Large Orange Sulphur, Phoebis agarithe

[Michael Gochfeld]

There was recent mention on this list of a possible Large Orange Sulphur
(Phoebis agarithe) (fly by at 55 mph). I don't know whether it is
inluded, but the NJ Audubon hotline mentions three possible sighting
records from Virginia to New Jersey in the past week. This includes one
possible from Port Norris, NJ.  I didn't comment before, but it seems
unlikely that even at 55 mph this species would be confused with either
an Orange Sulphur or Sleepy Orange.  More difficult would be to separate
it from Orange-barred Sulphur (P. philea). 

Checking our entries in BUTTERFLIES OF NEW JERSEY, suggested that
P.philea was less likely to be encountered in NJ than P. agarithe, and
that the northward records of the former occurred mainly in the 1930's,
shortly after the species was first discovered in Florida. 
===================

FROM  BUTTERFLIES OF NEW JERSEY
Phoebis philea  (Orange-barred Sulphur)  "Highly unlikely that this
species would be seen in NJ."  However, there is one old Asbury Park
record (Sept 1930s). Sporadic northward records were mainly in the 1930s
corresponding with its arrival in Florida. 
Hosts: Cassia. 

Phoebis agarithe maxima (Large Orange Sulphur). On Comstock's (1940)
Supplemental list based on a specimen from Beach Haven, NJ Sept 3rd (no
year indicated, but prior to 1940).  Also a 1995 record from Rochester
NY.   Hosts: Mimosoidea subfamily, mainly Pithecellobium and Inga. 
=====================================
The following records and comments FROM: NJ Audubon hotline for  Sept
11, 2002. may be of interest. The capitalized species are presumably
ones that aren't seen every day.  There was a time (before 1990) when
Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) went unrecorded in NJ. Now it
occurs annually, sometimes in fair numbers (3+ per day).  Sachems
continue to be here in unprecedented abundance.


QUOTE FROM HOT LINE
"On the butterfly front: 30 species of butterflies were seen in the
CMBO gardens in Goshen on September 7, including: CLOUDLESS SULPHURS (&
their caterpillars & egg laying on Partridge Pea), Painted Lady,
Red-spotted Purple, LONG-TAILED SKIPPER, COMMON CHECKERED SKIPPER, FIERY
SKIPPER, Tawny-edged Skipper, Crossline Skipper, N. Broken Dash, 100's
of SACHEMS, Zabulon Skipper, Aaron's Skipper, Dun Skipper, Saltmarsh
Skipper, & OCOLA SKIPPER.  Ocola Skipper was also seen Sept. 6 in the
Villas and another on Sept. 7 at Higbee Beach on the butterfly bushes.
A PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL was seen at Pavilion Circle Gardens in Cape May
Point on September 5.  Be on the alert too for LARGE ORANGE SULPHURS . .
. 3 different observers have seen flyby's that may have been it in the
past
week from Virginia north to Port Norris in Cumberland County, NJ. 
CLOUDLESS
SULPHUR numbers continue to grow & are being seen everywhere.  MONARCHS
too.  Both are on the move -- Cloudless Sulphurs coming north and
Monarchs heading south.

 
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