Common Checkered Skipper in CT
jhimmel at connix.com
jhimmel at connix.com
Wed May 27 16:16:26 EDT 1998
Hello Lep-listers -
I played hookey from work this morning to do a little butterfly atlasing in my
area. Did I pick the right day!
At one of my favorite spots, at the Madison Water Company property off N.
Chestnut Hill Road(permit needed), I came across Pyrgus communis (Common
Checkered Skipper)! In CT, this is a rare vagrant. I watched it nectar on
Multifora rose for a minute or so, before taking a swipe at it with a net.
Missed it by quarter of an inch! It darted through the brush and disappeared.
I should have photographed it first, but I was too taken with this find, and I
enjoyed observing it for a while, since it didn't seem to be going anywhere. An
hour search in the area turned up empty. Too bad - this would have been a nice
addition to the CT But. Atlas project.
Also throughout that area was a strong population of Atrytonopsis hianna(Dusted
Skippers) - probably came across about 15 different individuals. Haven't seen
them there since '95!
A Limenitis arthemis astyanax (Red-spotted Purple) stuck around for a while, a
very good number of Erynnis icelus (Dreamy Duskywings) and E. Baptisiae (Wild
Indigo Duskywings)were throughout, and later went on to find a field filled with
Common Ringlets.
I may just play a little hookey again tommorrow.
Best -
John Himmelman
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John Himmelman
Killingworth, CT USA
jhimmel at connix.com
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