We had a great turn out for the Carolina Butterfly Societyıs Triad Chapter
July butterfly walk, and we saw lots of interesting critters. Gene Schepker
and Lois Schneider led seventeen participants on a nice walk around the
marsh in Civitan Park, Winston-Salem, NC. Many of the butterfliers were also
members of Forsyth Audubon.
The habitat was excellent for butterflies with lots of Black-eyed Susan,
Coreopsis, and other flowers in bloom in the meadow. Buttonbush and Pickerel
Weed were blooming in and next to the marsh. The day was sunny with a slight
breeze, and warmed rapidly from around 78 to about 88 in the two hours that
we looked for butterflies. Despite these favorable conditions, the number of
butterflies we saw was surprisingly small. As has been the case all summer
in this area, swallowtails were almost nonexistent. A late killing freeze
followed by a dry summer may be to blame.
Various members of the group reported the following 14 species of
butterflies:
Dark swallowtail (probably Spicebush Swallowtail) 1, Clouded Sulphur 1,
Orange Sulphur 3, Cloudless Sulphur 1, Red-banded Hairstreak 1, Eastern
Tailed-Blue 8, Variegated Fritillary 1, Pearl Crescent 12, Common Buckeye 2,
Viceroy 1, Silver-spotted Skipper 3, Common Sootywing 1, Sachem 7, Delaware
Skipper 1.
In addition to the butterflies, we saw several species of dragonflies and
other insects, a pair of Green Herons that probably is nesting, and an
industrious muskrat.
The Triad Chapter has two butterfly activities coming up in August. As
always, guests are welcome. Mark the following dates on your calendar:
August 5, Sunday, 1:30 pm Triad chapter butterfly walk. Location:
Greensboro Arboretum.
August 25, Saturday Forsyth County Butterfly Count.
--
Dennis E. Burnette
7 Brownstone Lane
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 299-4342
deburnette@triad.rr.com
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