Flutterbys and Fireflies - 7/10

[Mark Walker]

I flew into Chi-town on Tuesday, July 10, arriving at the
airport-of-tomorrow (aka Midway).  It's hard to fly from San Diego to
Chicago without arriving after the sun goes down, but I managed to arrive
and flee the airport in my rental car by 5:00 p.m. - with still a couple of
hours of sunshine to look forward to.  I had a long drive ahead of me -
enroute to Peoria - but I couldn't resist stopping to see what might still
be flying at this late hour.  The temperature was high - close to 90, with
over 90% humidity, so the bushwhacking was a bit tedious - the biting bugs
and shredding brambles making this even worse.  At first, the bugs were few
and far between.  The only hairstreak flying was Satyrium edwarsii
(nevertheless, a treat).  An occasional Pieris rapae, a worn Speyeria
cybele, Vanessa atalanta and Polygonia interrogationis - that was about it.
But as the sun began to set lower on the horizon, an amazing thing occurred.
The Satyr's came out to dance!

July 10 - Willow Springs, Cook County

By 7:00 p.m., the numbers of Satyr's prancing about the grasses and dark
shadows of the forest canopy were incredible.  The most common was Megisto
cymela (Little Wood Satyr), with several individuals flopping along in every
square meter.  These would occasionally bump into the less common, but still
numerous Cercyonis pegala (Common Wood Nymph).  The C. pegala could also be
readily spooked out of the tall grasses that thrived in the open areas just
outside the forest edge.  I am certain that it is these bugs, and not
dyslexia, that should be credited for the coining of "flutterby".  Also
common were the Enodia anthedon (Northern Pearly Eye) - which fancied
darting all around the woods in between short periods of rest on tree
trunks.  The whole episode reminded me of something out of Fantasia - "Early
Evening Dance of the Wood Satyrs".  Of course, this title better conjures
images of cutie little tinkerbells prancing and spewing their goofy dust
(hey, I'm on business travel - I can't control these things).

It's this sort of experience that makes my life as rich as it is - well,
experiences like this PLUS my wife and children.

As the sun made it's last hoorah, the leps were still on the wing -
apparently content to wait it out for their chummy and busy-body cousins,
the fireflies.  It's been awhile since I enjoyed the company of fireflies.
An amazing piece of creation, IMHO.  A delight for young and old.  A delight
for the idiot wandering in the woods after dark.  It was these that pulled
me out of my inner forest trance and guided me safely back to the rental
car.

My list:

Papilio polyxenes (Black Swallowtail)
Peiris rapae (Cabbage White)
Satyrium edwardsii (Edward's Hairstreak)
Speyeria cybele (Great Spangled Fritillary)
Chlosyne necteis (Silvery Checkerspot)
Phyciodes tharos (Pearl Crescentspot)
Polygonia interrogationis (Question Mark)
Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady)
Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral)
Enodia anthedon (Northern Pearly Eye)
Megisto cymela (Little Wood Satyr)
Cercyonis pegala (Common Wood Nymph)
Danaus plexippus (Monarch)
Anatrytone logan (Delaware Skipper)


Mark Walker
visiting a large caterpillar in Peoria, IL

 
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