Yes, I know this isn't the northwest, but I have to talk about my excitement somewhere! I'm planning to fly down to Norman, Oklahoma this Friday to spend a few days visiting my sister and celebrating her birthday. I've only been there twice before, and the last time was over two years ago, so I'm really looking forward to this. She has been kind enough to indulge my butterfly quests with a trip to the Lexington Wildlife Management Area southeast of Norman. There I hope to add several new species to my life-list (species I've never seen alive in the wild before). These include: (click on links to view photos)
Black swallowtail Papilio polyxenes
Pipevine swallowtail Battus philenor (I've only seen it in live butterfly exhibits)
Carolina satyr Hermeuptychia sosybius
Gemmed satyr Cyllopsis pertepida
Red-banded hairstreak Calycopis cecrops
Question mark Polygonia interrogationis
Goatweed leafwing Anaea andria
Hayhurst's Scallopwing Staphylus hayhurstii
Viceroy Limenitis archippus
I will likely bring a few specimens back for my collection, but mostly I'm looking forward to photographing them and adding to my "database" of insect photos.
In other news, there have been a few sightings of spring azures, cabbage whites and spring whites in western Washington lately, but very little of anything else. Keep your eyes open for visiting butterflies on those new flowers and moist patches. Well, all of western Washington is a very "moist patch" right now, so maybe that's not the most helpful suggestion!
Well I know for sure I've seen black swallowtails and question marks...not sure about the others!
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