MASSACHUSETTS - North American Butterfly … Daniel Fretz, Stephen Salamone, Jane Heineke, Sarah Ingalls, Giancarla Kalpas, Noreen Palazzo, Kathryn Disney, Marlys Gaucher, Douglas

MASSACHUSETTS BUTTERFLIES No*1

Copyright © 1993 - Massachusetts Butterfly Club - All rights reserved.

"mSACHUSETTS BUTERETIES" IS PUBLISHED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS BUTERETY CLUB, POST OETICE BOX 211,FOXBORO, MA 02035. MEMBERSHIP DUES ARF: REGULAR - $6.00; SUPPORTING - $15.00. THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, LECI'URES, GAFDENIX EVEtUS, AND OUR PUBLICATIONS, WE ARE DEVEXDPING A BEIl'ER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRGCIATION OF OUR REGION'S BUTIEWLIES. PLEASE SUPFORT THE MASSZCHUSmS BUTERETY CLUB.

Kyle Jones, Donna Morrison, Doug Gaudet, Ruth Oberlander, Tom French, Karl Piele David Wagner, Andrew Minnis, Lynn Moore, Iiich Moore, Jennifer Cuneo, Roberta Fretz, Daniel Fretz, Stephen Salamone, Jane Heineke, Sarah Ingalls, Giancarla Kalpas, Noreen Palazzo, Kathryn Disney, Marlys Gaucher, Douglas Savich, Claudia Tibbetts, Dave Winter, Mark Pawlak, Terri Balogh, Emest Willim, Larry Hoague.

FALL 1992 MEETING

-Menhrs met at the home of Brian Cassie in Foxboro on the evening of kt- ober 30 to enjoy one another's slides. Excellent short programs were given on ~Xexican Monarchs, Regal Fritillaries, Pacific Northwest butterflies, Kenyan butterflies, and Massachusetts butterflies. Thanks to all who participated.

1992 SEASON SUMMARY

Franklin County member (and astute butterfly observer) Mark Fairbrother called the s m r of 1992 "the season from Hell." Well really, Mark, it was not the best butterfly year to be sure, but there were some highlights: Falcate Orangetip, Silvery Blue, and Northern Crescent (3 species I'm still looking for in MA) were found in the state in 1992, as well as a colony of the very local U t e M Hairstreak (see related article). Painted Iadies put on their best flight in more than a decade. Bad weather delayed the appearance of many species in 1992, but gave us a score of new late flight dates, with several species flying two or more weeks beyond their typical flight period. Lycaenids and skippers accounted for most of the species flying well past normal. Every- one noticed the lack of Monarchs throughout the season, but how about some of the other species that were absent. Many nwhalids were low, including Pearl Crescent, Eastern Cams, Compton Tortoiseshell, American Lady, Red-spotted Purple-and Vlceroy. Milbert's Tortoiseshell was not seen in its traditional areas and Question Marks were not seen a1 all, w i t h zero atwrcester, Franklin County, Foxboro, Cape Cod - everywhere. Fdna Dunbar wrote that the only butterflies up to average in Berkshire County in 1992 were Spring Azure, Early Hair- streak, the first brood of Tiger Swallowtail, and Red Admiral: "Even the Cab- bage Mtes were late." Mark Fairbrother said of skippers,"Spring skipper broods were variously reduced in numbers: late broods nonexistant!" The skipper numbers in eastern Massachusetts were much better than those noted by Fairbrother to the west; in fact, high counts were established for Mulberry Wing and Black Dash in August in Easton. Many hairstreaks also flew in record n-s in east- e m Massachusetts in 1992 (see discussion in July 1992 "News"). In surmnary, I would say 1992 was not so different fram a lot of butterfly "years": some species up, some down, some early (not too many this year), some late, with a few shcckers thrown in. Good luck to all of us, the butterfses and the butterfly watchers, in 1993. And don't forget to share your records!!

Brian Cassie, Editor

Copyright © 1993 - Massachusetts Butterfly Club - All rights reserved. 1

1992 MASSACHUSETTS EKlTERFLY SIGHTINGS

OBSERVERS: Robert Abrams (RA) , Brian Cassie (BC) , Jonathan Center (JC) , Tom Dodd (TD) , Edna Dunbar (ED) , Tim Fowler (TF) , Richard Hildreth (RH) , Mark Xasprzyk (MK) , Donna Lang (DL), Lyn Love11 (LL), Robert wrath (m), Mark Me110 (MM) , m e n Parker (KP) , Roger Pease (RP) , Ted Fzwmr~d , Steve. Rome (SR) , Douglas Savitch/Claudia Tibbetts (DS/(ST) , Tim (TS), Alden Thampson (AT) , Richard Walton (RW) , and Dave Winter (W). Also, Kevin Ryan (KR), Jim Dswdell, Robert Gcdefroi, and Jack Megas.

PIPMNE -AIL Unverified reports from Cohasset and Brewster. Details are needed on this species.

BLACK SWXLDTAAIL MAY 15 South Hadley TF 17 East Longmeadow KP

JUN 11 East Longmeadow BC JUL 27 Fort Evens MM AUG 6 Easton Xrm

7 East Longmeadow KP SEP 21 Pittsfield (2 larvae @ dill) ED

EASTERN TIGER SWFLILWAIL The field identification and timing of the respective CANDIAN TIGER SWALIXWTAIL flights has not been completely worked out for -these

two extremely similar s,pecies. Following are records for any "tiger" swallow- tails submitted for the year.

MAY 14 Plymouth (1) BC 15 East Longmeadow K€' 21 Easthampton TF

m 2 0 m s LL JUL 19 BMBS (6) TD AUG 6 Easton ( 5 ) Krm SEP 19 Foxboro (1) BC

SPICEBUSH WALLQWTAIL MAY 21 23

JUN 26 JUL 11

27 A X 2

8 18 29

SEP 13 17

m 10

Foxboro (1) BMBS (1) Fort Devens

11

Foxboro (1) Easton (11) South Hadley FMBS (5)

(1) Foxboro (first instar larvae) Hopedale (one larva)

BC TD MM MM MM BC BC & co. TF TD TD BC TD

NUSITSTARD WHITE

CABWE WHITE

MAY 13 Pittsfield (3) ED

APR 27 East Longmeadow Ke 29 South Hadley TF

MAY 1 Wayland TD 14 Cape Ann DS/CT

SEP 13 Falmouth (Salt Pond) (264) BC oCr17 CapeAnn DS/CT


FELCATE ORANGETIP MAY 23 Savoy (Tannery Falls) (lm. ) TS The first authentic record for the state in a lonq time.

CLOUDED SULPHUR MAY 14 Wayland TD 14 Plymouth (1) BC 15 South Hadley TF

OCT 3 East Longmeadow W 15 Foxboro ( 3 ) BC 22 Sudbury TD

ORANGE SULPHUR JUN 22 Easthampton TF JUL 3 Foxboro (1) BC

11 Fort Dsvens MM AUG 6 Faston (6) BC

20 (7) DL & co. OCT 7 Foxboro (1) BC

18 Mansfield (3) BC, DL

HARVESTER MAY 11 Tolland TF 11 South Hadley (colony) TF

JUN 14 Boxford (1) JC 03 24 Milford (larva on alder) RH & co. NOV 14 Hopedale (larva on alder) TD

AMERICAN COPPER MAY 14 15 15

JUN 4 JUL 22 SEP 14 m 3

4*

Plymouth (1) Wayland South Hadley Foxboro (10) Foxboro (111) Easton (27) Worcester (1) East Longmeadow (2)

BRONZE COPPER JUN 28 Concord (Great Meadows N.W.R.) JC

BCG COPPER JUL 1-16 Sudb~ry TD 3 Mansfield (20) BC

CORFL HAIRS= JUL 8 Foxboro (5) BC 11 Fast Loncpeadow Re 11 Fort Devens MM 27 MM

AUG 7 Foxboro (1) BC 12 Easton (1) LL

ACnDIAN HAIRSTREAK

EDWARDS' HAIRS=

JUL 8 18

ALX; 2 12*

Foxboro (2) BMBS

,I

Wachuset Resevoir BMBS (4) Wrentham (1) Fort Devens East Longmeadow BMBS


BANDED H?JRsTREAK JUN 23 28

JUL 5 8

AUG 20*

Foxboro BMBS ,

BC TD TD =, LL BC

TD BC TF BC & co. MM BC

TD BC LL BC BC

BC BC

SR

BC MM BC

Foxboro Foxboro

BMBS Foxboro Easthampton Easton Fort Devens Easton

STRIPED HADSTREAK

JUN 27,28 28

BMBS Foxboro BMBS Foxboro Wrentham

JUNIPER HAIRSTREAK JUN 4 AUG 7

Foxboro Foxboro

HESSEL' S HAIRSTREAK

BROWN ELFIN

MAY 20 West Bridgewater

MAY 14 15 19

Plymouth Fort Devens Plymouth

HOARY ELFIN Plymouth Plymouth Wellf l&et

FROSTED ELFIN MAY 19 JUN 14

19

Plymouth Charlton Foxboro

Springfield (1) Fort Devens

HENRY'S ELFIN

EASTERN PINE ELFIN

APR 23 MAY 15

MAY 2 East Iangmeadow Plymouth (1) Wayland Fort Devens Plymouth (15) Tolland Foxboro . (1) Princeton Foxboro (2)

KP LC, TD MM BC TF BC TD BC

MK RW

TD,BC, & co. BC RH

ED ED

15 19 20

JUN 17 20 23

Miles Standish State Forest Sudbw (1)

MAY 22** m 1

Mount Greylock


GRAY HAIRSTREAK JUL 10 Wrentham (1) BC 11 Fort Devens MM

AUG 1 PMBS TD

3 0 (1) BC SEP 14 Foxboro (fresh) (1) BC

EASTERNTAIW BLUE MAY 15 SouthHadley TF 17 PMBS TD

AUG 20 Easton (22) BC SEP 5' East Longmeadow W 03 18* Mansfield (fresh) (1) DL, BC

SPRING AZURE APR 23 Sharon 27 Wayland 30 Easthampton

MAY 14 Plymouth JUN 4 PMBS JUL 27 Fort Cevens ALG 6 Easton

8 BMBS

SILVERY BLUE JUN 7 Tewksbury (1) R.Gcdefroi . The first definite record for Massachusetts known to the editor. This species

is spreading southward and should be looked for along our northern border.

VARIEATED FRITILTARY AUG 12 South Hadley 'iT

GR.SPANGLEDFRITIL. JUN26,27 27

JUL 6 AUG 20

26 29 31

SEP 12

Fort bvens MM PMBS TD Easton (7) BC Easton (24) DL, LL, BC Fort Devens MM BMBS (5) TD Cashe's Ledge (Atlantic Ocean) RA

TD

APHRODITE FRITIILmY JUN 26,27 Fort Devens MM JULIO Wrentham (1) BC

11 Fort Cevens MM AUG 12 Easton (3) LL

19,26 PMBS (2) TD

SILVER-B. FRITIIURY JUN 13 Millis (3) BC AUG 8 Stoughton (150+) FN & co.

10 Tolland TF SF2 29 Sudbury TD

HARRIS' CHECKERSPOT JUN 13-28 PMBS TD 20 Holden (162) TD

AUG 13 Holden (631 larval webs) TD g, co.

NORTHERN CRESCENT (Specimen @ M.A.S. - details forthcaming) J.mwdel1 Here is another species recorded in Massachusetts for the first t h e to my

knowledge in 1992. Because of its striking resemblance to the Pearl Crescent, it may have been overlooked in the past.


P?zXU CRES- MAY 17 Easthampton 23 PMBS

AUG12 Easton SEP 13 Falmouth

13 BMBS

EASTERN COMMA

JUL 6 Easton 27 Fort Devens

AUG 8* Stoughton

APR 30 Easthampton JUN 27 PMBS

26,27 Fort Devens JUL 18 Princeton

l43URLUING CLOAK MAR 26 East Longmeadow 29 BMBS

APR 10 Gloucester (16) 23 Sharon (17) 28 Tolland

MAY 22 Truro (1) m 2 sudbury (1) m 3 ~ a p e ~ n n (1)

TF TD ILL =,= TD

KRr JX MM RM & co.

KP TD DS/CT BC, DL TF BC TD DS/CT

03MPX)N TORTOISESHELL JUL 11 Fort Gvens MM 22 Taunton (11 AT

RED ADMIRAL MAY 20 Foxboro (1) BC JUL 3 Walpole (1) BC

3 BMBS TD JUL/AUG BMBS (common - max. 6) TD m 1 2 Easton (3) LT.2

AMERICAN LADY

PAINTED LADY

MAY 9 Holyoke TF 9 Grafton (1) BC

JUN 28 Foxboro (2) BC JUL 3 Foxboro (6) BC, DL

27 Fort Devens MM OCT 9 Foxboro (1) BC

APR 28** East Longmeadow (1) KP MAY 12 Wayland (1) TD

14 Plymouth (9) BC 21,22 Martha's Vineyara (hundreds) TS 19 Plymouth (40) BC 22/23 Outer Cape Cod (31) BC

JUN 2 Easthampton ("real worn") TF 11 East Longmeadow (4)

JUL 11,27 Fort Devens MM AUG 6 Easton (6) BC SEP 12-15 South Hadley (up to 6) TF

13 FaImouth (5) BC OCT 9-14 Foxboro (one fresh in garden) BC

Larvae found at various times from May to July on Camfrey, Pink Mallow, Common Mugwort, Bachelor Button, Hollyhock, Sweet Everlasting, and thistles, as reported by BC, RM, and KP.


FEC-SKYITEE PURPLE J U N 9 Easthampton 9 East Longmeadow

13 BMBS 26,27 For t Devens

JUL 27

JUN 8 South Hadley 11 East Longmeadow (1) 13 BMBS

AUG 6 Easton (7 SEP 14 (2) OCrr 24 BMBS (larvae)

NORTHERN PEARLY EYE JUL 5 12

AUG 21

ClED BROWN JUL 28 . AUG 20*

APPALACHIAN BROWN JUL 8 20

AUG 8 8

15 20

East Longmeadow (3)

Tolland

Easthampton Easton (1)

~dxboro (1) Leverett (mating p a i r ) %ton (3) Stoughton (3) BMBS- Easton (3)

LITTLE W03D SATYR JUN 2 Easthampton 3 Wayland 3 '-a sharon (2) 7 Foxboro (302)

12 " (same site - 165) JLTL 3 " (same site - 2) AW; 2 ms

COMMON RINGLFT MAY 29 30

JUN 10 AUG 2

22 26 26

SF2 13*

Easthampton m s West Bridgewater (50) Foxboro (1) East Longmeadow Fort Devens Foxboro (7) BMBS

BC MF DL & co. DL & CO.

TD BC

COMMON W03D N D P H JUL 3 Foxboro (2) BC 21 on Cape Ann (abundant) DS/CT

AUG 6 Easton (117) BC 20 (110) BC

SF2 20 East Longmeadow K!? 29 Walpole (1) DL

m 4 BMBS (1) LL 20 Princeton (1) TD

J U L 1 BMBS (4) u 11 Fort Devens MM

SEP 13 FaImouth (Sa l t Pond) (5) BC 20 Martha's Vineyard (5) TR

03 8 Springfield (1) J . &gas


SILVER-SETED SKIPPER JUN 8 11

JUL 1 AUG 8

South Hadley TF East Longmeadow (1) BC BMBS (6) LL Foxboro (one with yellow-brawn coloration seen

at garden) BC Fort Devens MI4 LMilford (one lama on locust) BC

olarlton (2) MF BMBS TD

11 LL Wrentham (1) BC BMBS (5) TD Foxboro ,. BC

HOARY ECGE JUN 14 20

JUL 1 10 5 28

SOUTHERN m m m

NORTHERN mUDm

JUN 18 Mansfield 26,27 Fort Devens 28 Mansfield

MAY JUN

30 BMBS 11 East Longmeadow 23 Foxboro 7 Foxboro JUL

DREAMY DUSKYWIK MAY

JUN

19 PLymouth 23 B-S 30 Fort Devens 7 Soxboro 28 BMBS

SLEEPY DUSKYhTG

JUVBTG'S DUSKYWJNG

MAY 14 Plymouth 19

JUN 12 Foxboro

APR 29 Wayland MAY 14 Easthampton

20 BMBS JUN 11 East Longmeadow

26,27 Fort Devens

HORACE ' S DUSXYWING MAY 15,30 Fort Devens JUL 27 Fort Devens AUG 6 Easton

8 BMBS 20* Easton

12 ~ o h r o 14 olarlton 28 BMBS

JUL 27 Fort Devens AUG 6 Easton SEP 14* Easton

WILD INDIGO DUSKYWING

MAY 17 Easthampton 19 Wayland

JUN 11 East Longmeadow JUL 29 Foxboro


AF!rnIC SKIPPER

LEAST SKIPPER

JUN 13 BMBS (caught in spider's web)

JUN 20 29

AUG 26 3 0

SEP 1

Princeton Easthampton Fort Cevens East Longmeadow (2-3) Wayland

EUROPEAN SKIPPER JUN 4 18 24 23

JUL 28

BMBS Msfield (8200)

" (same site 28000) Foxboro (2600) Foxboro (1)

LEONARD'S SKIPPER bbntague Fort Cevens Easton (1) BMBS (7) Easton (1)

ME' MM BC TD BC

03BWEB SKIPPER MAY 15 19 23 3 0

JUN ll*

Wayland Plputh BiS Fort Cevens East Longmeadow

INDIAN SKIPPER

PECK'S SKIPPER

JUNE 7 10 12

JUL 3*

Foxboro West Bridgewater Foxboro Foxboro

MXY 28 30

JUN 4 SEP 13 OCT 2"

South Hadley m s BMBS East Longmeadow Sudbury

TAWNY-=ED SKIPPER

CROSSLINE SKIPPER

LONG DASH

lMAY 29 JUN 10 m 1 SEP 20*

~asthampton West Bridgewater BMBS Norfolk

Foxboro Fort Cevens Foxboro Easton

West Bridgewater Foxboro m s Foxboro Sudbury

NORTHERN BROKEN DASH JUN 28 JUL 22

Foxboro Foxboro BMBS Easton Foxboro (one male

(1) (5) (22) (4)

@ Buddleia)


LITIZE GLTLSSYWING JUL 6 Easton AUG 2 Foxboro

29* PMBS

DELAWARG SKIPPER JUN 20 JUL 7

22 27

AUG 8

Easthampton Foxboro

Fort Devens BMBS

Granby Easton Easton Easton

TF RM BC DL & co.

MAY 28 28 29

JUN 2 JUL 3

Wayland Sharon BMBS Easthampton Mansf i e l d

HOBOM3K SKIPPER

ZABULllN SKIPPER JUN 10 AUG 24

26 SEP 15*

East longmeadow (6) RP (If . ) RP

South Hadley

BROAD-WINGED SKIPPER A K 12 15

BLACK DASH AUG 6

TF LL

(15) BC & co. (5) LL

DUN SKIPPER JUN 22 JUL 1

Easthampton Ems L

Easton

DUSTED SKIPPER MAY29 BMBS 30 Fort Devens

JUN 2 Eastharipton 7 Foxboro

12 " (same site - 26,27 Fort Evens

PEPPER AND SALT SKIPPER MAY 20 PMBS MAY 29 JUN 14,16 Edham

26,27 Fort Bvens

LCXXLITIES: BMBS - Broad Meadow B r o o k Sanctuary (M.A.S.), Worcester Fort Devens - Ayer

LATE-FLIGHT DATES ARE DESIGNATED BY AN ASTERISK (*) ; EARLY DATES BY TGYO ASTERISKS (*j

RECORDS FROM TKE XERCES BuTEKFLY COUNTS ARE PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AND ARE NOT INCLUDED mKz.


Massachusetts Butterfly Club members conducted butterfly surveys in various parts of Massachusetts in 1992. Below are notes on the censuses; more detailed information may be available from the individual compilers.

1. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, Massachusetts Audubon Society - Tim Fowler inventoried the wooded riverine environment of Arcadia and reported his results at the November Ecological Management Team presentation, at the sanctuary. Tim found 34 species.

2. Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Massachusetts Audubon Society - Worcester Tom Dodd coordinated the census here for a second straight year, and he and his volunteers found 56 species, including seven species new for the sanctuary. The two year total at BMBS, 62 butterfly species, is the largest total yet recorded for any M.A.S. property, and this is an urban sanctuary. lZle results of the census were presented at the Second Annual Ecology Mini-Con- ference, held at DIES on November 21.

3. Fort Devens, Ayer Mark Mello, director of the Lloyd Center, conducted moth and butterfly surveys here in 1992. Census dates were May 15 & 30, June 26 & 27, July 11 & 27, and &gust 26. 52 species were found.

4. Oldfield comnunity, Foxbro A 33-acre,"waiting-to-be-developed" area was censused for butterflies on fifteen dates - five dates each in June, July, and August. Brian Cassie found a total of 48 species, including a population of the state-listed Southern Hairstreak.

RE-DISCOVERY OF LEONARD'S SKIPPER IN CO-ICUT

MBC member kchard Hildreth of Holliston deserves our praise for searching for and re-discovering the Ieonard's Skipper in the state of Connecticut. An excerpt from Richard's letter to Dave Wagner of the University of CT follows: (

"The July 1992 issue (Vo1.2,No.3) of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club News *

contained a table listing butterfly species designated threatened, endangered, or of special concern for the New R~gland states. Hesperia leonardus was listed as of special concern (extirpated) in Connecticut ..... Leonard's Skipper is present as an adult in the very late summer-early fall period (after many lepidopterists "hang up" their nets for the season). It is usually found in mist weedy sites such as roadsides and w e d fields. It is a m s t always found nectaring on one of the species of Joe-Fye-Weed (Eupatorium). On 5 September 1992, I visited Thcanpson, Connecticut (1009-1145 hours) to search for Leonard's Skipper. The weather was warm, still, and mstly cloudy. I found three Leonard's Skippers (nectanng on Eupatorium) at two sites in Thompson in the French River Valley ~n the village of Wilsonville. One specimen was collected and several photographs were taken.. . "

Mr. Hildreth forwarded the specimen to the University of Connecticut, which 1s the official repository for the deposition of material for the Department of ~v~~onmental Protection,


THE SITE GUIDE: BARE HILL ROAD, MILES STANDISH STATE FOREST, PLYMOUTH

This is an excellent area for several species of elfins, including the local Hoary Elfin. . ,

DIRECTIONS: From Route 44 in Plymouth, turn south on to Seven Hills Road. At 0.9 miles, turn left on to Black Cat Road. Drive 0.1 miles and turn left on to the extension of Black Cat Road. Drive 1.6 miles to the end of Black Cat Road. Turn right. Drive 3.5 miles, to a powerline clearing. From here, it is 2.5 miles to the end of Bare Hill Road (at the point where it meets with the road to College Pond).

WHAT'S m: There is lots of Bearberry and Lowbush Blueberry throughout this area, under the powerlines and along the roadside. When these are in bloom in the spring, they attract elfins and other spring-flying butterflies. Blrdfoot Vlolet is also plentiful, especially along the roadside. There was virtually no traffic here during several visits in May 1992. The following butterflies were observed from 10:20 a.m.-2:25 p.m. on 19 May 1992.

CABBAGE WHITE 1 AM. PAINTED LADY 2 SULPHUR, SP? (ALBINO) 1 PAINTD LADY 40 BROWN ELFIN 17 DKFAW DUSKYWIIG 2 HOARY ELFIN 27 SLEFSY DUSKYWING 3 FROSTED ELFIN 1 JWENAL'S DUSJCGCPG 1 E. PINE ELFIN 15 DUSKYWIE, SP? 24 SPRING AZURE 73 COBWEB SKIPPER 3 m- m A K 1

REPORT ON FIELD TRIP TO THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP AND VICINITY, 21-24 AUG. 1992.

The New York City Butterfly Club invited members of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club to participate in a field tour to the Great Dismal Swamp in eastern Virginia. Four MBC members - Brian Cassie, Tom Dodd, Donna Lang, and Lyn b e l l - joined NYCBC members Rick Cech, Jack Connor, Jeff Glassberg, John Lawrenson, Peter Post, Steve Walter, and John Yrizarry for the weekend. The companionship and butterflies were both fine. At least fifty-seven species of butterflies were seen, thanks in large measure to the excellent organization of NYCBC Vice-president Jeff Glassberg. Highlights were lots of mllowtails, including Zebra and Palamedes, Great Furple Hairstreaks (64 one day), Creole Pearly Eyes, and many skippers, with Lace-winged, Carolina, and Reversed Road- side Skippers, Aaron's Skipper, Yehl Skipper, and Saltmarsh Skipper the most interesting from the New mglander's perspective. Total mileage, Milford to Milford : 1437 miles.

ENGLISH NAMES FOR NORTH AMERICAN BuTJxmKcES

The English Names Conunittee of the North American Butterfly Association is currently at work developing a list of mglish, or ccmnnon names, for all species of North American butterflies. It is hoped that the N.A.B.A. names will be adopted by professional and avocational lepidopterists. The first segment


of the list, the butterflies of the northeastern United States, has recently been published in Volume 1: Mrmber 1 of "American Butterflies." Listed below are some of the new (and improved!) names we will be getting used to.

JUNIPER HAIRSTREAK Formerly known as Olive Hairstreak, this species has been "lwrped" with several others, all now known as Juniper Hairstreak.

?NEWCAN SNOUT

NORWERN C R E S m

Formerly known as the Snout Butterfly.

Fonnerly known as Northern Pearl Crescent.

EASTERN cXmM"4 Formerly known as Comna (and Hop Brchant) . AtmRICAN LADY

HACKBERRY WEROR

Formerly known as American Painted Lady.

Formerly known as the Hackberry Butterfly.

COMMON RIKLET Fonnerly known as Inomate or Prairie Ringlet.

COMMON ROADSIDE SKIPPER Formerly known as Roadside Skipper.

"AMERICAN BuTlXFSLIES"

As mentioned above, the inaugural issue of "American Butterflies" has recently eclosed from the chrysalis. My congratulations to the editor, Jeffrey Glass- berg, for an inspirational first issue. We all need to support this publication through membership in the North American Butterfly Association. NABA "was formed to educate the public about the joys of non-consumptive recreational butterfly- ing including listing, gardening, observation, photography, rearing, and conser- vation." Send membership inquiries to NABA, 39 Highland Avenue, Chappaqua, NY 10514. Membership dues for the U. S. are: Regular, $20; Family/Sponsor/Institu- tional $30; Patron $100; Life $350. Outside the U.S. please add $5 to cover in- creased postal costs.

REGAL FRITILLARY UPDATE

The Regal Fritillary has disappeared from Massachusetts in the past few years, as it has vanished from almost all of its former East Coast range in the last four decades. There is a program underway to attempt re-establishing the Regal Fritillary in New Ehgland. W e e female fritillaries were imported into New Ehgland and produced approximately 5000 eggs. Scientists from a number of agen- cies (several of whom are MBC members) are working together to try to ensure the survival of as many tiny first-instar larvae as possible. Overwintering is a critical time in the lives of the young caterpillars, and many succomb to par- asites, cold, and other factors. We will try to keep our members as up-to-date as possible on this project.


THE WHITE M HFiIRSTREAK (Parrhasius m-albm) IN MASSACWSmS: NOTES ON ITS IDEUTIFICATION, THE 1992 "FLIGHT", AND A FSVIEX OF THE SPECIES' HISTORICAL S T m S IN THE STATE.

In Massachusetts, the White M Hairstreak reaches the northern limit of its range. It is a remarkably handsame butterfly, larger than any other New hgland hairstreak. Both sexes are vivid, iridescent blue above and grayish- brown below, with a striking white postmedian band across the undemings, the portion on the lower hindwing forming an inverted "M" shape. There is a diagnostic white spot near the costal, or leading edge of the hindwing below. Because of its size, the White M Hairstreak is unlikely to be confused with many other species. Most similar is the rare Southern Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius ontario), formerly known as the Northern Hairstreak. The Southern Hairstreak is very similarly colored and patterned to the White M Hairstreak on the underside, although it lacks the White M's white costal spot. The brilliant blue coloration of the White M Hairstreak is only seen when the butterfly is in flight, so exercise caution in identifying sitting insects.

In 1992, there were four site records for White M Hairstreak in Massa- chusetts, all but one (Easton, Bristol County) being first county records. The first was discovered by L W k Kasprzyk and interns from the Manomet Bird Observatory in Plymouth on 3 June. Richard Walton found an individual White M Hairstreak on 6 August in Sudbury (Middlesex Co.). On the same date, Lyn Love11 and Brian Cassie discovered a colony of the species in Easton. Five butterflies were counted on 6 August, sixteen were observed on 8 August (Dodd, Cassie, & co. l , four on 12 August (L-Lovell) , and four on 20 August (B-Cassie) . Richard Hildreth obtained the first Worcester County record on 21 August, when he found a single White M Hairstreak at Milford.

The Easton population was observed bver a two-week period, as noted above, and is the first real colony known for Massachusetts. Adults only were seen, and in all instances but two were found nectaring at Sweet Pepperbush, Clethra alnifolia (the other two were nectaring at Meadowsweet and Joe-Pye-Weed). Sweet Pepperbush is an abundant shrub at the site, growing at the edge and in the midst of a Red Maple swanp. Only Sweet Pepperbush plants next to the site's roadways were checked and these represented a fraction of the number present in the mediate area. Systematic counting was undertaken by Dodd and Cassie on 8 August only. The butterflies were fearless and allowed very close ap- proach, which delighted the photographers on hand on 8 August.

The White M Hairstreak has a southern distribution, and was not found in Massachusetts until July 1979, when Robert Edwards discovered one in Fal- mouth (Barnstable Co.). Since then, the species has occurred in southern Bris- to1 County at New Bedford and Dxrtmouth in 1984, 1987, 1988, and 1991 (M-Mello, T-~Yassey, and D. Zimberlin) , Sheffield (Berkshire Co. ) in 1987 (E.Dunbar) , and Penikese Island (Dukes Co.) in 1989 (T-French). French found individuals on successive days at Penikese; all the other records are of single specimens.

White M Hairstreaks may be expanding their range northward. Records from late May/early June (Mello, 1987; Massey, 1988; Kasprzyk, 1992) may indicate that there is a small resident population of the species in Massachusetts. It is unlikely that emigrants from the South would arrive at such an early date. It appears that the White M Hairstreak is double- and possibly triple-brooded in ~Yassachusetts. Larvae feed on varjous oaks.

Thanks to Mark Mello of the Lloyd Center for his data on the species from southern Bristol County, where it has been observed intermittently for eight years.

Brian Cassie


.................................... = MAS~~CHUSLTTS BCMERFLY CLUB % 2 *

THE CLUB WILL SPONSOR A NUMBER OF WALKS THIS YEAR, SQME OF WHICH ARE LISTED BELOW. DFllAILS OF OTHER WALKS AND EVENTS WILL BE PUBLISHED I N E'UTURE NUMBERS OF "MASSACHUSETTS WTlXWLIES. " IF YOU ARE WIUXG TO LEAD A FIELD TRIP OR HAVE SUG- GESTIONS FOR GCOD OUTIhGS, PLEASE CONTACT VIE, EDITOR, BRIAN CASSIE @ 508-543-3512.

MAY - SUNDAY 16 - F W , SAVOY (LEADER: LYN LO- 508-473-7327) Last year, the

Falcate Orangetip was seen here, and we w i l l be trying f o r a repeat perfom- ance. Contact the leader f o r detai ls .

SATURDAY 22 - MYLES STANDISH STATE FORFST, PLYMOUTH (LEADER: BRIAN CASSIE 508-543- 3512) This t r i p w i l l acquaint us with the spring bu t te r f l i es of the pine bar-

rens, especially the elf ins .

JUNE WEEKEND TRIP TO WUNT G-, MA AND WESTERN ME (LEADERS: TO BE ANNOUNCED) The

exact timing of t h i s t r i p has not yet been worked out, but it w i l l be e i ther the second c r th i rd weekend in the mnth, Friday through Sunday. We wi l l be looking f o r E v l y Hairstreak a t Mount Greylock and bog specialties, such a s Western Plne Elfin, Bog Z r i t i l l a q , and J u t t a Arctic i n r W e . Please contact Brian Cassie i f you a re interested.

SATURDAY 26 - NORTHERN BERKSHIRF COUITIY NABA/XERCES BUTTERFLY COUNT (COORDINATOR: MARK FAIRBRUEER 413-367-2695). Please try to help out on one of the big

but terf ly counts t h i s year. The coordinators welcame a l l the help they can get.

SUNDAY 27 - BROAD MEAIXlW BRCOK SANCTUARY, WORCESTER (LFADER: TOM D D D ) 'his wi l l be the f i r s t of three afternoon but terf ly walks offered by Tom t h i s summer. Con-

t a c t the sanctuary (508-753-6087) f o r de ta i l s and directions. The walk w i l l begin a t 1 p.m.

JULY 3TK6DAY 10 - CEN?TW COUNTY NABA/XERCES B-Y COW (CORDINATOR:

MARK FMRBRUEER 413-367-2695)

SUNDAY 11 - FOXBORO NABA/XERCES BUTTERFLY COUNT (CORDINATOR: BRIAN CASSIE)

SUNDAY 25 - BROAD M E x O W BROOK WORCESTER (LEADER: TOM CODD) 1 p.m. start

% W A Y 31 - EASTON (LEADER: BRIAN CASSIE) Contact Brian f o r detai ls .

AUGUST

S m A Y 14 - EASTON (LEADER: BRIAN CASSIE) Contact Brian f o r detai ls .


Documents

MASSACHUSETTS - North American Butterfly … Daniel Fretz, Stephen Salamone, Jane Heineke, Sarah Ingalls, Giancarla Kalpas, Noreen Palazzo, Kathryn Disney, Marlys Gaucher, Douglas