[leps-talk] More on Rare Butterflies in Brooklyn NY

Thu Aug 14 22:16:44 EDT 2003

While this discussion was going on I heard about another Giant
Swallowtail in
the Princeton NJ area, the last weekend of July.

Except for the fact that Giant Swallowtail used to be resident (or at
least used
to occur fairly often in NJ), I don't think the evidence for natural
origin vs
release is much different for Giants and Queens.  Both are kept, sold,
released.  Both have native hosts in NJ-New England axis so could
propagate in
the wild.

But there's still time this year for a broader pattern to emerge.  MIKE
GOCHFELD

"Grkovich, Alex" wrote:

> Yes, this is true, Mike...there ARE more people out looking for them...But,
> and I thought about this last night, while living in southwestern Ontario, I
> did manage to find all of the rare things, including Pipevine Swallowtails
> and some other things, but never Queens...I do feel that, if something weas
> there, I did find it...eventually...
>
> I do think that the northeastern Queens are being released...by
> someone...the Giants, maybe not...as I said, they ARE common in the upper
> midwest...matter of fact, even in southwestern Ontario, I am confident that
> I can guarantee a location...and I do NOT mean inside Point Pelee National
> Park...
>
> Alex
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Michael Gochfeld [SMTP:gochfeld at eohsi.rutgers.edu]
> > Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 3:49 PM
> > To:   agrkovich at tmpeng.com
> > Cc:   'CTaylor at worldnet.att.net'; leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> > Subject:      Re: [leps-talk] More on Rare Butterflies in Brooklyn NY
> >
> > Butterfly houses have indeed increased in numbers, but the rarities
> > don't occur close to the butterfly houses as one might anticipate if
> > they were escapes.
> >
> > On the other hand there has been an exponential increase in the number
> > of people looking for butterflies, comparied to even 15 years ago.
> >
> > Mike Gochfeld
> >
> > "Grkovich, Alex" wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes, Clay, that's correct...Greg Hanisek and I had some discussions on
> > > it...and it actually WAS the southeastern subspecies berenice (so it
> > also
> > > could have been authentic)...But there was also a Regal Fritillary
> > sighted,
> > > of all places, on Staten Island...Releases have long been suspected in
> > the
> > > northeast...
> > >
> > > And Queens have recently started turning up in southern Michigan...all
> > since
> > > the advent of Butterfly Houses...I grew up in southern Michigan and
> > > southwestern Ontario, well before these Houses, and a Queen in those
> > parts
> > > was totally unheard of...
> > >
> > > Alex
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From:  Clay Taylor [SMTP:CTaylor at worldnet.att.net]
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 8:57 AM
> > > > To:   leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> > > > Subject:      Fw: [leps-talk] More on Rare Butterflies in Brooklyn NY
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >  All -
> > > >
> > > >      Stirring the pot a bit, there was also a Queen photographed in
> > > > western
> > > >  Connecticut a few weeks ago, after a long spell of strong
> > southwesterly
> > > >  winds.   Maybe it blew in from a wedding in the Bronx, or
> > maybe.......
> > > >
> > > >  Clay Taylor
> > > >  Moodus, CT
> > > >  ctaylor at att.net
> > > >
> > > >  ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "Anne Kilmer" <viceroy at GATE.NET>
> > > > > To: "Michael Gochfeld" <gochfeld at EOHSI.RUTGERS.EDU>
> > > > > Cc: <tils-leps-talk at yahoogroups.com>; <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 1:38 AM
> > > > > Subject: Re: [leps-talk] More on Rare Butterflies in Brooklyn NY
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > Michael Gochfeld wrote:
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>Subject: Rare Butterflies saga at Prospect's Butterfly Meadow
> > 8/11
> > > > > > >>Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 22:54:46 EDT
> > > > > > >>From: ProsBird at aol.com
> > > > > > >>To: benc at nac.net
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>Period 8/9-8/11/03
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> The appearance of a GIANT SWALLOWTAIL species first spotted
> > last
> > > > > > >>Saturday the 9th has two additional astounding twists on Lookout
> > > > > > >>Hill's Butterfly Meadow.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>  Today, as reported by butterfly expert Jerry Layton, A SECOND
> > > > GIANT
> > > > > > >>SWALLOWTAIL Butterfly has joined the first, now seen as the
> > male.
> > > > The
> > > > > > >>second unworn Giant Swallowtail is larger, indicating the
> > female,
> > > > and
> > > > > > >>has two of its tails intact whereas the first is missing the
> > tails
> > > > > > >>plus a small corner of the left lower hindwing. Both Giants were
> > > > seen
> > > > > > >>chasing each other, experiencing spirals with each other as well
> > > > above
> > > > > > >>the Buddleia bushes, especially the one Buddleia outside the
> > meadow.
> > > > I
> > > > > > >>saw the two together on the latter Budleia at 3:45 PM after
> > Jerry's
> > > > > > >>report left at my office.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> Now, another astounding twist that has me wondering the
> > legitimacy
> > > > of
> > > > > > >>the rare possibly southern strays sightings.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> While viewing the bountiful wildflower array inside the meadow
> > > > after
> > > > > > >>his 2nd Giant Swallowtail find, Jerry sees a low flying darkened
> > > > type
> > > > > > >>of Monarch that he got very close to. It's a QUEEN BUTTERFLY. It
> > > > > > >>stayed perched upon Wooded Sunflowers for quite a while.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>If you like to ask Jerry more details or engage in discussion,
> > he
> > > > can
> > > > > > >>be contacted at Lsparrow41 at aol.com
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>Peter
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>PS.  For those who missed the link, the photos of the first
> > Giant
> > > > > > >>Swallowtail can be seen on www.stevenanz.com  "new photos"
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > Both of these butterflies are used in traveling exhibits; screened
> > > > tents
> > > > > > where people can observe the wonders of nature. Escapes are not
> > > > > > uncommon. Three? Too many to have come there naturally unless
> > there's
> > > > > > been a hurricane, IMHO. I'm with you, Michael.
> > > > > > They could have traveled north as larvae on potted plants,
> > although
> > > > the
> > > > > > USDA is pretty strict about that, but I'd look for that tent.
> > > > > > These traveling exhibits are well regulated, too; nothing is going
> > to
> > > > > > escape and trouble anyone but us.
> > > > > > Anne Kilmer
> > > > > > Mayo, Ireland
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >  ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > > >
> > > > > >    For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >    http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >  ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > >    For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:
> > > >
> > > >    http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > CAUTION PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this transmission is
> > > intended to be sent only to the stated recipient of the transmission. If
> > the
> > > reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the intended
> > > recipient's agent, you are hereby notified that we do not intend to
> > waive
> > > any privilege that might ordinarily be attached to this communication.
> > Any
> > > dissemination, distribution or copying of the information contained in
> > this
> > > transmission is therefore prohibited. You are further asked to notify us
> > of
> > > any such error in transmission as soon as possible at the telephone
> > > number/email address shown above. Thank you for your cooperation.
> > >
> > >
> > >  ------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >    For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:
> > >
> > >    http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl
> > >
> >
> >
> CAUTION PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this transmission is
> intended to be sent only to the stated recipient of the transmission. If the
> reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the intended
> recipient's agent, you are hereby notified that we do not intend to waive
> any privilege that might ordinarily be attached to this communication. Any
> dissemination, distribution or copying of the information contained in this
> transmission is therefore prohibited. You are further asked to notify us of
> any such error in transmission as soon as possible at the telephone
> number/email address shown above. Thank you for your cooperation.

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

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

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