Greetings, The Big Diana Hunt and Transylvania County count on Saturday suffered from the drought just like most field trips this year.

The four foot timber rattler who crossed the road behind us and headed into the open-grassy area we had just checked out was of some interest! It was brightly marked, suggesting that it had recently shed its skin.

Here is a rough draft of the results.
Transylvania County Butterfly Count August 10, 2002
Pipevine Swallowtail 3
E. Tiger Swallowtail
31 Spicebush Swallowtail
1 Cabbage White
2 Clouded Sulphur
1 Cloudless Sulphur
9 Sleepy Orange
1 Eastern-tailed Blue
9 Summer Azure
10 Diana Fritillary
2 Pearl Crescent
5 Question Mark
1 Red-spotted Purple
2 Monarch
2 Silver-spotted Skipper
13 Long-tailed Skipper
1 Fiery Skipper
4 Sachem
3 Zabulon Skipper

On Sunday we visited the gardens of the NC Arboretun in Buncombe County. Pickings were still slim. Several of each of the black swallowtails, including Black, Spicebush, Pipevine and E. Tiger One American Lady "Gazillion" silver-spotted Skippers (direct quote of a participant) Lots of Sachems One Eastern-tailed Blue An interesting number of Hummingbird clearwing Moths, Hemaris thysbe

Two interesting caterpillars we found immediately on our first stop in Transylvania County. Steve Mix found a Tulip-tree Silk Moth cat on a small tulip tree right by our cars. It still has some growing to do. Then folks on the other side of the tree (a sapling) found a mature tiger swallowtail caterpillar on its resting pad. It had already turned brownish. when we returned to the cars 40 minutes laterr it was gone. Off to pupate?

But the weather was pleasant as was the company, so a good time was had by all. Lynn Smith Camden, SC