Last Updated:  28 March, 2008 11:02 AM

Welcome to Lepidoptera Alert.  

The Next report will be after April 8 as I will not be at my computer until then. 
By then Spring should really have arrived in Michigan and the DD50 should be climbing toward 40 and the emergence of Pieris rapae and other early emergence, besides those that over winter as adults.

Note from Harry D. King, 21 March 2008:

I just took this, this afternoon. I saw two females.
Harry
Everytime I go after these and look at their habitat I can't understand for the life of me why we don't have these in Michigan??????


Falcate Orange Tip (Anthocharis midea), Greensboro,  North Carolina. March 21, 2008.
photograph by Harry D. King copyright ©  2008

Note from Harry D. King, 17 March 2008:
These are pics of the trail habitat where the Orange Tips are taken. It is quite typical of numerous areas right there in MI. It runs along a river a short distance and then out towards Lake Brandt. On one side towards the
River there is Maple, Hickory, Oak, Beech, Sweet Gum, and Pawpaw. On the other side of the trail it is mostly Pines, several kinds, Cherry and some Hackberry.  The trail itself is a dirt path with lots of Violets and Honey
Suckle.   This year I am going to look for the food plant.

These are pics of the trail habitat where the Orange Tips are taken.
North Carolina.
photographs by Harry D. King copyright ©  2008

http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/butterflies/nc-butterflies.htm

Great site on NC butterflies.

[Note from OAP: Mogens C. "Mo" Nielsen sent several questions to Harry pertaining to the Falcate Orange Tip. Here are the questions and Harry’s answers.]

1-What are the approximate degree-days when the OT is flying;…I don’t have a degree day chart for North Carolina but the Forsythia is coming on and will full bloom very shortly, Daffodils are full out as are Hyacinths, also the Cheery trees are in full Bloom. In Michigan we had Forsythia at the house that most years hit full bloom around the 25^th of April. Down here OT comes out just ahead of E. juvenalis but after the Azures. When I was home I used to go to Dansville in the early spring collecting the Spring Azure and P. napi. The Azures out just before P. napi, down here same but instead of napi it’s the OT flying with the Azures.  So it is Azures then Orange Tip and then Juvenal’s Duskywing.  I would start looking in MI around the 15^th – 20^th of April.

Owen you have always been good at finding out degree days for other States.  The degree days you want would be for 2007 on March 24th – 27^th at Greensboro, North Carolina.  The OT flight here last year went into early April.

2-What are the usual daytime temperatures, and does the OT also fly during overcast days; if it is sunny it can be in the upper 50’s. Cloudy days yes, just not as numerous.  Males ahead of females by 3-4 days. Oh and females don’t have the Orange Tip.

3-What are some of the other butterflies that usually on the wing with the OT; Azures, maybe Juvenalis and the Eastern Tailed Blue

4-What flowers, shrubs are in bloom at this time. Forsythia, Daffodils, Hyacinths and Cherry Trees.  The Red Bud is starting to Bloom too.

Judging from reports from nearby states, I assume it may fly in early to mid-April in MI. What's your opinion?  Could be, I would look then but expect it 2^nd to 3^rd week in April flying to the end of April maybe early May. Single brood too.

[Note from OAP: On March 19 Harry sent an email to MO]:
Today I went looking for OT again. This time they were out. You asked me would they fly on cloudy days and I couldn’t remember. Well the answer is yes. Today under mostly cloudy skies, hardly any Sun at all, with the wind blowing ( look at time and weather below, I just got back ) and a thunderstorm brewing I collected.
3 Orange Tips..Males
6 Spring Azures…Males
1 Sleepy Orange ..Male
All were immaculate.

This species is flying with the Spring Azure males. Cherry trees are in full Bloom with ¾ inch leaves. The Red Bud is out. There are no leaves on the other trees yet. REPEAT: THERE ARE NO LEAVES ON THE OTHER TREES YET! And I still have not seen any Erynnis species out.  As I recall last year the Erynnis species show up about the same time as the female Orange Tips. Hope this helps.  I says look for this one around the 15^th of April, Would expect it the same time as P. napi.

Falcate Orange Tip (Anthocharis midea), Greensboro,  North Carolina. March 19, 2008.
photograph by Harry D. King copyright ©  2008

Note from: Thomas Bentley, 16 March 2008:
This was a note I received on another list serve from Andy Warren.
Everyone,
The following document was published late last week:
Pelham, Jonathan P. March 15, 2008. A catalogue of the butterflies of the United States and Canada, with
a complete bibliography of the descriptive and systematic literature. Journal of Research on the
Lepidoptera 40:xiv + 658pp.
Dimentions: 8.5 x 11 x 1.5, weight = 4 pounds; softcover. Judging from the copy I was sent shortly after publication, they appear well-bound and printed.
We anticipate the first 500 of these arriving at the McGuire Center tomorrow or Wednesday, and mailing of
the volumes will begin immediately. Everyone who sent a check to Christine Eliazar at the McGuire Center
will get one of these copies, as will everyone on the current Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera mailing
list (including life members).
If you have NOT YET ordered a copy of the Catalogue, it can be ordered from BioQuip (please do not send a
check to Christine Eliazar at the McGuire Center) for $25 (plus s/h). Go to www.BioQuip.com , and search for
item #9385. This takes you to the following link with a description of the publication and additional ordering information:
http://www.bioquip. com/Search/ DispProduct. asp?itemnum= 9385 
If you have any questions about the catalogue, please let me know.
Best wishes, Andy Warren

Report from: Brenda Dziediz, 16 March 2008:
I had a great time yesterday. The time really flew by. Thank you for the information about the book and bookstore.
[Note from OAP: This was in response to my supplying her with the following information, which is a book that give the pronunciation of the common Eastern Butterflies. Also the site for obtaining used books!
:
Hi Brenda,
Good to see you today.
The name of the book is:
HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES 
A Manual of the Butterflies of the Eastern United States
by John Henry Comstock and Anna Botsford Comstock
I have the 1925 printing
The original copyright is 1904 

www.abebooks.com
They have several for sale.

Report from: Dwayne R. Badgero, 16 March 2008:
Well here goes my first report of the year!
March 13/14 
I baited several trees in the woods here in Oxford.  There was about 98% snow cover, but I couldn't resist.  I baited the trees at about 7:30 PM both nights, and spent the next 90 or so minutes crunching around in the snow.  I did collect 4 Eupsilia morrisoni the first night.  The second night was better with 3 E. morrisoni, 1 E. tristigmata, and 1 Lithophane unimoda.  I thought the snow cover was too much but the temperature was right (above 40 F at dusk), so I gave it a go and was pleasantly surprised.







photographs by Dwayne R. Badgero copyright ©  2008

Note from OAP:  13 March 2008,

I will be at Breaking Diapause on Saturday. See previous Notice below.
Any questions email me at lepalert@comcast.net 

Report from: Harry D. King, 13 March 2008,

If you are interested the Azures are out down here (North Carolina) as well as Snout Butterfly, Sleepy Orange, Falcate Orange tip, Buckeye and the Black Swallowtail and Tiger Swallowtail. 

Reminder from: Brenda Dziedzic, President, Southeast Michigan Butterfly Association:
This is a reminder of our next meeting, March 19 at 7 p.m.

The lecture will be “Winter Moths” by Dwayne Badgero. Immediately following the meeting there will be a field trip to Cherry Hill Preserve to look for moths.
Those interested in going, bring proper clothing. Questions call 734 326-0578 or go to www.sembabutterfly.com.

Oakwoods Metropark Nature Center is having a Butterfly Workshop Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m. If interested call 734 782-3956 or 800 477-3182 (ask for the nature center if you call the 800 number). There is limited space, so reservations will be taken on a first come basis. The address is 32911 Willow Rd, New Boston 48164. If you don't have a Metropark vehicle pass there will be a charge of $4.00 for a daily pass.

Request from: Dwayne R. Badgero, 05 March 2008:

The Society  hosts various informal meetings and collecting trips as interest and time allows. A mid-winter "Breaking Diapause" party has been an effective way to break the winter doldrums and dream of days of summer breezes.

2008 ANNUAL MEETING

Environmental Interpretive Center

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Dearborn, Michigan

“The Science of Entomology Meeting the Needs of Society”

The all-day conference is on the campus of the University of  Michigan-Dearborn. One third of the campus, more than 70 acres, is maintained as one of the largest natural areas in metropolitan Detroit, serving as a research and educational resource for the campus and the region. It is located on the Rouge River and is home to the Rouge River Bird Observatory. There is plenty of parking and the campus is easily accessible via major freeways. There will be interesting talks on the latest insect problems in Michigan as well as fascinating studies of various types of insects. An insect identification lab will be open during the day, so bring your mystery insects.  The keynote speaker is Dr. David L. Clark from Alma College who will speak on spider biology.

Please consider reading a paper, making a presentation or displaying a poster in any area of entomology. Graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to enter the student competition. The deadline for submitting a proposal is

May 16, 2008.

FOR REGISTRATION AND PROPOSAL FORMS AND MEETING DETAILS SEE OUR WEBSITE, http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/MES/MES.html OR CALL TOM WALLENMAIER, (313) 845-6439.

 http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/MES/MES.html 

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Copyright ©  28 March, 2008 11:02 AM