Randy Emmitt and I did some butterflying on 4/22/01 in Carroll Co., Virginia, and Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC. Butterflying the many dirt roads of Carroll was very slow, with the vegetation still mostly in winter, though the temps were in the upper 70s.

We hit Pilot Mountain from about 4:30-6:30 pm. It was very crowded with people, but also with hilltopping butterflies. Surprises included the number of Brown Elfin (near a state record, mostly near blooming Vaccinium spp. (several laying eggs)), an E Pine Elfin (laying eggs on Pitch Pine), and a Common Roadside-Skipper (on top of the ridge above the parking lot with many other hilltoppers).

Here`s the butterfliest we found at Pilot Mountain State Park in Surry County, NC

1 Pipevine Swallowtail
2 E Tiger Swallowtail
2 Falcate Orangetip (New county record)
1 Orange Sulphur
16 Brown Elfin (Largest single colony of 7)
1 E Pine Elfin (New county record)
1 Gray Hairstreak (New county record)
1 Spring (Edward's) Azure (New county record)
6 Mourning Cloak (New county record)
4 Red Admiral
2 Gemmed Satyr
3 Dreamy Duskywing (New county record)
5 Sleepy Duskywing (New county record)
25 Juvenal's Duskywing
1 Wild Indigo Duskywing
1 Common Roadside-Skipper (New county record)

Will Cook
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook
cwcook@duke.edu