Where are the butterflies, this year?
Aug 5, 2020 09:58:25 #
For you lepidopterists... Up here in New Hampshire, we're usually awash in Swallowtails, Hairstreaks, Fritillaries and those little white Cabbage butterflies. We've seen about two of each, this entire summer. What gives? We're in a nasty drought, in southeastern NH; could that be the reason? No mosquitoes either although that makes sense in a drought.
Here's an odd one. These photos are of a "Red Spotted Purple" (not a Swallowtail, note the lack of tail) and I'm lucky to see a single one maybe once every three years. This is the second I've seen in two weeks. Go figure.
Here's an odd one. These photos are of a "Red Spotted Purple" (not a Swallowtail, note the lack of tail) and I'm lucky to see a single one maybe once every three years. This is the second I've seen in two weeks. Go figure.
Aug 5, 2020 10:05:43 #
I've noticed a decline in numbers down here as well except for Skippers & Hairstreaks, which seem more abundant than usual. That said, I have seen Spicebush (saw one this morning) and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and also Buckeyes, Sulphers, and Cabbage whites. Just not as many as usual. I did see a Monarch earlier in the year, but they are sparse around here as it is. I have seen eggs for the Red Spotted Purple, but no butterlies yet.
Aug 5, 2020 10:09:23 #
norm70
Loc: Maine
Nice shots....I am in Central Maine and we also have a drought which could be the reason for the decline. We normally see a good quantity of "Monarchs" but not this season have only seen one and I was without my camera.
Thanks for sharing these shots...
Thanks for sharing these shots...
Aug 5, 2020 10:14:36 #
No shortage of butterflies here in central Montana. The only one of the usual ones missing so far is the Monarch, and I usually only see one or two of those per season. Dragonflies, on the other hand, have been few and far between.
Aug 5, 2020 10:21:25 #
Our raspberry plants here in Minneapolis failed to produce even one berry. Pollination failure?
Aug 5, 2020 10:29:44 #
I noticed it earlier as the spring and summer were more drought and hotter than usual. Also few except on milkweed. They were looking a bit tattered as well.
Aug 5, 2020 11:00:06 #
Aug 5, 2020 11:10:45 #
fourlocks wrote:
For you lepidopterists... Up here in New Hampshir... (show quote)
Noticed the same in my area Pgh, PA. Been super hot all summer. Only buttlerfly's of any number are those little white ones, Saw one Monarch the other day, but no others. Normally we have lots of a variety of butterflys. Also noticed a lack of fireflies/lightening bugs this year. I'm hoping stink bugs are just as scarce.
Aug 5, 2020 11:12:26 #
Tjohn wrote:
I noticed it earlier as the spring and summer were more drought and hotter than usual. Also few except on milkweed. They were looking a bit tattered as well.
Wow! They don't call it Butterfly Weed for nothin'! Is that not a Zebra Swallowtail on the right side of the photo? I've never seen one up here in NH, or in my entire life, for that matter.
Aug 5, 2020 11:14:13 #
I’ve found Stink bugs and their eggs too. Lots of Carpenter bees and wasps as well. I’m in the middle of mowing my front lawn and there are several male Velvet ants ( really they are wasps but the name comes from the flightless females) flying around looking to mate. BTW, that looks more like a Spicebush or Pipevine Swallowtail. Pictures of the Stinkbug eggs and the male wasp are over on my Flickr stream.
Aug 5, 2020 11:15:56 #
fourlocks wrote:
Wow! They don't call it Butterfly Weed for nothin'! Is that not a Zebra Swallowtail on the right side of the photo? I've never seen one up here in NH, or in my entire life, for that matter.
I saw my first ever Zebra Swallowtail this Spring. None since and it flew by so a picture wasn’t possible.
Aug 5, 2020 12:06:51 #
Aug 5, 2020 12:20:05 #
fourlocks wrote:
Wow! They don't call it Butterfly Weed for nothin'! Is that not a Zebra Swallowtail on the right side of the photo? I've never seen one up here in NH, or in my entire life, for that matter.
Upon closer inspection on my iPhone ( I wasn't able to enlarge it on my computer but I was on my phone) , yes it is a Zebra Swallowtail...
Aug 5, 2020 12:35:20 #
I raise a lot of butterflies and moths from caterpillar stage so as to make sure they don't fall prey to parasitic wasps and other insects before they have a chance to eclose. Many moths overwinter locally but most butterflies do not. Maybe the issues we see are due to conditions where the butterflies overwinter...
Aug 6, 2020 05:53:17 #
Down here in Florida I feel lucky to see butterflies. In the last few years they have sprayed a lot of insecticide to stop the Zika virus. God help the bees and the butterflies.
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