Field Notes
1/1/08-5/31/08

For the second consecutive year, this was a noticeable reduction in number of species in early spring compared to the preceding year. While there were 54 species of butterflies reported in the first five months of 2006, only 47 species were reported in the first five months of 2007 and 43 species were reported in the first five months of 2008. Butterflies emerging during the first five months of 2008 tended to emerge on dates either consistent with or earlier than they did in 2007. Of the 43 species that emerged during this reporting period, 16 emerged within a week of their date of first emergence in 2007 and 20 species emerged at least a week earlier than they did in 2007. Only 5 species emerged at least a week later than they did in 2007 and 2 species seen in early spring 2008 were not reported in 2007. A highlight of this reporting period was the Silvery Blue found in Tunxis State Forest in West Hartland on May 14th. It was only the third report ever of this species in the state.

Please note that caps indicate the first record posted for the year and italics indicate the last.

3/5- Moths: Isabella Tiger Moth (1) (RZ- Broadview Street, Newington)

3/14-MOURNING CLOAK (1) (DB- Nehantic State Forest, East Lyme)

3/23-Mourning Cloak (1) (JH- Madison)

3/26-Mourning Cloak (1) (RMa- Madison); Mourning Cloak (1) (RZ- Young Farm, Newington); Mourning Cloak (3) (PS- Macricostas Preserve, Washington)

4/8- COMPTON TORTOISESHELL (1) (RC- Walden Preserve, Salem); CABBAGE WHITE (1) (BB- Bungay Road, Seymour); CABBAGE WHITE (1) (RC- Salem)

4/9- SPRING AZURE, EASTERN COMMA (RC- Walden Preserve, Salem)

4/10-Cabbage White (1), Spring Azure (15+), Eastern Comma (1), Mourning Cloak (1) (RC- Salem); Spring Azure (1), Eastern Comma (6), Mourning Cloak (4) (PS- Macricostas Preserve & Steep Rock Reservation, Washington)

4/12-Cabbage White (1), Spring Azure (1) (BB- Kellogg Enviromental Center, Derby); Spring Azure (1) (GH- Sperry Pond, Middlebury); CLOUDED SULPHUR (1) (GW- Mystic)

4/15-Cabbage White (1) (RM- Milford); Moths: Grapevine Epimenis (3) (BB- Kellogg Enviromental Center, Derby)

4/16-Spring Azure (numerous), Eastern Comma (1) (HG- Pleasant Valley Preserve, Lyme); Cabbage White (1), Spring Azure (numerous), Eastern Comma (2), Mourning Cloak (1) (RC- Salem & East Lyme); Eastern Comma (2) (DT- Spicebush Swamp, West Hartford)

4/17-Cabbage White (1) (DA- Fairfield); Cabbage White (1) (DA- Westport)

4/18-Spring Azure (1) (DA- Salmon River State Forest, East Haddam/ East Hampton town line)

4/19-Cabbage White (1) (RMa- Madison Montessori, Madison); JUNIPER HAIRSTREAK (3) (BB, LB- Fresh Meadows Sanctuary, Cheshire)

4/22-EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL (1) (AB- Broken Arrow Nursery, Hamden); BLACK SWALLOWTAIL (1), Cabbage White (3), Clouded Sulphur (1), Spring Azure (numerous) (DB-Walden Preserve, Salem); Clouded Sulphur (1), Cabbage White (5), Clouded Sulphur (1), Spring Azure (7) (BB- Osborndale State Park, Derby); Spring Azure (a few), JUVENAL’S DUSKYWING (2) (HG- Lyme); BLACK SWALLOWTAIL (1), FALCATE ORANGETIP (24+), Spring Azure (10+), Mourning Cloak (2), AMERICAN LADY (1), JUVENAL’S DUSKYWING (1) (F. Model- West Rock Ridge State Park, New Haven)

4/23-Cabbage White, ORANGE SULPHUR (1) (RMa- Madison); Falcate Orangetip (1) (AB- Broken Arrow Nursery, Hamden); EASTERN PINE ELFIN (2), Spring Azure (1) (PS- Steep Rock Reservation, Washington); WEST VIRGINIA WHITE (1) (PS- Hidden Valley Reservation, Washington); Cabbage White (3), Clouded Sulphur (1), Spring Azure (numerous), RED ADMIRAL (1) (RC- Salem)

4/24- Black Swallowtail (1), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (2), Cabbage White (a few), Falcate Orangetip (40+), Clouded Sulphur (1), BROWN ELFIN (6), EASTERN TAILED-BLUE (3), Spring Azure (numerous), American Lady (2), Juvenal’s Duskywing (4) (M. Arey- Hanging Hills, Meriden); Cabbage White (2), Spring Azure (1), Mourning Cloak (1), Moths: Grapevine Epimenis (1) (DA- Chester); Black Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (2), Falcate Orangetip (18), Juniper Hairstreak (1), Spring Azure (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (3) (BB- West Rock Ridge St. Park, New Haven)

4/25-HENRY’S ELFIN (1) (RC- East Lyme); Cabbage White (a few), Clouded Sulphur (a few), FROSTED ELFIN (1), Spring Azure ( a few) (DB, RC- Walden Preserve, Salem); Black Swallowtail (1), West Virginia White (2), Cabbage White ( a few), Eastern Pine Elfin (6), Spring Azure (a few), Mourning Cloak (2), Juvenal’s Duskywing (1) (PS- Steep Rock Reservation, Hidden Valley Preserve, Macricostas Preserve, Washington); Falcate Orangetip (15), Spring Azure (a few), Juvenal’s Duskywing (2) (LG, HG- West Rock Ridge St. Park, New Haven); Juvenal’s Duskywing, Moths: Bold-based Zale, Scribbler sp. (numerous), Lappet sp. (numerous), Eupithecias sp. (numerous (JH- Killingworth)

4/26- Cabbage White (6), Clouded Sulphur (3), Moths: White-striped Black Moth (1) (RZ- Young Farm, Newington); Clouded Sulphur (1), Pine Elfin (10+), Spring Azure (4), American Lady (1) HG-Voluntown Cemetery, Voluntown); Juvenal’s Duskywing) (JH- Killingworth)

4/30- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1), Clouded Sulphur (6), Spring Azure (5) (RC- East Lyme)

5/1- West Virginia White (2-3) (PS-Hidden Valley Preserve, Washington); Compton Tortoiseshell (1) (JH- Killingworth)

5/4- Red Admiral (1) (HG- Lyme); Cabbage White (2), Clouded Sulphur (1), Spring Azure (4-5), Anglewing sp. (1), Mourning Cloak (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (6-7) (RC- Salem)

5/5- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1), SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAIL (1), Cabbage White (4), Clouded Sulphur (1), Brown Elfin (1), Eastern Tailed-Blue (10+), Spring Azure (6), American Lady (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (6), WILD INDIGO DUSKYWING (1) CT- Wapawog WMA, East Hampton); Cabbage White (2), Spring Azure (1) (RMa- Madison); Mourning Cloak (1) (MN- Salem Country Gardens, Salem)


5/6- Cabbage White ( a few), Clouded Sulphur ( a few), Eastern Tailed-Blue (a few), Spring Azure ( a few), American Lady (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing ( a few) (RC- Salem); Brown Elfin (1) (AB- Broken Arrow Nursery, Hamden); Spring Azure (1) (RZ- Mountain Rd., Newington); Cabbage White ( a few), American Lady (1) (RMo- Trumbull)

5/7- Black Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (2), Clouded Sulphur (1) (RZ- Mill Pond Park, Newington); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (2), Eastern Pine Elfin (1), Spring Azure (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (4) (FM- Pachaug St. Forest, Voluntown); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (2), Clouded Sulphur (1) (RMa- Killingworth)


5/8- Brown Elfin (2) (BB- Beacon Falls Industrial Park, Beacon Falls)

5/11- MONARCH (1) (RZ- Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newington); Azure sp. (a few), Juvenal’s Duskywing (1) (Old Cedar Mountain Highway Trail, Newington); AMERICAN COPPER (2), Eastern Tailed-Blue (2), Azure sp. (1), PEARL CRESCENT (1), American Lady (4), Juvenal’s Duskywing (9) (HG- Lyme); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (2), Clouded Sulphur (4), Azure sp. (5), PEARL CRESCENT (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (3) (RC- Salem); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, West Virginia White (1), Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Eastern Pine Elfin (10), Azure sp. (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (numerous) (PS- Steep Rock Reservation, Hidden Valley Preserve, Washington)

5/13- Cabbage White (1), Frosted Elfin (7-8), Azure sp. (4-5), Pearl Crescent (1), American Lady (1), DREAMY DUSKYWING (a few), Juvenal’s Duskywing (15-20) (RC- Salem); Brown Elfin (1), COMMON SOOTYWING (1) (AB- Broken Arrow Nursery, Hamden)

5/14- Juniper Hairstreak (1), Eastern Tailed-Blue (2), Pearl Crescent (2), American Lady (4), Juvenal’s Duskywing (12) (HG- Lyme); Spicebush Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (1), Clouded Sulphur (4-5), Frosted Elfin (4-5), Eastern Tailed-Blue (2), Azure sp. (3-4), Mourning Cloak (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (10-12) (RC- Walden Preserve, Salem); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (1) (DA- Willimantic); Cabbage White (10), Clouded Sulphur (4), American Copper (1), Frosted Elfin (3), Spring Azure (20), CHERRY GALL AZURE (2), Pearl Crescent (8), Mourning Cloak (1), American Lady (2), Dreamy Duskywing (2), Juvenal’s Duskywing (25) (HS, MS- Sherman Corner); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (6), Spring Azure (8), SILVERY BLUE (1), Pearl Crescent (3), Dreamy Duskywing (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (1) (HS, MS- Tunxis St. Forest, West Hartland)

5/15- Cabbage White (10), Clouded Sulphur (2), American Copper (1), Spring Azure (10), Pearl Crescent (3), Juvenal’s Duskywing (5), Wild Indigo Duskywing (2) (HS, MS- Machimoodus St. Park, Moodus)

5/17- Cabbage White (10), HARVESTER (2), American Copper (1), Frosted Elfin (18), Eastern Tailed-Blue (1), Spring Azure (22), Pearl Crescent (6), American Lady (3), Dreamy Duskywing (3), Juvenal’s Duskywing (20) (HG, HS, MS- Walden Preserve, Salem); Cabbage White (10), Eastern Tailed-Blue (1), Spring Azure (12), Pearl Crescent (4), American Lady (2), Juvenal’s Duskywing (2) (HG, HS, MS- Lyme); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (2), Juvenal’s Duskywing (1) (RZ- Cedar Mountain, Newington); Juvenal’s Duskywing (2) (DA- East Haven)

5/18- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (3), Spicebush Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (7), Clouded Sulphur (2), American Copper (1), Eastern Tailed-Blue (4), Azure sp. (2), Pearl Crescent (1), American Lady (3), Juvenal’s Duskywing (5), Wild Indigo Duskywing (2), COBWEB SKIPPER (3) (RC- Salem & Mansfield); Cabbage White (2), Eastern Pine Elfin (1), Spring Azure (25), Pearl Crescent (5), COMMON RINGLET (1) (HS, MS- White Memorial Foundation, Litchfield)

5/21- Black Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1), Spicebush Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Frosted Elfin (15-20), Eastern Tailed-Blue, Azure sp. ( a few), Pearl Crescent, American Lady, Dreamy Duskywing, Juvenal’s Duskywing (numerous) (RC, AR- Mansfield)

5/23- LITTLE WOOD-SATYR (1) (RC- Salem); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Pearl Crescent (4), Common Ringlet, Common Sootywing (6-8) (PS- Macricostas Preserve, Washington)

5/24- Eastern Tailed-Blue, Pearl Crescent, Juvenal’s Duskywing (1), HOBOMOK SKIPPER (1) (CT- Wapowog WMA, East Hampton); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Eastern Tailed-Blue, Azure sp., Pearl Crescent, Little Wood-Satyr, Common Ringlet, Juvenal’s Duskywing, Common Sootywing, INDIAN SKIPPER (PS- Macriscostas Preserve, Steep Rock Reservation, Washington); Red Admiral (1), Common Ringlet (30+) (DB- Salem)

5/25- PECK’S SKIPPER (1) (CT- Moodus); Brown Elfin (2), Eastern Pine Elfin (1), Spring Azure (1), SILVER-BORDERED FRITILLARY (1), SLEEPY DUSKYWING (3), Cobweb Skipper (4) (LB- Mansfield Hollow Dam, Windham); Spicebush Swallowtail (1), Clouded Sulphur (a few), Eastern Tailed-Blue (8-9), Pearl Crescent (numerous), Little Wood-Satyr (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (2-3), Wild Indigo Duskywing (5) (CT- Wapowog WMA, East Hampton); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1), Spicebush Swallowtail (1), Cabbage White (1), Clouded Sulphur (8), Eastern Tailed-Blue (numerous), Pearl Crescent (20+), Little Wood-Satyr (15+), Common Ringlet (20+), NORTHERN CLOUDYWING (3), PECK’S SKIPPER (3), TAWNY-EDGED SKIPPER (1) (CT- Machimoodus St. Park, Moodus); Pearl Crescent (1), Skipper sp. (2) (DA- Chester); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Moths: Nessus Sphinx Moth (1) (CK- North Guilford); PECK’S SKIPPER (3), TAWNY-EDGED SKIPPER (1) (HG- Lyme); PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL (1), Falcate Orangetip (1) (AB- Broken Arrow Nursery, Hamden); Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (6), Cabbage White (numerous), PECK’S SKIPPER (3) (RMa- Wallingford)

5/26- Falcate Orangetip (1) (AB- Broken Arrow Nursery, Hamden)

5/29- Monarch (1) (RM- Milford); Spicebush Swallowtail (1), Monarch (1) (DA- Chester); Monarch, Indian Skipper, DUSTED SKIPPER (DC, HG, NP- Lyme)

5/31- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Eastern Tailed-Blue, SUMMER AZURE, VICEROY, Pearl Crescent, Little Wood-Satyr, Common Ringlet, Juvenal’s Duskywing, Common Sootywing (25+), Peck’s Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, Hobomok Skipper (3), Dusted Skipper (1) (BKS, PS- Macricostas Preserve, Steep Rock Reservation, Washington); ZABULON SKIPPER (1) (LB- Fresh Meadows Sanctuary, Cheshire) Contributors: DA- Diane Adams, BB-Bill Banks, DB- David Bingham, AB- Andy Brand, LB- Lenny Brown, RC- Rich Chyinski, DC- Dan Cinnoti, LG- Liz Gentile, HG- Hank Golet, GH- Greg Hanisek, JH- John Himmelman, CK- Cindy Kobak, FM- Frank Mantlik, RMa- Robin Matterfis, RMo- Ruth Mohr, RM- Robert Muller, MN- Maryann Nazarchyk, NP- Noble Proctor, AR- April Rodd, HS- Holly Salvato, MS- Mark Salvato, BKS- BK Stafford, PS- Peary Stafford, CT- Clay Taylor, DT- Diane Tucker, GW- Glenn Williams, RZ- Roy Zartarian

Please post your reports to CTLEPS-L or send them to: Lenny Brown 5 Vumbaco Drive Wallingford, CT 06492 E-mail: Epmanshell@aol.com