Hello all,

The Carolina Butterfly Society Butterfly walks on Saturday and Sunday were not particularly highlighted by butterflies. On Saturday we were treated to a female painted bunting in a field we explored near the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanic Gardens, and a male Indigo serenaded us while we explored the powerline adjacent to the new botanic gardens entrance on the Lexington County side of the Saluda River. Sunday, a Bald Eagle soared over our head at the Clemson University Sandhills Experiment and Education Center in Richland Co. Perhaps the drought has reduced the butterfly population significantly. None of us have been seeing as many as usual all spring.

On Saturday, the most common butterfly was a common checkered-skipper. And they were not behaving commonly. Almost all were landing and keeping their wings up over their body instead of spread as seems to be the usual behavior. Sunday the checkered-skipper was common as were the Common Buckeye and the American Lady. Early in the afternoon, one last visit to the butterfly garden yielded a beautiful fresh Zebra Swallowtail with the classic summer form long tails. The weather was more civilized on Sunday as well.

Tommie Moody deserves our thanks for setting up these walks. We can't hold her responsible for the weather! In addition, thanks our due our guide to the back areas of the Sandhills Center and its butterflies, John Cely.

Both days had a good population of odonates present. The Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) and the black-winged Variable Dancer were common.

Here are the lists. CBS Butterfly Walk Riverbanks Zoo and adjacent fields Lexington Co., SC June 16, 2001

E. Tiger Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Red-banded Hairstreak
American Snout
Variegated Fritillary
Pearl Crescent
American Lady
Common Buckeye
Silver-spotted Skipper
Horace's Duskywing (pair)
Zarucco Duskywing
Common Checkered-skipper
Fiery Skipper
Sachem
Delaware Skipper
Dun Skipper

Clemson Sandhill Center Richland Co, SC Sunday, June 17, 2001

Zebra Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Red-banded Hairstreak
American Lady
Painted Lady!
Common Buckeye
Red-spotted Purple
Silver-spotted Skipper
Horace's Duskywing
Common Checkered-skipper
Fiery Skipper
Unidentified little gray job! (skipper)

The dragonflies and damselflies spotted were: Odonates from the Botanic Gardens & adjacent area Lexinton Co, SC June 16, 2001

Green Darner (Anax junius)
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)
Common Whitetail (L. lydia)
Variable Dancer (Argia f. fumipennis)
Double-striped Bluet (female) (Enallagma basidens)
Citrine Forktail (Ishnura hastata)

Odonates from Clemson Sandhills Center June 17, 2001
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)
Common Whitetail (Libellula lydia)
Slaty Skimmer (L. incesta)
Golden-winged Skimmer (L. auripennis)
Banded Pennant (Celithemis fasciata)
Calico Pennant (C. elisa)
Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina)
Atlantic Bluet (Enallagma doubledayi)
Variable Dancer (Argia f. fumipennis)

Lynn B Smith
Columbia, SC