Subject: 4th of July Count Results

From: Gregory <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 8 Jul 1995 14:42:25 -0500

The Long Pond, Pa., 4th of July Butterfly Count was held on 24 June 1995.
Five observers participated. The count has now been held for two years. The
count circle includes lands preserved/protected by The Nature Conservancy,
including the Long Pond Preserve (freshwater marshes/scrub oak-pitch pine
barrens), state game lands and state forest lands. The weather was overcast,
with patchy sunshine. Temperature: 58F at start; 69F at finish. The count
started at 0900 EDT and finished at 1600 EDT.

Here are the results:

Papilio polyxenes (Black Swallowtail): 1
P. glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail): 13
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White): 61
Colias philodice (Clouded Sulphur): 2
C. eurytheme (Orange Sulphur): 5
Lycaena phlaeas (American Copper): 1
Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue): 1
Celastrina ladon ("Summer" Azure): 2
Nymphalis antiopa (Mourning Cloak): 3
Vanessa virginiensis (American Lady): 2
Limenitis arthemis astyanax (Red-spotted Purple): 5
L. archippus (Viceroy): 2
Megisto cymela (Little Wood Satyr): 19
Danaus plexippus (Monarch): 1
Erynnis icelus (Dreamy Duskywing): 5
E. martialis (Mottled Duskywing): 1
Ancyloxypha numitor (Least Skipper): 3
Thymelicus lineola (European Skipper): 45 (probably abundant)
Hesperia sassacus (Indian Skipper): 2
Polites mystic (Peck's Skipper): 1
Wallengrenia egeremet (N. Broken-Dash): 1
Poanes hobomok (Hobomok Skipper): 2
Euphyes conspicua (Black Dash): 3
Amblyscirtes vialis (Common Roadside Skipper): 1
Skipper sps.: 7

Larvae found: D. plexippus (2) on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).
Eggs found: D. plexippus (3) on A. syriaca.

Overall, the species diversity was up over the first count (19 species in
1994, with two observers), but the total number of individuals was down
considerably. The poor observing weather (overcast skies, relatively cool
temperature) probably severely reduced the day's flight. Additionally, the
count was held about 10 days earlier than in 1994. Some significant misses:
Satyrium calanus (Banded Hairstreak; the scrub oak-pitch pine barrens
produced more than 30 individuals in 1994); Speyeria cybele (Great-spangled
Fritillary).

The results of 2 more Pennsylvania counts will be posted in the coming days
along with a short overview of the Elizabethtown, N.Y., count held 1 July
and the Hawk Mt. Sanctuary, Pa., count held 8 July.

Alan Gregory
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