May 20, 2013 Butterfly Monitoring

Spiderwort

Star rush

It was an overcast relatively calm morning and a comfortable 76 degrees, after seeing some heavy rains the previous week.   Along the freshwater marsh, there were blooms everywhere.  Most prolific were the Spiderwort (Tradescantia) with purple flowers, the star rush with white flowers (Rhynchospora colorata) (a.k.a white-top sedge) and the fogfruit Phyla nodiflora (alternately called frogfruit), which was under water but still blooming!

The yellow trail was flooded so we took the upland route to reach the Glasswort (Salicornia) transect at the Intracoastal waterway (transect C). The Swallowwort plant (Cynanchum angustifolium), a native climbing milkweed seen today, attracts the Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) of the Nymphalidae family.  

Queen Butterfly, male

Pine Warbler

We saw one very fresh male, opening and closing his wings  as he rested on a leaf.  There was a Warbler on a branch nearby, and we hoped the bird would stay away from this beautiful butterfly.  The upper side of the Queen butterfly's wings are rich mahogany with black borders enclosing small white spots, lacking black veins. The forewing has numerous small, white spots near the apex. The underside of the hindwing has black veins; black borders of both wings have 2 rows of white spots. The upper side of the male hindwing has a black scale patch. We observed these two black patches on this male. Their wingspan is 2 5/8 - 3 7/8 inches. Larval host plants are milkweeds and milkweed vines. Adults nectar from flowers including milkweeds, fogfruit, and shepherd's needle.

Great Southern White

The Great Southern White (Ascia monuste) of the Pieridae family was observed in transects A and C.  27 were counted in transect A, but only one, near the Intracoastal waterway, in transect C.   This butterfly has distinctive turquoise antennae clubs.  Spanish needle is a favorite nectar plant.

The male is white with a black forewing apex. The female is dirty white to gray with a black forewing apex and a black forewing cell spot. The ventral hindwing is white-yellow in males to gray in females.   Mature larvae are yellow with gray longitudinal stripes and covered in small black spots.  Habitat includes salt marshes and beaches. Larval host plants include  Virginia pepper grass (Lepidium virginicum), saltwort (Batis maritima), and sea rocket (Cakile lanceolata).

At the intracoastal, the GTM NERR Salt Marsh Nursery program is in progress.  This program supplements the Oyster Reef Restoration project.   
We saw several sections of Oyster reef, installed by our dedicated GTM NERR volunteers. For more information about this project, visit http://www.gtmnerr.org/Oyster-Reef-Restoration-Project.php

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

An interesting discussion took place about the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) butterfly of the Nymphalidae family: This butterfly was seen last year was but recorded as an unknown. From Rick’s photo shown to Jaret Daniels (who presented the April Butterfly Monitoring lecture), this unknown was positively identified as a Mourning Cloak, a species that has never before been recorded at GTM NERR during our six years of reporting to the Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network. It is seen rarely in the Gulf States and peninsular Florida. Adults live 10-11 months and may be our longest lived butterfly. Mourning Cloaks prefer tree sap, especially that of oaks. They walk down the trunk to the sap and feed head downward. They will also feed on rotting fruit, and only occasionally on flower nectar.

One Palamedes Swallowtail, Palamedes Papilio of the Papilionidae family and one Horace’s Dusky wing (Erynnis horatius) of the Hesperiidae family were observed in transect D, the Red bay transect.  We were pleased to note that many little red bays are thriving.  One Horace’s was also counted in Transect A.

We saw other wildlife along the soggy trails, including a red fox and a white-tailed deer. 

One Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) of the Lycaenidae family one Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) of the Nymphalidae family and four Dainty Sulphurs (Nathalis iole) of the Pieridae family were seen in transect A, the Dam transect. 

Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

A single Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) of the Nymphalidae family was also seen in transect A.  With wingspans from 2.5-3.0", their wings are orange to mahogany with black-outlined veins and black borders enclosing small white spots. The dorsal hindwing with prominent black line through the center. The ventral hindwing is paler orange with more prominent white spots in the black border.  

Carolina willow

Their habitat includes swamps, pond margins, stream corridors, and wet roadside ditches with willows. 
Their larval host plants are willows including Carolina willow (Salix caroliniana) and weeping willow (Salix babylonica)  

April 15, 2013 Butterfly Monitoring

Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes)

The conditions were damp to wet but mostly clear and calm and 69 degrees when we set out at 9:30 A.M on this spring day. In Transect A (the Dam transect), we counted nine Phaon Crescents (Phyciodes phaon, Nymphalidae family), three Dainty Sulphurs (Nathalis iole), and three Palamedes Swallowtails (Papilio palamedes, Papilionidae family), an equal number of Palamedes in Transect B (the freshwater marsh trail) and twelve Palamedes in Transect D (perhaps because the red bay in this transect appear healthier than last year at this time). Great Southern Whites (Ascia monuste, Pieridae family) were observed in three transects:  fifteen in Transect A, eight in Transect C (the Salicornia transect) and two in Transect D (the upland red bay transect).

We spotted one Monarch (Danaus plexippus, Nymphalidae family) and ten Cloudless Sulphurs (Phoebis sennae, Pieridae family) in Transect A,. 

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

A single Viceroy (Limenitis archippus, Nymphalidae family) was seen in Transect C. The Viola’s Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela, Nymphalidae family) was present again this month - fourteen in Transect D and one in Transect C.

Racerunner

Dusky Pygmy rattlesnake

We are always on the lookout for other wildlife when we search for butterflies; a Six-lined Racerunner lizard (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) was observed. We steered clear of the Dusky Pygmy rattlesnake, (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri) which can be found throughout Florida,  This species usually lives near water sources like swamps, marshes and creeks, although it can also be found in forested areas and often lives in gopher tortoise burrows. Adults measure only 15 to 22 inches and the record length is only 31.5 inches. Other common names for the pygmy rattlesnake are “pygmy rattler” and “ground rattler.” Their color is light gray to dark gray with irregular black blotches. There is also a series of reddish brown to orange blotches running down the back that may be more distinct near the head. On some specimens, these spots may be very muted. 

The pupil is vertical (catlike) and there is a deep facial pit between the nostril and the eye.
This snake is a pit viper and although the pygmy’s bite is typically not fatal, it has a predominantly hemotoxic venom that can be extremely painful.

To see the data reporting details, check out the condensed version of our census data on the Volunteer Project Homepage.

Following our expedition, we were treated to a presentation in the GTM NERR Environmental Education Center Auditorium on Florida Butterflies, with Dr. Jaret Daniels, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Florida and assistant curator of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera Biodiversity. Some fascinating facts in the presentation were the relationship of Florida carpenter ants (Camponotus floridanus) to the Miami Blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) and the salt tolerance of the Eastern Pygmy Blue butterfly (Brephidium pseudofea).  

Miami Blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) 

Miami Blue butterflies have larval associations with the Florida carpenter ant. Population studies confirm that Miami Blue larvae are tended by these ants in a mutualistic symbiosis. Ants protect the larvae from natural enemies in return for sugar-rich secretions that the larvae produce to attract and retain their ant guards.  In Dr. Daniels’ experiments, Miami Blue larvae raised with Florida Carpenter ants were significantly more likely to pupate in the ant harborage. 
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission added the Miami Blue to the state’s endangered species list in November 2003 providing the impetus for the start of an aggressive conservation and recovery effort. Researchers from the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the University of Florida have successfully reared the Miami blue in captivity. The captive colony has produced more than 22,000 individuals with wild reintroductions into the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. 
We aren’t likely to see the Miami Blue in northeast Florida, but we do see the Eastern Pygmy blue, our smallest butterfly, usually during the hot summer.  Their larvae are able to survive even when completely submerged under the estuarine tides, on their glasswort (salicornia europaea) intertidal salt marsh host plant, which is often under brackish water. 

Dr Daniels’ presentation highlighted the importance of our work and our reporting of data to the Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network.  Butterfly census data can be related to scientific studies of climate change, invasive species, and other environmental concerns.  Dr. Daniels praised the dedicated work of our volunteers and the longevity of our involvement in this project. The Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network (FBMN) is a statewide citizen scientist program that trains public volunteers and directly engages university scientists, zoological institution staff members, and conservation land managers in field-based conservation and education targeting butterflies. Established in 2003 by the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the University of Florida in cooperation with Disney's Animal Programs, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Butterfly Conservation Initiative (BFCI), the FBMN provides a collaborative vehicle to help protect Florida’s dwindling butterfly populations.

March 18, 2013 Butterfly Monitoring

Just a few days before the arrival of Spring, our GTM NERR Butterfly Monitoring group headed out under cloudy skies in search of the elusive Lepidoptera.  The name Lepidoptera, derived from the Greek words "lepido" for scale and "ptera" for wings, refers to the flattened scales that cover the body and wings of most adult butterflies. 

The conditions were damp to wet In Transect A (the Dam transect), and we didn't see many butterflies until the sun came out after 11:00 A.M., but we did spot two Phaon Crescents (Phyciodes phaon, Nymphalidae family) resting in the dry grasses, and a Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus, Lycaenidae family). Thistle was blooming among the dry grass. The dam was open and the tide was low, with oysters exposed, so we did see a variety of birds including a white pelican, tricolored heron, a dowitcher, a dunlin, savannah sparrow near the cedar trees, a pied-billed grebe, two lesser scaups on the lake (and a clapper rail in the marsh grass, a secretive marsh bird, heard but not seen.)  After a little sunshine, a Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) , Salt Marsh Skipper (Panoquina panoquin), two Great Southern Whites (Ascia monuste) and two Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) butterflies were observed. The Dainty Sulphur is the smallest butterfly of the Pieridae family, and has elongated forewings.

 Their wing span is 3/4 - 1 1/4 inches. 

Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)

The upper side of the wings is yellow with the tip of the fore wing being black. Black bars extend along the trailing edge of the fore wing and the leading edge of the hind wing. The underside of the wings varies depending on the season. Summer individuals have yellowish hind wings whereas winter individuals have greenish-gray hind wings. Both forms have black spots near the forewing margin and have a yellowish-orange patch near the base of the fore wing.

Males patrol a few inches above the ground in low areas for females. Females lay eggs singly on leaves of host plant seedlings. Adults rest with wings closed and held perpendicular to the sun's rays to warm themselves. The caterpillar hosts include low-growing plants in the aster family (Asteraceae). Adults nectar at asters, wild marigold, rabbitbrush, and others.

By comparison, the Little Yellow (Eurema lisa), observed at GTM NERR in February, is larger than the Dainty Sulphur, lacks the dorsal fore wing and hind wing black bars, and on the underside of the fore wing lacks the black spots and the yellowish-orange patch.

Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela)

The trail transect volunteers counted ten Palamedes Swallowtails (Papilio palamedes), ten Cloudless Sulphurs, and eight Little Wood Satyrs (Megisto cymela) (a.k.a Viola's Wood Satyr.)

Our next expedition will be on Monday, April 15 at 9:30 A.M. and will be followed by a presentation on Florida Butterflies with Dr. Jaret Daniels, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Florida and assistant curator of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera Biodiversity. 

Winter Butterfly Monitoring: December 2012 to February 2012

It was a fairly warm winter at GTM NERR, and during our December, January and February outings we counted several of our year-round butterflies including Phaon Crescents,  Cloudless Sulphurs and Common Buckeyes.

Little Yellow (Eurema lisa)

December 15, 2012: In Transect A (the Dam transect), one Little Yellow, a.k.a. Little Sulphur (Eurema lisa), of the Pieridae family, was observed.

 The wingspan is between 32 and 44 mm. The dorsal view of the forewing has a broad dark margin and the hindwing's ventral view has two basal black spots.  This butterfly is rarely seen at GTM NERR. Adults nectar from flowers in the aster family (Asteraceae) including goldenrods and asters. Larval hosts plants include Partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata) and wild sensitive plant (C. nicitans) in the pea family (Fabaceae).

 

Checkered White (Pontia protodice)

Another single butterfly, this one observed in Transect B (the freshwater marsh transect) was the the Checkered White (Pontia protodice) in the family Pieridae. 
The upper side of the wings are white and marked with black and gray, more so on the female. The underside of the hindwings are marked with extensive yellow-brown veins. The wingspan is 1.25-1.75 inches. Its host plants include broccoli brussel sprouts and cabbage.

Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus) 

A single Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus) of the Nymphalidae family was seen in Transect A. The upper side of the wings is chestnut brown; black borders of the forewings have 2 rows of white spots; white spots are scattered at the forewing apex.The underside of the hindwing has black veins; black borders of both wings have 2 rows of white spots. The upper side of the male hindwing has a black scale patch. 
Their wingspan is 2 5/8 - 3 7/8 inches. To find females, males patrol all day. Females lay eggs singly on leaves, stems, and flower buds, which the caterpillars eat. Adults roost communally.
Larval host plants are milkweeds and milkweed vines. Adults nectar from flowers including milkweeds, fogfruit, and shepherd's needle.
Some of the milkweeds contain cardiac glycosides which are stored in the bodies of both the caterpillar and adult. These poisons are distasteful and emetic to birds and other vertebrate predators. After tasting a Queen, a predator might associate the bright warning colors of the adult or caterpillar with an unpleasant meal, and avoid Queens in the future.

A single Ocola skipper (Panoquina ocola) of the Hesperiidae family was also seen. This butterfly has forewings projecting far beyond the hindwings when the butterfly is at rest. The upperside of their wings is dark brown;  the underside of the hindwing is brown with no markings; the female has a blue-purple iridescent sheen. Adults nectar from  lantana, spanish needle, milkweed, and buttonbush.

January 28, 2013 was a great day for butterfly monitoring. We saw Great Southern White (Ascia monuste) of the Pieridae family - 7 in transect A and 11 in transect B; one Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) of the Nymphalidae family, and also in transect A the elusive Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) of the Nymphalidae family. 
The upper side of the Red Admiral is black with white spots near the apex; forewing with red median band, hindwing with red marginal band. The winter form is smaller and duller, summer form larger and brighter with an interrupted forewing band.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Their wing span is 1 3/4 - 3 inches. The Red Admiral has a very erratic, rapid flight. Males perch, on ridgetops if available, in the afternoon to wait for females, who lay eggs singly on the tops of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars eat and live within a shelter of folded leaves; older caterpillars make a nest of leaves tied together with silk. Adults hibernate.
Larval host plants of the nettle family (Urticaceae) including stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).
Adults nectar on sap flows on trees, fermenting fruit, bird droppings, common milkweed, red clover, aster, and alfalfa.
One White M hairstreak (Parhassius m-album)  of the Lycaenidae family was also seen.

White M hairstreak
(Parhassius m-album)

The adult is 1 1/4 - 1 5/8 inches. It is tailed, with the upperwings iridescent blue with black borders. The underside is grayish brown, with a white postmedian line edged with black and forming a white M near the tail, and a white spot near base of the costa. Compared with the gray hairstreak, white M hairstreaks have an additional white mark on the leading edge of the ventral side of the hindwing, and a stronger "M" mark on the outer corner of the ventral side of the hindwing, and the red-orange spot of the white M hairstreak is more inset from the wing margin. In flight, a flash of brilliant blue can be seen. Typically for other hairsteaks, the hindwings are always moving vertically when at rest, adding to the "false head" effect. 
The M-shaped lines on the underside hind wing lead towards a focal point of "false eye" - the red and blue spots and the "false antennae" - short wing tails with white tips. The hairstreak turns around when it lands to fool the predator about the whereabouts of its vital organs. Hence, frequently one can find individuals missing parts of the wings where the eyespot and tails were located: these individuals escape attack by predators, such as birds.

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

Also counted in transect A were four Long tailed skippers (Urbanus proteus) of the Hesperiidae family, 23  Common Buckeyes (Junonia coenia) of the Nymphalidae family, eight Cloudless Sulphurs (Phoebis sennae) of the Pieridae family, and 35 Phaon Crescents (Phyciodes phaon)  of the Nymphalidae family. Great numbers for a winter monitoring expedition!

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)

February 18, 2013 was a very cold day, but we were still able to observe our year-round butterflies in transect A:  three Common Buckeyes (Junonia coenia) of the Nymphalidae family and 26 Phaon Crescents (Phyciodes phaon)  of the Nymphalidae family.

Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)

In transect D, the Red bay transect, where many red bay saplings are still surviving, we spotted one Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) of the Papilionidae family, and we did see two others of that species along the trails between our transects, however we don't count those, as we must follow the protocol of the Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network.

Our next expedition will be March 18, 2013. 

November 12, 2012 Butterfly Monitoring

On this partly cloudy November morning in Transect A, we observed many of our frequently seen butterflies including Phaon Crescents, Salt Marsh Skippers, Common Buckeyes, Gulf Fritillaries, and Cassius and Ceraunus blues.  

White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)

But the star of the day was the White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae) of the family Nymphalidae. Most of us had seen only one or two of these in the past, or never before.  This beautiful butterfly is pictured on the cover of our butterfly monitoring bible - "Butterflies Through Binoculars" by Jeffrey Glassberg, Marc Minno and John Calhoun.
The White Peacock has a wingspan of 2 to 2.75  inches.  The caterpillar of the white peacock butterfly eats water hyssop so that is where the adult female lays her eggs. Adult White Peacock Butterflies like Plumbago flower nectar. Their favorite habitat is is wide open land. 

The GTM NERR butterfly monitoring expedition was followed by a lunchtime program in the auditorium about butterfly ecology and gardening in Florida. Presented by Mike Boulware, Living Exhibit Specialist and Outreach Co-coordinator from the University of Florida's Butterfly Rainforest, all volunteers and staff were invited to attend. 
For more information about the Butterfly Rainforest visit their website at
 http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/exhibits/always-on-display/butterfly-rainforest/

Renee Stambaugh of Native Plant consulting brought native plants that are not only attractive to look at, but will also attract butterflies to your garden.  Remember that butterflies need both larval host plants and nectar sources to survive.

October 15, 2012 Butterfly Monitoring

The water along the marsh was extremely high on this somewhat hazy morning, and the butterflies were plentiful in the grasses that were not standing in water.   

We observed numerous wading birds, and a wood stork drying its wings perched high in a tree.  

Large stalks of muhly grass were blooming along the shoreline.

The spanish needle (Bidens pilosa) were blooming throughout the transect A.

We observed Salt marsh skippers, (Panoquina panoquin), almost too many to count (but we did our best).  We saw Ocola and Whirlabout skippers too.  All are of the family Hesperiidae.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola skipper (Panoquina ocola) has forewings projecting far beyond the hindwings when the butterfly is at rest. The upperside of their wings is dark brown;  the underside of the hindwing is brown with no markings; the female has a blue-purple iridescent sheen. Adults nectar from  lantana, spanish needle, milkweed, and buttonbush. The Salt Marsh Skipper has a similar shape to the Ocola Skipper, but the hindwing undersides have pale veins and a prominent white streak. They nectar from flowers including sweet pepperbush, red clover, salt marsh fleabane, thistle, and verbena. 

Salt Marsh Skipper

The Whirlabout skipper (Polites vibex) is named for the speed and direction in which it flies. Their larval host plants include 
Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass , and Thin Paspalum grass.

Whirlabout Skipper

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) in the family Nymphalidae, soars like and eagle.   We observed this behavior today along our transect.  Several mating pairs were seen. 

Among the larger orange and black butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, the Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae), Florida Monarch (Danaus plexippus) and Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) with wingspans from 2.5-3.0" were seen today. The subtle physical differences between these species can be seen in the photos.

Viceroy Butterfly

Willows serve as hostplants for the adult Viceroy.  They feed on manure and carrion. 

Female Monarch

Monarchs are strong fliers. They often flap slowly and then glide. They rest with their wings folded, but bask with them open.  

Male Monarch

Gulf Frittilary

Gulf fritillaries prefer the nectar of red and white flowers, such as Spanish needles and Lantana.

The small Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon) is often seen on frog fruit (Phyla nodiflora)  a nectar plant in the Verbena Family, and we saw several today. This species has a wingspan of 1-1.5"

Fog Fruit and Phaon Crescent 

September 17, 2012 Butterfly Monitoring

It was a warm and sunny morning. The grasses along the marsh were tall and green.  

The spanish needle (Bidens pilosa) were blooming near the water, and where there were flowers, there were butterflies.

This was the first time in three months that our group was able to reach our trail transects C and D, as they had been submerged after heavy rains.  

We were thrilled to report the sighting of a new species, the Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia genoveva).   Their caterpillars eat leaves of mangrove trees.  

Mangrove Buckeye

We have black mangroves along our GTM NERR waterways. Black mangrove  contributes to the ecological community by trapping in the root system debris and detritus brought in by tides. The community is valued for its protection and stabilization of low-lying coastal lands and its importance in estuarine and coastal fishery food chains.  Black mangroves can be easily identified by the numerous pencil-like breathing tubes, called pneumatophores, which grow vertically from the mud to just above the highest sustained water level.

More frequently seen is the Common Buckeye, but we saw only one today in the Dam transect (Transect A).  Both Buckeye butterflies are in the family Nymphalidae.

Common Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia)

We observed the Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta), finally coming to rest after its erratic, rapid flight. They are in the family Nymphalidae. Caterpillar host plants include stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

Red Admiral Butterfly

We marveled at the size, color and shape of the Giant Swallowtail as they glided past and to the treetops near the lake. They are in the family Papilionidae.  

Adult giant swallowtails have a forewing span of 4.6 to 7.4 inches (avg. 5.7 inches);  the females are larger. Caterpillars eat leaves of citrus trees.

Giant Swallowtail

Giant swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes with wings closed.

A healthy brood, we counted thirty three Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies in the Dam transect.  This species is in the family Nymphalidae. 

Painted Lady Butterfly

August 13, 2012 Butterfly Monitoring

We went out for our monthly Butterfly Monitoring in our Guana Dam transect (Transect A) on a warm sunny morning.  We have recently seen daily late afternoon downpours, and the rain has helped our groundcover plants along the marsh and lake to bloom.  The small butterflies like this habitat, and we saw many different species.  Dainty Sulphurs, (Nathalis iole) of the family Pieridae, were flying characteristically low to the ground.  A Least Skipper, (Ancyloxypha numitor) of the family Hesperiidae, was resting on a blade of grass.

Least Skipper

Dainty Sulphur



We compared the subtle differences between Tropical and Common Checkered Skippers - we observed both species along the marsh.  We also spotted Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon) Palamedes Swallowtail, (Papilio palamedes), Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius),Salt Marsh Skippers (Panoquina panoquin) on Sea Oxeye Daisy, and one Eastern Pygmy Blue(Brephidium pseudofea) - the smallest butterfly.

A Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho) was spotted in the blooming frog fruit Frog fruit also called fog fruit Phyla nodiflorawas) also known as Carpetweed.

Southern broken-dash

Cloudless Sulphur

The Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) butterfly is commonly seen through spring and summer, and today was no exception; they were flying near the tree line at the edge of the lake. The Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) of the Hesperiidae family is spotted at this time of year and was seen several times, resting on the leaves of wax myrtle.

We always notice other creatures as we search for butterflies; a Six-lined Racerunner lizard (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) slithered by.

  

Long-tailed Skipper

Due to flooding of the GTM NERR upland hammock trails,  the team in the ATV was not able to traverse sections that we use to reach our transects C and D. We attempted to reschedule each week.  As of August 27, significant sections of these trails are still flooded.