Spring collecting 2020

[Paul K]

It is first day of May and so far in Southern Ontario we had only one day (Apr5) with sun and temp around 15°C.
I have yet to see first spring butterfly!
It looks like the weather here become norm, cold and cloudy springs which extend until mid June.
We used to have always in April few warm, sunny days and few colder with occasional flurries but not anymore.

[exoticimports]

On the other side of Lake Ontario, with spring being very cool and rainy, we’ve had few nice days.

One warm day in March brought out a fresh male questionmark, and a mourning cloak. Since then on the few nice days I’ve seen both.

A hike through Zoar Valley south of Buffalo yielded a single very active cecropia cacoon.

Thus far no pieris rapae, which is typically seen in late April. Likewise no didamia inscriptum, which also typically seen in late April.

Chuck

[Paul K]

Today May 3 it is sunny and temps should reach high of 19°C !!
I’m heading out to find first spring butterfly.
Unfortunately the forecast shows back to cold weather starting tomorrow and for next 10 days temps will be below 10°C 😞

[mothman27]

Here in northern Indiana I have finished my first year of college and begun collecting for the year. We've had several nice days already.
I scored big with a bunch of Psychomorpha epimenis last week (still flying here) and so far have had two D. inscriptum, one today, at my lights which I have run on warm nights.
Also, somehow I managed to swipe and get the first tiger swallowtail of the year as it flew nearby yesterday   .
Pieris rapae are definitely out in small numbers and I have seen one Colias so far. I have seen some commas, red admirals and a mourning cloak as well. 

[leptraps]

I set out two Light Traps late yesterday afternoon. I recovered both traps this AM. If I can make the imagur work, I will post a couple of pic's.

[Paul K]

May 3, 2020, first beautiful day in Toronto.
I drove to regional forest near Toronto to my disappointment to find it closed to the public due to virus.
City parks are opened ( but all parking lots closed ). The government make every move with no logic and common sense! as always!

Despite this problem I found first butterflies of this season!
Many Celastrina lucia flying along the forest road.
In the city park many Pieris rapae. Also some Vanessa atalanta, Nymphails antiopa and Polygonia most likely comma.

Now the cold front is rolling in and tomorrow back to normal, cold weather.

[exoticimports]

Yes, that was a nice one day spring. Back to winter.

I did find my first chain pickerel in my home bay, a monster .5m. First I’ve found here in over 50 years of fishing, netting, and diving here.

In hindsight, it may not have originated off Lake Ontario. It had a hook and line in it so it’s possible someone dumped it in the bay.
Chuck

[777]

I have been getting lots of hot sunny days here in Crockett, TX. Out of all the years that I have been here, this is the first ever year that I have seen any Battus philenor. They were numerous a couple of weeks ago, but I don't see them anymore now. There are also lots of Libytheana carinenta, Danaus plexippus, Vanessa virginiensis, and Junonia coenia. 

[Paul K]

May 9 and we are hitting new cold records here in Ontario.
Obviously no insects flying with day time high of 3°C and wind chill -3°C., thanks to global warming.
Now this thread is turning to weather report rather than spring collection report, but that’s what it is, no spring collecting here for us.

Paul

[leptraps]

Thursday night was rather warm. Day time temperature was 68°F and the overnight temperature was 56°F. I set out two Light Traps in the Mantua Wetlands and a third Light Trap in deep forest in the Grand River WMA.

Each trap contained 35+ moths.I have collected every species before except one: Apamea inebriata. That is a first for me.

I also took several Phoberia atomaris. I have collected this in Kentucky, but not in Ohio. This specimen was a silver gray. The others in my collection are dark gray.

There is another world of Lepidoptera when the sun sets and the lights go out.