[Ctleps-l] West Rock - Falcate Orangetips+

Peter DeGennaro degennap at gmail.com
Tue Apr 19 23:22:24 EDT 2016


4/17/16 - The trap rock ridges are waking up. I decided to hike West Rock
on Sunday for Falcate Orangetips and was not disappointed. About 12-15 were
flying along the Regicides Trail north of Judges' Cave and 15+ were out
near the South Overlook, including a few on blooming Lyre-leaved Rock Cress
(their foodplant). Almost entirely males; only one or two females as
expected early in their flight. A couple of my best photos:

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.flickr.com_photos_connecticutpete_26507382726_&d=AwIBaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wPbNkt6T_H4X7m_PlvSFCGU2a9-csNvfRK2IVMi-mp0&m=tF-_43fgaqpHyh5ZYi38SN2q0vXmP6fwqJ50M25Xt3E&s=xTiAupsKGNxHheIpuif6ObEWdudNanBGG7WfbCgRBZQ&e= 

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.flickr.com_photos_connecticutpete_26515096785_&d=AwIBaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wPbNkt6T_H4X7m_PlvSFCGU2a9-csNvfRK2IVMi-mp0&m=tF-_43fgaqpHyh5ZYi38SN2q0vXmP6fwqJ50M25Xt3E&s=gMZLKoUn_d3q3yO9u45KXtF5IJC7b0sdzdCr-t6pwk0&e= 

Some interesting behavior noted:
One of the males landed on my shoe and proceeded to walk over to one of the
vent holes to get at my (sweaty) sock underneath:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.flickr.com_photos_connecticutpete_26259695060_&d=AwIBaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wPbNkt6T_H4X7m_PlvSFCGU2a9-csNvfRK2IVMi-mp0&m=tF-_43fgaqpHyh5ZYi38SN2q0vXmP6fwqJ50M25Xt3E&s=bgygdncjAzdLMl__TdA3a-SM_CqRTB7zbfTFEXzOiZs&e= 

I also came upon two males mating with a female. I've seen this before with
other species, but unlike those other times both males were completely
still and seemingly successful in mating: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__flic.kr_p_Gonjcd&d=AwIBaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wPbNkt6T_H4X7m_PlvSFCGU2a9-csNvfRK2IVMi-mp0&m=tF-_43fgaqpHyh5ZYi38SN2q0vXmP6fwqJ50M25Xt3E&s=cXxZF-oKz7NiMxr92OR3KOWsHHsxEQE--TrYtkV93Ig&e= 

At times, a third male would fly in and quickly leave.

It was also interesting to see the how well the ventral side mimics the
surrounding rock and lichens: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__flic.kr_p_FYYsA5&d=AwIBaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wPbNkt6T_H4X7m_PlvSFCGU2a9-csNvfRK2IVMi-mp0&m=tF-_43fgaqpHyh5ZYi38SN2q0vXmP6fwqJ50M25Xt3E&s=qTeE4KVWx85sACV8UV_tIHUhDs2rvzj30DvnuNykJZ4&e= 

Full list:

Black Swallowtail 1 (hilltopping)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 1 (hilltopping)
Cabbage White 1 (at the base)
Falcate Orangetip 27+
Spring Azure (flyby - probably ladon)
Eastern Comma 2
Mourning Cloak 3

Peter DeGennaro
Naugatuck
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