Whenever we talk about butterflies (or any insect), we must start with the weather. Our butterfly walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on July 30 was somewhat disappointing. Overcast with high humidity made for relatively comfortable temperatures for humans, but not so good for butterflies. Or maybe it’s this drought?

Spicebush Swallowtail on Wild Bergamot.
Photo by Michael Myers

The walk started along the Greenway path toward the work sheds.  With meadows on either side, expectations were high. A few Eastern Tiger Swallowtails gave us hope, but little else fluttered by. We moved on to the savannah area loaded with goldenrod and wild carrot, then through the woods to the back side of the savannah area and back up to the work sheds and Visitors Center parking lot. Even with 16 diligent observers, led by Anne and John Ellis and Larry Meade, just 21 butterflies were identified in 11 species. With the annual butterfly count just around the corner, this is concerning.

Species List:
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail – 8
Spicebush Swallowtail – 1
Cabbage White – 1  (seeing only one is very unusual)
Eastern Tailed Blue – 3
Summer Azure – 2
Silvery Checkerspot – 1
Pearl Crescent – 1
Sachem – 1
Zebulon Skipper – 5
Little Glassywing – 2

The last butterflies we saw, two Little Glassywings, were found in the rain garden behind the education building. They were fresh and newly emerged, which is encouraging. The butterflies are there, they are just hiding.

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