It was a beautiful day for both butterflies and butterfliers, and there were
many highlights on the May butterfly walk of the Carolina Butterfly Society
Triad Chapter. At the top of the list were numerous freshly emerged
butterflies of three species, Great Spangled Fritillaries, Southern
Cloudywings, and Little Glassywings. We even saw a mated pair of great
spangleds fly by and perch in a nearby tangle of grape vines. Thanks go to
Ken and Luann Bridle for hosting the butterfly walk and to Ken for leading
us to some great sites.
Nine members representing Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, and Stokes
County spent three hours of a sunny Saturday morrning exploring Old Shepherd
Mill Road, an abandoned country road in the hills of Stokes County, and a
farm along Snow Creek on Moir Road. The sky was clear, there was a slight
breeze, and the temperatures ranged between about 75 and 82 degrees. Our
efforts resulted in the following 20 species of butterflies:
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 2, Pipevine Swallowtail 1, Cabbage White 3,
Clouded Sulphur 5, Orange Sulphur 20+, Azure sp 1, Variegated
Fritillary 1, Great Spangled Fritillary 13, Pearl Crescent 4, Eastern
Comma 1, American Lady 3, Viceroy 1, Carolina Satyr 1, Little
Wood-Satyr 4, Monarch 1, Silver-spotted Skipper 2, Southern Cloudywing
3, Least Skipper 1, Little Glassywing 6, Zabulon Skipper 2 (1 female
and 1 male).
There were many wildflowers available for the butterflies and other
creatures. Among the most showy were ragwort, daisy, coreopsis, bowmanıs
root, Deptford pink, fire pink, coral honeysuckle, and a whole hillside of
mountain laurel above a crystal clear creek complete with bright raspberry
red spawning Crescent Shiner fish. In addition, members of the group spotted
several species of colorful dragonflies and damselflies including fresh
Painted Skimmer and Ebony Jewelwing.
Several photos from the butterfly walk are attached. From right to left, the
first photo shows Dennis Burnette, Charlie Cameron, and Gregg Morris in the
foreground. In the background are John Barlow and (with his back to the
camera) Gene Schepker. This and the photo of the mating fritillaries are by
Luann Bridle. The remaining five are by Dennis Burnette.
The next Triad chapter butterfly walk is scheduled for June 10 at Reynolda
Gardens, 100 Reynolda Village, Winston-Salem, NC. Reynolda Gardens is
adjacent to the Reynolda campus of Wake Forest University. From I-40
Business take Silas Creek Parkway North for approximately four miles. Bear
right at the Wake Forest University exit. At Reynolda Road, turn right at
the stoplight, then left at the first stoplight, entering Reynolda Village
at By Way Street. For a map and information about Reynolda Gardens, go to
http://www.reynoldagardens.org/ or call (336) 758-5593. Leader: Jim Nottke.
Dennis Burnette
Greensboro, NC
deburnette@triad.rr.com
Butterflying at Ugly Creek
Great Spangled Fritillary
Little Glassywing
Little Wood Satyr
Mating Spangles
Southern Cloudywing dorsal
Southern Cloudywing ventral
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