Post by trehopr1 on Mar 17, 2022 10:30:25 GMT -8
I was visiting a friend who lives in central Illinois
a few years back. Whilst looking over his splendid
lepidoptera collection of largely self-caught material
I noticed this rather tired but, largely intact male
monarch.
Knowing, that he tends to only keep items like this
because of scientific importance or for sentimental
reasons I had to ask why keep this one ?
He went on to say that it is THE earliest known capture
of a monarch butterfly (here in Illinois). He further said
that he personally captured it during the 2nd week of April.
Sorry fellas, I don't recall the (exact date). I should of
taken a picture of the label !
Anyway, that is an "amazing" capture of a butterfly which
we don't see here until at least early-mid May (depending
on weather). April up here tends to be very turbulent as
it is a "seasonal change-over" month which lags into mid-May
oftentimes !
About the only butterfly that one will ever encounter here
during the 2nd week of April is the first hatchings of the
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae). A few localized haunts from
central Illinois and southward do offer Henry's Elfin
(Callophrys henrici) however.
So one has to imagine this fellow might well have begun
"winging his way northward" as early as the beginning of
March.
Monarchs may be regal butterflies but, they are also of
a sturdy stock and resilience...
a few years back. Whilst looking over his splendid
lepidoptera collection of largely self-caught material
I noticed this rather tired but, largely intact male
monarch.
Knowing, that he tends to only keep items like this
because of scientific importance or for sentimental
reasons I had to ask why keep this one ?
He went on to say that it is THE earliest known capture
of a monarch butterfly (here in Illinois). He further said
that he personally captured it during the 2nd week of April.
Sorry fellas, I don't recall the (exact date). I should of
taken a picture of the label !
Anyway, that is an "amazing" capture of a butterfly which
we don't see here until at least early-mid May (depending
on weather). April up here tends to be very turbulent as
it is a "seasonal change-over" month which lags into mid-May
oftentimes !
About the only butterfly that one will ever encounter here
during the 2nd week of April is the first hatchings of the
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae). A few localized haunts from
central Illinois and southward do offer Henry's Elfin
(Callophrys henrici) however.
So one has to imagine this fellow might well have begun
"winging his way northward" as early as the beginning of
March.
Monarchs may be regal butterflies but, they are also of
a sturdy stock and resilience...