Bait stories and B.S.

[Nick Greatorex-Davies]

Here in the UK too. Chalkhill Blue (L:ysandra coridon) seems to very
much favour dog dung and can be so numerous on it as to almost obscure
the dung from sight. I have also seen Comma (Polygonia c-album) on dog
dung. I'm sure other species as well. Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) on
carrion.

Regards

Nick Greatorex-Davies


Mr J Nick Greatorex-Davies
(Butterfly Monitoring Scheme co-ordinator)
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Monks Wood
Abbots Ripton
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE17 2LS  UK

Tel: (+44) (0) 1487 773 381
Fax: (+44) (0) 1487 773 467
E-mail: n.greatorex-davies at ite.ac.uk

>>> "DR. JAMES ADAMS" <JADAMS at em.daltonstate.edu> 12/10/99 16:15:54
>>>
Anthony C. wrote:

> By the way having
> been involved with lepidoptera for 45 years I have never observed
butterflies on
> carrion or dung. I know it happens but seems more relate to the
tropics?

Not at all.  I've seen numerous butterflies visiting both dung and 
carrion in the U.S.  In KS, where I spent many a year, I recall 
taking a couple of great pictures of a Painted Lady (Vanessa 
cardui) on some dog dung, and the same day there was another 
pile that was completely covered by Hackberry butterflies 
(Asterocampa celtis).  Red-Spotted Purples (Limenitis arthemis 
astyanax) seem particularly fond of both dung and carrion here in 
Georgia.

	James

Dr. James K. Adams
Dept. of Natural Science and Math
Dalton State College
213 N. College Drive
Dalton, GA  30720
Phone: (706)272-4427; fax: (706)272-2533
U of Michigan's President James Angell's 
  Secret of Success: "Grow antennae, not horns"