butterflies and clouds and wind ---

[Kenelm Philip]

> I think there is a threshold below which wind has little affect on
> Butterfly activity, and above which it suppresses activity.

	There is no doubt that wind can suppress activity. I still remember
one day in 1987 in the Richardson Mts., on the Dempster Highway, YT. These
are gently rolling low mountains, over which the wind can pass with near-
laminar flow--so there is no 'wind shadow' on the downwind side of a hill.
It was a clear, warm day--but with a strong wind. Butterflies were not
flying unless you kicked one up, at which point it would take off downwind.
Yet the preceding and following day had lots of butterflies flying at this
or similar sites. Then in 1996 I was in the tundra on the west side of Mt.
Drum (Wrangell Mts., AK) on a coolish but sunny day--with a measured 30
mph steady wind. Most of the butterflies we saw were hanging on to flower
heads with all available feet--and when they saw you coming they would
simply let go, and leave the scene at 30 mph.

							Ken Philip
fnkwp at uaf.edu