[Ctleps-l] Steep Rock 6/9

[Peary Stafford]

	After the weather cleared this afternoon BK and I went to 
Macricostas and there were precious few adult butterflies in 
evidence, just a few Ringlets, a Monarch,  worn Question Mark and Red 
Admiral plus Cabbage Whites.  The Baltimore caterpillars are 
beginning to pupate and we saw a couple spinning pads.
	The amazing thing, though, was the condition of our Nettles.  We 
have some substantial stands and everywhere you look, groups or 
individual plants, they are brown or wilted with either caterpillars 
or rolled-up leaves containing Red Admiral cats.  A thousand plus is 
no exaggeration.  If a decent percentage of these guys survive and 
Macricostas is any indicator, the invasion of Admirals this Spring 
will pale against what's to come!
Peary and BK