Recent
butterfly (and moth!) sightings at Fermilab
Tom Peterson
April 21, 2009
With the warm weather last week, many butterflies were beginning to
emerge. Cabbage Whites, which
overwinter as chrysalises, are as I have said before, the "dandelion"
of butterflies, a European introduction which is out early, abundant
all season, and out late. In fact, the early Cabbage Whites are
often nectaring on dandelions in our lawns. Among the first
native butterflies to emerge from its chrysalis is the Spring Azure, which were flying last
week.
However, the first
butterflies to be seen at Fermilab are generally those which overwinter
as adults in the woods: Mourning
Cloak, Eastern Comma (winter
form), and Gray Comma.
The Mourning Cloak below was photographed on March 16 in our "Big
Woods" just north of Pine Street. My first butterfly of the year
was a glimpse of an Eastern Comma flying by in the same area on March
6. In each case, these days were among the first 60 - 65 degree
sunny days this spring. Sunny and 65 F without much wind is
generally warm enough to bring out these winter hibernators in early
March at Fermilab.
Mourning Cloak,
Fermilab, March 16, 2009