Fiery Skipper in Toronto?

[Michael Gochfeld]

This appears to be part of a general trend for several species including
Common Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Sachem, Buckeye and Little
Yellow (Eurema lisa).
 
Reports are both unusually early (May reports for species that don't
show up in New Jersey until July-August) as well as unusually far north.
 
Quite likely this is a consequence of two very mild winters which
allowed survival of these "southern" species, far north of their normal
winter range.
 
Also the phenology of other species (resident species) has been advanced
by 1-2 weeks.  This has certainly livened up the "Fourth of July
Counts"---missing common species that emerged and disappeared early, and
turning up other species for the first time. Perhaps it would be timely
to have a summary of such events after counters have completed their
tallies.
 
M. Gochfeld