Holy Moly!

[Paul Cherubini]

Hugh McGuinness wrote:

> I wonder if it might not have been a hitchiker 
> in the luggage of some Long Islander vacationing 
> in a tropical land. 

Adult butterflies have been known to hitchhike on ships. 

> I am seeking commentary on two aspects of whether 
> this could possibly represent a true migrant or 
> whether it is more likely that its
> migration has been assisted by humans.

What is the flight threshold temperature below which
they are not capable of sustained flight?
At what temperature do they freeze to death?

Painted Ladies and Monarchs fly over the deeply
snow covered California Sierra Nevada mountains in late
March & early April:
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/4ALC/caples.jpg
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/4ALC/conway.jpg

Here's a April 27, 2001 sighting of thousands of Painted
Ladies in Rocky Mountain National Park (above 8,000 feet)
in Colorado by Dr. Paul Opler:
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/4ALC/plopler.jpg

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

 
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