<div dir="ltr">I went over to check out this location as it seems to be a good area for spring leps and is mentioned consistently each year.<div><br></div><div>It definitely was an interesting area, with beaver ponds scattered among dry barrens-like habitat. Some of it was very similar to the NJ Pine Barrens. Too bad that bearberry couldn't be established and a Hoary Elfin colony introduced. With the dam there and the airport right adjacent, it seems to be an area that is safe from development. The forest is a interesting mix of dry barrens areas with pine/oak and also some rich deciduous areas near the ponds.</div>
<div><br></div><div>My list is similar to the person who went Saturday</div><div><br></div><div>Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - 1</div><div>Cabbage White - 1</div><div>Frosted Elfin - 7</div><div>Eastern Pine Elfin - 8</div><div>
Eastern Tailed Blue - 10</div><div>American Copper - 6</div><div>Azure sp. - 3</div><div>American Lady - 3 (2 very worn)</div><div>Mourning Cloak - 1 (very worn)</div><div>Pearl Crescent - 8+ (all near the pond)</div><div>
Cobweb Skipper - 20+ (very common and nectaring on low bushes)</div><div>Dusted Skipper - 2 (fresh males)</div><div>Juvenal's Duskywing - 30+ (most common species)</div><div>Sleepy Duskywing - 1 (male)</div><div><br></div>
<div>The Frosted males were very boldly patterned compared to the NJ ones. I found some near Baptisiae, but also a female sitting on the Lupinus perennis. I did not see any eggs on it though. I beat through the woods and crossed a beaver damn and found another barren area further in and found a very large patch of lupine but no elfins. The majority of the Elfins were scattered around at nectar or sitting on bare ground. They were quick to fly up into the woods when flushed.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The azures are large cobalt blue ones that look like the NJ Celastrina idella with a pure white underside and bright blue HW (unlike neglecta's whitish dusting). They almost look like Appalachians with heavier spotting. The other observers have them as the "Cherry Gall" Azure which seems correct given the hosts present. The ones I saw were either on the dirt road mineralizing and one was flying around an flowering tree in proximity to a cherry tree. The tent caterpillars make it easy to ID cherries, and my light sheets will be bombarded by Malacosoma at some point I'm sure.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Odonates were out in force for the first time:</div><div>Springtime Darner - 15+</div><div>Green Darner - 3</div><div>Stream Cruiser - 6+</div><div>Lancet Clubtail - 15+</div><div>Dot-tailed Whiteface - 1</div>
<div>Chalk-fronted Corporal - 3</div><div>Clubtail sp. - 1 black and yellow large species not known</div><div>Small Ode sp. - a bunch of small ones with black base color and yellow markings</div><div>Medium Ode sp. - a baskettail-like specimen with patchs at the base of each wing and an orangish wash on the dark body</div>
<div><br></div><div>Only Cicindela was a C. sexguttata.. I would be interested if anyone has seen C. patruela here.</div><div><br></div><div>Good stuff!</div><div><br></div><div>Ray Simpson</div><div><br></div></div>