I spent a few hours from mid-morning to early afternoon seeking West Virginia Whites in western Putnam County today, finding four individuals and photographing both a male and a female. These were the first West Virginia Whites in Putnam County for which I have been able to obtain photos that showed diagnostic features, so I can finally add this species to the Putnam County butterfly list at BAMONA, bringing the county list to 86. I also photographed my first Harvester for the county, but it was not a county record, that honor going to Richard Connors who found and photographed Harvesters at Burgess Falls State Natural Area in Putnam County during 2008. However, I was able to push the early date for Harvester in Putnam County back by one day, although the county early date is at least a couple weeks later than the probable early date for the state. Three Spicebush Swallowtails tied the early appearance date for the county, but again the state early date is a lot earlier than April 4. I was able to obtain some close-up shots of the male West Virginia White in part because it was pursued by a male Falcate Orangetip that was apparently under the impression that the male West Virginia White was a female Falcate Orangetip or anyway a good enough substitute; the Falcate was more than a little persistent in its efforts to gain the affection of the West Virginia, which did its level best to deter the unwanted affections of the Falcate. The West Virginia finally landed under a dandelion bloom and refused to move except for twisting its abdomen away from the Falcate, but the Falcate continued to press its case in a most persistent manner. I clicked off about 25 shots of this encounter and could have clicked off a lot more; I finally left this odd couple with the Falcate still bravely offering its favors to the West Virginia. In the area where this encounter took place, all the Falcates were males as were all the West Virginias, so maybe the former were getting desperate. Here's the (none too) full list: Juvenal's Duskywing--1 (two apical spots on hindwing below well seen) Duskywing sp.--8 Zebra Swallowtail--19 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail--17 Spicebush Swallowtail--3 West Virginia White--4 (photos) Cabbage White--1 Falcate Orangetip--27 (photos) Clouded Sulphur--1 Orange Sulphur--1 Sulphur sp.--85 Harvester--1 (photos) Had my first Northern Parulas of the spring today also. Steve Stedman Cookeville, Putnam County