C. Farmer, 27 September 2007,
While in Hillsdale County from Saturday, September 21, through yesterday, September 26, I saw two each of Variegated Fritillary, Fiery Skipper, and Checkered Skipper. Although none was an especially significant sighting, I thought you might be interested. Also saw two specimens of what I presume by size to have been Meadow Fritillaries, but was unable to see the undersides of the wings for confirmation of that identity. And, although I'd put no money on it, I may have seen a Cloudless Sulfur cross the home and adjacent small hay field on Hicks Road at S. Allen. By size and color, it struck me as quite likely one of those southern visitors, although I was at no point near enough to see any definitive markings. As it flew eastward to eventually cross into the large alfalfa field on the east side of S. Allen, an orange sulfur rose to engage it. The latter appeared roughly half the size of the larger butterfly, thus causing greater regret that I couldn't see the larger one more clearly.
If you'd like additional info on any of my sightings, now or in the future, I'd be happy to share what I can from my notes.
One more thing. Don't know how often you run across it or even if you're especially interested in botany, but on Saturday I spotted 26 plants of Closed/Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii, I presume) near the intersection of Youngs and Hog Creek Roads in Allen Township's Section 29. Though not rare, I don't run across them all that often, so thought I'd mention them. All but two of the plants were within 150 yards of the intersection in the marshy roadside just off the shoulder on the north side of the road. That's just west of the field adjoining Marsh Brothes' Pontoon storage area.

Closed/Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii), near the intersection of Youngs and Hog Creek Roads
in Allen Township's Section 29, 21 September 2007.
photograph by John C. Farmer copyright © 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 17, 2007

Contacts: Joe Robison (DNR) 734-379-9692, Laura Palombi (Detroit Zoo) 248-541-3717 or Mary Dettloff (DNR) 517-335-3014

DNR Seeks Public Input on Potential for Recovery of Karner Blue Butterfly at Petersburg State Game Area

The Department of Natural Resources and the Detroit Zoo will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10, to discuss statewide and local plans for recovery of the federally endangered Karner Blue Butterfly (KBB). The purpose of this meeting is to communicate with nearby landowners and other interested parties about habitat restoration and reintroduction of the butterfly to the Petersburg State Game Area near Petersburg in Monroe County.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Whitetail Conference Room in the upper level of Cabela’s in Dundee.
Project leaders from the DNR and the Detroit Zoo will be present to give an overview of the project, answer questions about the process and implications of reintroducing this species, and inform landowners about state programs for landowners who wish to create suitable habitat on their own properties.

“KBB populations were once common from Minnesota to Maine, but due to loss of the oak savanna habitat very few populations still exist,” said Joe Robison, DNR wildlife biologist. “We are working diligently to manage the game area in a way that prepares for reintroduction of this species.”

Much of the restoration work involves re-creating openings, whether through physical brush removal or through controlled burning, and planting native wildflower seeds and native prairie grass in the openings.

“At the Detroit Zoo, we have been collecting data on the plant community in the Petersburg State Game Area for the past three summers and we believe the habitat will be ready for reintroduction of KBB in 2008,” said Laura Palombi, associate curator of invertebrates at the Detroit Zoo. “We are helping prepare for this release by propagating butterflies this year at the zoo.”

Adult female butterflies were collected from the Allegan State Game Area and brought to the zoo, where the butterflies laid eggs on potted lupine plants. Each egg, larva, and pupa was cared for until the new adults emerged. This year, over 125 adults raised at the zoo were released at restored sites in Ohio. Palombi plans on increasing the number of butterflies raised next year and releasing them at the Petersburg State Game Area. It will probably take about six or seven years to establish a viable population in southeast Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to conservation, protection, management, use, and enjoyment of our state’s natural resources for current and future generations.

Joe Robison
Wildlife Biologist
Pte. Mouillee State Game Area
37205 Mouillee Rd.
Rockwood, MI 48173
Office (734) 379-9692
Fax (734) 379-9432
robisnj@michigan.gov

From: Roger Kuhlman, 25 September 2007,
I was butterflying at Petersburg State Game Area on September 21 when I encountered and photographed a largest Erynnis species that I think is Horace Duskywing (Erynnis horatius). I have included several views of this butterfly and would like other people's opinion on the matter. I hesitate with this id because the only Erynnis normally flying at this time is Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) and it would seem to be absurdly late for Horace.

In my opinion the features that argue for E. horatius are its slightly larger size and the clear three spot pattern on the forewing. Wild Indigos vary in size and can be quite large but I don't think I have ever seen one with a three spot pattern.

I physically vouchered this specimen, if further direct comparison with a series is necessary.
[Note from OAP: I requested the specimen for my collection and for a Dead and Spread examination.

Horace Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), 21 September 2007, Petersburg SGA.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

Horace Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), 21 September 2007, Petersburg SGA.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

Horace Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), 21 September 2007, Petersburg SGA.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

Horace Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), 21 September 2007, Petersburg SGA.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

My response to Roger was:
Roger,
Of course you all know my preference to Dead and Spread Anything Else is Hearsay!
And Roger, you do have a specimen. If you would be so kind, I would appreciate the opportunity to add it to my collection and make a determination based on viewing the specimen.
However, Roger, you are very good at determination of ID and I based on the photographs would tend to agree with your thoughts as to the ID being that of Horace's Duskywing. Add to your description the fact that there are two other apical spots on the dorsal forewing that Horace's Duskywing have and that the Indigo Duskywing does not.
I will be interested in what the others of you think! ]

From: Roger Kuhlman, 25 September 2007: [From OAP: This is in reference to the report of 18 September by John C. Farmer.]
From viewing the photos, I would tend to agree with John Farmer that the two Polygonias at the lower right are Polygonia progne. The comma marking on ventral hindwing seems to be tapered to a thin point at both ends and there seems to be a striated webby pattern on the ventral forewings. The tapering of the comma mark when it can be clearly seen I think is the best feature for identification. Unfortunately with these photos things are not as clear as they could be. If you still have the butterflies, trying to pose or photograph them differently may produce better results.
On Saturday (September 22) I was at Crosswinds Marsh in southeast Wayne County and I found two Gray Commas (Polygonia progne). I include dorsal and ventral views of one of them.

Gray Commas (Polygonia progne), ventral, 22 September 2007, Crosswinds Marsh, Wayne Co.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

Gray Commas (Polygonia progne), dorsal, 22 September 2007, Crosswinds Marsh, Wayne Co.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

From: Roger Kuhlman, 25 September 2007,
Martin, excellent find. I knew we [Greater Washtenaw County Butterfly Survey] were missing Pipevine (Battus philenor) for the year and when we hadn't found one by mid-August I thought our chances for the season were finished. But then the late summer/early fall warm spell happened and I again thought I would encounter a late one. It didn't happen for me but I am glad you got one.
Do you know if Dutchman's Pipe is grown in your area?

From: Martin Bialecki via Roger Kuhlman, 25 September 2007,

Today (September 20) one very worn Pipevine Swallowtail nectaring on phlox in Margaret's backyard. Fluttering like a dervish indeed.
So intent on nectar -- easy to capture in a box which I had to go off to find. And it's now in the frig here if anyone is interested...[Note from OAP: I have made a request for the specimen.]
This is the third Pipevine I have seen in that immediate locale. One fresh specimen I photographed in the drive several years ago, and the very first I did not see up close but it was fluttering like mad while nectaring just behind the mailbox there.

From: Todd Smith, 23 September 2007,
On Saturday, Sept 22 I took a ride to Sharonville SGA over by Manchester.
Lots of leps (18 butterfly species) flying in a field just north of Sharon Valley Dr. and west of Lamb Rd.
A nice end to the last day of summer. Pretty windy so I didn't take any pics. Here is the list:
Black Swallowtail, 1 fresh female looking for host plants.
Spicebush Swallowtail, 1 male on thistle
Monarch, about 10, some very fresh with soft wings yet, fueling up for the trip south.
Viceroy, 2
Cabbage White, very common and fresh
Orange Sulfur, common, some white form, fresh
Clouded Sulfur, very common, some white form, fresh
American Lady, 1 faded
Milbert's Tortoise Shell, 1 very fresh, a nice find
Bronze Copper, 1 very fresh
Purplish Copper, 2 slightly worn females, a lifer for me
American Copper, a dozen or so, some fresh, some worn
Silver Spotted Skipper, 3, one large very fresh
Common Checkered Skipper, 1 very nice find, and first time seen in Michigan for me.
Red Admiral, 1 nectaring and heading south
Buckeye, 1 somewhat worn, always nice to see these.
Pearl Crescent, a few very worn
Eastern Tailed Blue, several fresh
Today Sept 23, in Huron County at the MIL's I saw a Ringlet flying, what is the late date for those?
[Note from OAP: The previous late date was August 2. So Congratulations on finding this late date specimen.]

From: OAP, 21 September 2007,
NOW is the time to keep a record of the migration of the Monarch (Danaus plexippus) to Mexico.
Please report sighting DAILY to www.lepalert.org so I can report them to Journey South (aka Journey North).

AND you can follow the travels by going to: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/monarch_f07_All.html

Roosting sites as of 30 August 2007.

From: Roger Kuhlman, 20 September 2007,
Very good sighting of Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Martin. It is the fifth butterfly of this species seen this year in southeast Michigan and the first in Washtenaw County.

There are a variety of southern immigrants active in southwest Washtenaw County now. Yesterday I found one or two Variegated Fritillaries (Euptoieta claudia) on the state game lands off of Sharon Valley road. That was nice enough but then I saw a Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) fly by on the hilly meadows there. I ran after it wondering if I should try to catch it or not when it stopped flying and began nectaring some White Aster. I thought great, now I can get a good picture. I dropped my net and moved in for a photo. Just as I was getting into place the butterfly moved and flew south a little way to land on a second White Aster. I rushed after it again and by the time I got there it started flying again. This time it flew down a hill and I lost track of it.

Dainty Sulphur is sure a small butterfly. Seen even from a small distance away in flight it appears very indistinct and could easily be overlooked for one of the many bland-looking moths that are now flying in meadows. As I said earlier I first noticed the Dainty Sulphur in flight when it flew very close to me. I thought it was a Dainty Sulphur but absolute confirmation did not occur until it landed on the White Aster. Too bad I could not get a picture of it then. On the Aster it was showing what a little beauty it was. The last sighting for Dainty Sulphur in four southeast county area of Michigan was in 2001.

I had gone to Sharon Valley Road to look for Milbert's Tortoise Shell. Usually mid to late September this area is a great place to find a few of this uncommon species but Wednesday I could not find a one. So far we have only seen two Milbert's Tortoise Shells for the year--both sightings by Martin Bialecki. I do not know why they have become so rare in our area in recent years.

At the second location on Sharon Valley Road by a a pond and wet meadow I found Fiery Skipper nectaring on Blue Aster. In the fields I encountered a late Purplish Copper.

Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides), 19 September 2007, Sharon Valley Road field.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

After thoroughly searching the fields along Sharon Valley Road I went to Leonard's Preserve in Manchester. The fields there have lots of Goldenrod, White Aster, and a few lingering thistles in bloom and I thought the butterflying could be good. It was. I found four Checkered Skippers (Pyrgus communis). They seemed be enjoying the White Asters quite a bit. Other good finds were four Black Swallowtails (Papilio polyxenes), a latish Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), and a Buckeye (Junonia coenia).

Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), 19 September 2007, Leonard's Preserve in Manchester,
Washtenaw Co.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

From: Denny Brooks, 17 September 2007,
43.63 N - 84.26 W Chippewa Nature Center Midland, MI 48640

Buckeye (Junonia coenia) 13 August 2007, Chippewa Nature Center Midland, MI
photographs by Denny Brooks copyright © 2007

From: Denny Brooks, 16 September 2007,
Do we have a verified Buckeye for Midland County, If we don't I have record digiphoto. I had 6 Thursday at Chippewa Nature Center.
[Note from OAP: I replied to Denny as follows:
Yes we do, but I would very much appreciate a digiphoto for the MI Lep Survey records.
Date, Town, Range, Section (and/or GPS) of location.
and his response is shown above with photos he provided.]

From: John C. Farmer, 18 September 2007,
Anglewings I caught in the Perkins trap yesterday along with a viceroy included: Polygonia interrogationis, P. comma, and P. progne. Also, I had single Painted Ladies (V. cardui, not virginiensis) last week. One on 9/13, the other 9/16. Both in Section 3 of Milan Twp., Monroe County. Imagine others have been seeing the species recently, but thought I'd mention the sightings.

From: Cheryl Maxwell, 12 September 2007,
Hi Brenda, Great article!!
This Saturday 9-15-07 1-3pm at Orion Oaks County Park, Clarkston Rd, in Lake Orion there will be a Monarch Tagging for registration and more information contact 248-625-6473. cost $1.00,
hope to see you there.

From: Marion, 09 September 2007,
Nice going Brenda,
My issue of Twist had the picture of a monarch on the second page. Great article and pictures on page 14 in my issue. I am changing my yard to put in more of those butterfly-attracting plants.

From: Steve Katz, 09 September 2007,
Well, I and my son and the wife went out to Cranberry Lake on August 1st, just to get out of the house. In our trip I managed to get the following:
bronze copper
eastern-tailed blue
monarch
fiery skipper
and my wife's lifers consisted of:
orange sulphur
viceroy
and a bronze copper.
Well Owen I hope all is well on your end hope to maybe see you soon.

From: Tracy Milligan, 09 September 2007,
Congratulations Brenda. I saw the Monarch on the front page and when I went to the article - to my surprise - I recognized the person in the article - cool! Watch those member counts go up now!

From: Joe Strasbourg, 08 September 2007,
Hi Owen...Hope your summer has been a good one...Turns out that my 10 year old granddaughter is becoming a butterfly nut...Now she takes an interest in butterflies after I get rid of the collection....Anyway turns out Marvin kept a few of Leroy's butterflies in case someone wanted to make a frame....So he brought down his pins and a few mounting boards, so I wouldn't have to buy anything...I had her come over one evening and we put them in the relaxer and a couple days later she came back and we mounted them...Was a lot of fun and brought back many of memories...My little book I got didn't have the name for a particular one I think it's a clouded sulphur...but don't want to put wrong name in frame...Sending picture of butterfly...I know you know the name of it....Also sending picture of old book I found in a little store the wife and I go to...It was sent as a gift to someone in 1917....It's only three and a half by six inches....great shape.....looking forward to hear from you...

Joe Strasbourg and his granddaughter with her specimens. 09 September 2002, Ohio.
photograph by Joe Strasbourg copyright © 2007

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice alba), female albino.
OR
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme alba), female albino
photograph by Joe Strasbourg copyright © 2007

[Note from OAP: I suspect the later because of the wide dark band.
It is a SULPHUR...Colias sp.]

The Butterfly Guide by W. J. Holland, 1917.
photograph by Joe Strasbourg copyright © 2007

Inscription in The Butterfly Guide by W. J. Holland.
photograph by Joe Strasbourg copyright © 2007

From: Brenda Dziedzic, 07 September 2007,
If you know where I can buy this book, would you please let me know. I looked on Amazon.com and it's unavailable. I also did a search on it but couldn't find any place I could buy it at. The book is

The Wild Silk Moths of North America: A Natural History of the Saturniidae of the United States and Canada (The Cornell Series in Arthropod Biology) (Hardcover)
by Paul M. Tuskes (Author), James P Tuttle (Author), Michael M. Collins (Author).

Brenda Dziedzic, President, Southeast Michigan Butterfly Association,
1263 Springer St.,Westland, MI 48186-3721
734 326-0578

From: Michele Wysocki, 07 September 2007,

Yay for you, Brenda! I hope you inspire the Free Press readers as much as you inspire us SEMBA members!

From: Brenda Dziedzic, 07 September 2007,
If you get the Detroit Free Press, check out the Twist section in Sept 9. There will be an article about my yard and SEMBA.

From: Tom Bentley, 07 September 2007,
Saturday, Sept 1 brought me back to Nachusa Grasslands in Lee County, Illinois. It was a great day and the butterflies cooperated. Highlights included: Regal Fritillaries, Aphrodites Fritillarys, very worn Great Spangleds, tons of American Coppers including a mating pair, loads of Buckeyes including a mating pair, 2 fresh Giant Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, Spicebush Swallowtails, 1 Bronze Copper, 30+ Meadow Fritillaries and the usual sulphurs.

American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas americana), mated pair, 01 September 2007, Nachusa Grasslands, Lee County, Illinois.
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright © 2007

Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) 01 September 2007, Nachusa Grasslands, Lee County, Illinois.
photograph by Thomas Bentley copyright © 2007

Sunday Sept 2, I made a return trip to Wisconsin to hunt down the breeding Sleepy Oranges. This time I did find them at Avoca Wildlife Area in Iowa County. Partridge Pea is their host at this site. Only saw 5 of them but it was windy so they stayed low.

Little Yellows and Dainty Sulphurs were very common.

Last stop of the day was back to Blue River Sand Barrens in Grant County. Highlight there was my first ever Variegated Fritillary. He was a beat up guy with a wing tip missing and a broken antennae but still I was excited. Leonard's Skippers were common there.

From: Brenda Dziedzic, 06 September 2007,
Sept. 4,5,and 6 there has been a Fiery Skipper in my garden. It has been nectaring on the Verbena bonariensis.

Fiery Skipper (Hylephilia phyleus) on (Verbena bonariensis), 04 September 2007, Westland
photograph by Brenda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

Fiery Skipper (Hylephilia phyleus), 04 September 2007, Westland
photograph by Brenda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

From: Roger Kuhlman, 06 September 2007,

I thought I would fill you in about what was happening in terms of butterflies in southeast Michigan (principally Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties) during the last half of August.

Checkered Skippers (Pyrgus communis) are showing up in small numbers in each of the four southeast counties except Wayne County. I even found one in my backyard in my flower gardens. I think the best place to find them in Washtenaw County is in the farmland areas where alfalfa or an alfalfa/clover mix is being grown. It seems all you need to do to find some is to walk along a alfalfa field and keep your eye peeled for small off-white blurs zipping about.

Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis), August 2007
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

On August 18 the first three Leonard's Skippers (Hesperia leonardus) of the season showed themselves at Petersburg State Game Area in western Monroe County.

I also had my first two ever Checkered Skippers at Petersburg. A Checkered Skipper that landed on Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) to nectar was a beautiful sight. In several different locations at Petersburg there are big patches of Blazing star that are in bloom now. This flower along some purple Thistles are very potent butterfly attractants and they are now filled with many butterflies.

Among the most numerous are Silver-spotted Skippers, Monarchs, Viceroys, Tiger Swallowtails, Spicebush Swallowtails and Ladies. Aphrodites and Great Spangled Fritillaries also seem quite fond of Blazing Star. Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala alope) which is seldom seen nectaring will feed at Blazing Star.

Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala alope), 18 August 2007, Petersburg SGA, Monroe Co.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

The first Checkered White (Pontia protodice) of the season was seen at the Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor on August 22. This uncommon southern vagrant has only rarely been seen in our region and most years is not found.

Checkered White (Pontia protodice), 22 August 2007, Mattheai Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

By contrast another southern immigrant Fiery Skipper (Hylephilia phyleus) is usually seen each year in southeast Michigan. However seeing 133 of them at Point Mouillee in northeast Monroe County on August 28 was quite a spectacle. This year I have not seen more than three Fieries at a time in any other location in southeast Michigan. Point Mouillee is a particularly good location to see Fiery Skipper and invariably it comes up each year with the single largest sighting numbers of the butterfly. This fact has probably has something to do with Point Mouillee being in a migration corridor along Lake Erie. All these Fiery Skippers seem to be well satisfied feeding on nectar from the notorious, non-native plant Spotted Knapweed.

A second visit to Petersburg SGA on August 28 produced another treasure trove of good butterflies. I had a battered Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) that was at the time only the second one seen in southeast Michigan for 2007.

A late Horace Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) probably represented a record late sighting and comes at the conclusion of a spectacular season for this species. Since the inception of the Greater Washtenaw County Butterfly Survey in 1994 Horace has never as abundant and found in as many different sites as this season. A small back migration of Painted Ladies (Vanessa cardui) has seemed to be occurring in area for about a month now with ladies being seen singly or in small numbers in many locations. At Petersburg I had 11 of them for the day.

Also seen were two American Painted Ladies (Vanessa virginiensis). The other good butterflies at Petersburg were two Meadow Fritillaries, eight Buckeyes and some Leonard's Skippers.

From: Mike Leski, 04 September 2007

The UP was very slow for leps. No gracilis was observed. On Saturday (01 September), I visited the locations that you and Bob gave me. Beautiful bogs, but no leps. V. atalanta was abundant, as was D. plexippus. I did find 1 P. progne in Schoolcraft county, 7 miles north of Manistique. Here is my report. I saw:

V. atalanta, abundant (B, S)
D. plexippus, abundant (B, S)
P. rapae, occasional (B, S)
C. eurytheme, occasional (B, S)
S. atlantis, 1 each (B, S)
P. tharos, occasional (B, S)
C. comyntas, 1 (B)
P. progne, 1 (S)

On Sunday, I went to the Bergland Lookout tower. Leps were even worse here. The Eupatorium purpureum was burnt-out, leaving primarily solidago for nectar. I did find N. iole along old M-64, north of Bergland. Maybe an Ontonagon county record?
[Note from OAP: Congratulations! This is a county record, previously only Gogebic County in the U. P.]

Nothing else cool. I saw in Ontonagon county:

D. plexippus, abundant
P. rapae, occasional
C. eurytheme, occasional
S. atlantis, 1
C. comyntas, 1
V. cardui, 1

I have to visit those Schoolcraft bogs in the spring. And I will send you my labels when I generate them.

From: Brenda Dziedzic, 02 September 2007,
An Eastern-tailed Blue laid eggs on my Red clover 8-28-07. I brought in 15 eggs and they either hatched last night or this morning. The egg was about 1/64 inch and the newly hatched caterpillar in about 3/64 inch. I am attaching a picture of her laying eggs, an egg on the Red clover, and the newly hatched caterpillar.

Eastern-tailed Blue (Everes comyntas), 28 September 2007, laid eggs on my Red Clover.
photograph by Brneda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

Eastern-tailed Blue (Everes comyntas), 28 September 2007, egg on my Red Clover.
photograph by Brneda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

Eastern-tailed Blue (Everes comyntas), 28 September 2007, egg on my Red Clover.
photograph by Brneda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

Eastern-tailed Blue (Everes comyntas), larva hatched 01 or 02 September 2007.
photograph by Brenda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

Eastern-tailed Blue (Everes comyntas), larva hatched 01 or 02 September 2007.
photograph by Brenda Dziedzic copyright © 2007

From: Chris Neri, Interim Director, Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, 16914 N. Whitefish Point Rd.,
Paradise, MI 49768, 906-492-3954, 01 September 2007.
hawkowls@aol.com

I had this Dainty Sulphur about 2 miles south of Whitefish Point this afternoon. Wish the southeast wind had produced this good of a bird sighting today.

ALERT UPDATE