Lep Stuff

The results of the Ojibway (Windsor) butterfly count were recently posted.  52 species in total recorded, but of course overall numbers were down.  We had 44, so that was pretty good.

The count this year was held on July 6. The Ojibway Prairie Complex received the majority of coverage. Sites visited by counters included Ojibway Park, Spring Garden Natural Area, Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve, Black Oak Heritage Park and the Brunet Park area of LaSalle. The count was hosted by the Ojibway Nature Centre and The Friends of Ojibway Prairie sponsored snacks and refreshments.
Twenty-seven counters tallied 52 species and 1,471 individual butterflies on July 6. Early summer species such as European and Hobomok Skippers were still present in low numbers and species represented by mid-summer broods were beginning to appear. Horace's Duskywing was a new species for our count. 74 species have been recorded over the past twenty butterfly counts.
Black Swallowtail 4, E. Tiger Swallowtail 9, Spicebush Swallowtail 3, Cabbage White 214, Clouded Sulphur 6, Orange Sulphur 7, Am. Copper 5, Coral Hairstreak 16, Acadian Ha. 10, Edwards' Ha. 25, Banded Ha. 8, E. Tailed-Blue 81, 'Summer'Azure 6, Great Spangled Fritillary 86, Aphrodite Fr. 1, Silvery Checkerspot 4, Pearl Crescent 32, N. Crescent 20, E. Comma 1, Mourning Cloak 11, Painted Lady 1, Red Admiral 10, Common Buckeye 1, Red-spotted Admiral 3, Viceroy 4, N. Pearly-eye 9, Eyed Brown 23, Appalachian Brown 45, Little Wood-Satyr 281, Com. Wood-Nymph 161, Monarch 3 (low), Silver-spotted Skipper 44, S. Cloudywing 5, N. Cloudywing 21, Horace's Duskywing 1, Wild Indigo Duskywing. 11, Com. Sooty Wing 4, Least Sk. 12, European Sk. 33, Crossline Sk. 22, Long Dash 1, N. Broken-Dash 62, Little Glassywing 71, Delaware Sk. 37, Mulberry Wing 2, Hobomok Sk. 3, Broad-winged Sk. 1, Dion Sk. 2, Black Dash 16, Dun Sk. 7. Unidentified: crescent sp. 3, eyed brown sp. 3, grass-skipper sp. 12.

As I mentioned previously, it was a fairly decent day.  Dukes' Skipper was not recorded, but just today Dwayne Murphy had one at Brunet Park!  They are uncommon, but can be found with some luck.  Last year was pretty good for them as was with most butterflies.  There were a few north of Wallaceburg at the site I discovered back in 2008.

Hairstreaks still remain very scarce around here.  Not sure why, but the weather is certainly a factor.  Frankly, it has been the worst year for hairstreaks that I have seen.  They just are not there at my usual haunts.

Seems it is better farther east, especially with Edwards', with recent posts.  I probably have seen more Edwards' this year than Banded, and Reid CA north of here is pretty good.  In the past I have seen around 100 in a day in a good year.

Hairstreaks were generally late in coming out this year like most other species.

We saw a few of these moths at Spring Garden.  I believe it is a Confused Haploa.

There is a group of similar-looking moths, but unless I am confused, that is what it is!