Southern strays

[Alan Wormington]

Some comments:

My personal opinion is that there has been successive winters in the deep
south that have been warmer than normal.  For example, last winter I
heard that the lowest temperature recorded at Baton Rouge, LA, was only
31 F.!

I think this must allow many butterfly species to successfully overwinter
much farther north than normal.  As a result, when spring arrives such
species are already further north than normal, which means subsequent
broods are likely to appear still further north both earlier and in
higher numbers.  Such a situation creates an "extended" season so to
speak on the probability of southern species to reach northern
localities, even if they don't do so until September or October.

In regard to Ocola Skipper specifically, the first Point Pelee record was
in 1994; it has now been recorded (5) different years!  This certainly
parallels the situation in New Jersey.

Every May for decades, Point Pelee (Ontario) has been "occupied" by
hundreds of birders and other naturalists (at this site at least,
observer coverage has therefore been consistent for some time).  However,
during the past few years an interesting phenomena has been witnessed --
namely the early (unprecedented) incursion of species that are normally
not to be expected until June, or in some years not at all.  Such species
that have reguarly made these very early appearances in May (and
sometimes in numbers) include Pipevine Swallowtail, Little Sulphur,
Common Buckeye, Variegated Fritillary, American Snout-Butterfly and Gray
Hairstreak.  These mild winters lately that seem to be followed by
equally (and unusual) warm springs, accelerates the northward flow of
immigrants.

Alan Wormington
Leamington, Ontario
[currently 35 miles E of North Padre Island, Texas]

New Web Page (incomplete):  www.Point-Pelee.com

* end *

On Sun, 5 Nov 2000 14:56:00 -0400 Michael Gochfeld
<gochfeld at EOHSI.RUTGERS.EDU> writes:
> Only a decade ago, the Long-tailed and Ocola Skippers were considered 
> 
> extremely rare to accidental in New Jersey, but now they are merely 
> rare 
> in southern NJ and rarer in central NJ. But a late Sept trip to Cape 
> 
> May, NJ would be disappointing if one or both were not encountered. 
> 
> Are these status changes reflective of climate change. The number of 
> 
> observers may have increased.  The number of butterfly gardens which 
> 
> concentrate such strays may have increased. 
> 
> M Gochfeld
> 
>  
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