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July 15-21, 2012
Omaha, Nebraska
Backyard butterfly weekly list. Number indicates the number of days sighted. Names in bold represent new sightings for the year.
Butterflies:
Monarch(2)
Cloudless Sulphur(1)
Skippers:
Fiery(4)
Peck's(2)
Tawny-edged(1)
Wild Indigo Duskywing(1)
Sachem(1)
Not a lot of butterflies to report last week. I don't know if it was the extreme heat, lack of observation time, or just bad luck. The one interesting sighting was my first Cloudless Sulphur(Phoebus sennae) of the year. Cloudless Sulphurs move north from southerly regions, so they are much more common in the late summer/early fall. Last year I did not record my first Cloudless Sulphur until October 15th.
The Skippers don't seem to be as bothered by the heat. There tend to be Skippers in the yard from mid-morning to dusk. Fiery Skippers seem to be the most common right now, but Sachems, Peck's Skippers(Polites, peckius, pictured below) and Tawny-edged Skippers(Polites themistocles, pictured left) all make regular appearances. Last week was my first record of a Wild Indigo Duskywing(Erynnis baptisiae, above the fold) Last year, I didn't record this Skipper until August 13th.
So, what are you seeing in your area?