Some interesting butterflies at Cape May NJ

[Michael Gochfeld]

I am pleased to forward the following to you from the Cape May NJ electronic
natural history newsletter.
We finally have had some rain (6" in two weeks), but on the in-between sunny
days there are butterflies in view in central NJ. The Sachem (Atalopedes
campestris) explosion is winding down.  But nothing exciting like in Cape May
(where of course there are hundred of people afield each day).

Only a decade ago the Long-tailed Skipper was a rare vagrant to Cape May, now it
has been seen even in northern NJ.

Mike Gochfeld

October 17, 2002---Cape May NJ

Last week's big butterfly news, 2 QUEENS and 1 SOLDIER, met with lots of
feedback.  There has been evidence of intentional releases of farmed
butterflies elsewhere and this could very well be the case here in South
Jersey.  We've just learned of a MIMIC that was photographed in a garden
in the Villas in September; this butterfly is even a rare stray to
Florida, much less New Jersey.

It continues to be good for southern vagrants: CLOUDLESS SULPHUR (dozens
daily everywhere), VARIEGATED FRITILLARY (10/11 at Higbee Beach),
LONG-TAILED SKIPPER (10/13 at Pavilion Circle Garden in Cape May Point),
FIERY SKIPPERS (10+ on 10/17 at Pavilion Circle Gardens), SACHEMS (5+ on
10/17 at Pavilion Circle Gardens). Also seen this week: Cabbage Whites,
Orange Sulphurs, White M Hairstreak, Mourning Cloak, American Ladies,
Red Admiral, #s Common Buckeye.  Hotspots include butterfly bushes in
and around Pavilion Circle Gardens in Cape May Point and in the parking
lot at Higbee Beach, and the Cape May Bird Observatory's gardens in
Goshen.  Be sure to also check the Heath Asters (in full bloom) at
Higbee Beach & Hidden Valley.




 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl