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Post by trehopr1 on Jul 11, 2015 0:09:53 GMT -8
Are we having a bumper crop year this year in the Midwest for the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) ? I live in Illinois and it seems that every day ( when it's not raining) I see on average 4 or 5 Admirals flying about somewhere --- without even looking hard. Chances are that if you see a dark colored butterfly go by or fly about you it's nearly always a Red Admiral.
Has anyone else living in the Midwest taken notice? We did have the wettest June on record here in Illinois (as far as I know). Does anyone have any hypothesis why the occasional bumper crop of (anything) occurs? Strangely, most of our nights up here have been rather cool for summer with very few nights having high humidity. I welcome any thoughts or insights.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2015 6:18:31 GMT -8
I'm at the bottom of the state. I haven't noticed any more than usual. I always see tons of them every year.
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Post by jshuey on Jul 11, 2015 10:13:28 GMT -8
I live in Central Indiana - and they are down in my yard this year. But they are super abundant in the sand prairies in the NW corner of the state this year.
John
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Post by trehopr1 on Jul 11, 2015 15:10:54 GMT -8
jtaylor,
Have you ever collected the Southern Pearly Eye or the even more elusive Creole Pearly Eye in Southern Illinois? Their marsh habitats are said to be very unpleasant due to ticks and chiggers. So very few people have really ever collected them much from our state. Also, it's all about timing as to when the adults are actually flying. Just curious !
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2015 16:12:49 GMT -8
Trehopr1,
I have collected several "eyed" butterflies in my trap. I haven't examined them closely enough to determine the exact species. I plan to do so when I spread them. I have heard there is a population of creole pearly eyes in Alexander country. It's one county below me. I'm in union. Another "eyed" butterfly I've only seen a few times is the common wood nymph. Or as I think it should be called the uncommon wood nymph.
Joe
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Post by 58chevy on Jul 13, 2015 19:11:47 GMT -8
I'm in agreement about the "uncommon wood nymph". Haven't seen one in years. Where are they?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2015 5:41:06 GMT -8
I saw a couple around a isolated pond in pope county Illinois. It was around this time of year. I think they would be attracted to bait. Might hang a trap there and see if any show up.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Jul 14, 2015 9:13:27 GMT -8
Look for areas with lots of cane, set a bait trap near or in the cane. You should find Enodia portlandia and/or Enodia creola.
Cane grows along creeks, water courses, borders of wet lands and the edges of wet woodlands.
Enodia anthedon can be found in the same habitat or just wooded areas.
This has been a good year for Cercyonis petals alope. I have taken them in bait traps in some numbers. The females began to appear last week.
I have not found Enodia creola in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. It has been recorded in the Red River drainage. I would like to set out bait traps in southern Kentucky, Whitley, Rockcastle, Laurel and McCreary counties. I have used light traps for Papaipema moths in late September and October. I believe that both Enodia portlandia & creola occurs there.
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Post by joee30 on Jul 15, 2015 12:44:29 GMT -8
Leptraps, do you know of any records of the Creole pearly eye in either Christian or Todd counties?
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Post by wingedwishes on Jul 23, 2015 16:06:07 GMT -8
I saw Red Admirals more than usual in Florida this spring and many more in Wichita Kansas where I have relocated to. Was very wet last month here in Kansas. The wheat harvest was great. Saw a normal amount of Wood Nymphs but found one in my car last week even though the windows are always up. No idea how that happened.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2015 19:06:08 GMT -8
The wood nymphs are at it again huh...I hear they can be terrible backseat drivers
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 5:39:00 GMT -8
I'm going to start leaving my windows down
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Post by myotis on Jul 24, 2015 8:51:23 GMT -8
I live north of the Twin Cities (Mpls/ St Paul) area and I'd say it has been a better than average year for red admirals and most butterflies. Last year was good too. Lots of monarchs this year, limentis, polygonas too. Haven't seen many swallowtails, but their 2nd generation is just starting. Temps have been average this summer with good regular moisture (haven't watered the garden much) I don't know if weather has anything to do with it or just upswings in cycles. The past several summers have been very cool and winters just downright awful. I think a lot of people think this is a hot summer, but just because it has been so cool the last few. We haven't hit 90 in 3 years.
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