Hi All,
Here are the results from Saturday's count at Lower Hatchie. The heat (heat
index near 110) was quite a challenge, but we powered through. Total numbers
for both species and individuals were a little below average, but not bad.
Dainty Sulphurs had a spectacular showing with 101 seen. This is the second
highest number ever for this count. Little Yellows have made a dramatic
comeback after three years of being almost absent on my counts. On the other
end of the trendline, Southern Dogfaces have continually declined to the point
they are hard to find now. Some of that is because areas with the Amorpha
hostplant have become overgrown with larger trees, but other spots that have
traditionally been good and haven't changed much in respect to the host plant,
yet numbers have still gone down. Sadly, we didn't see any Bronze Coppers.
Bart
Region 13
Appalachians (KY, TN, WV)
Bart Jones, Regional Editor
1. Lower Hatchie, TN. Yr. 16, 35.6525°, -89.7774°, center at jct. of Peters Rd.
and SH 87, 9 mi W of Henning, Lauderdale Co. See 2008 report for habitats. 29
July 2023; 0930-1600 hrs; sun AM 76-100%, PM 51-75%; 85-94°F; wind 0-5 mi/hr. 5
observers in 2 parties. Total party-hours 13; total party-miles on foot 5.
Observers: J. Fogo, Bart Jones (2047 Higbee Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104;
bjones7777@xxxxxxxxxxx), J. Morse, A. Trently, E. Williams.
Pipevine Swallowtail 3, Zebra Sw. 8, E. Tiger Sw. 12, Spicebush Sw. 18,
Checkered White 1, Cabbage Wh. 1, Orange Sulphur 9, S. Dogface 2, Cloudless Su.
128, Little Yellow 163, Sleepy Orange 8, 1Dainty Su. 101, E. Tailed-Blue 30,
'Summer' Spring Azure 1, Am. Snout 47, Gulf Fritillary 4, Variegated Fr. 61,
Silvery Checkerspot 4, Phaon Crescent 4, Pearl Cr. 81, Question Mark 30, E.
Comma 1, Red Admiral 14, Com. Buckeye 35, Red-spotted Purple 33, Viceroy 23,
Hackberry Emperor 136, Tawny Em. 3, Creole Pearly-eye 3, Carolina Satyr 3,
Silver-spotted Skipper 8, Horace's Duskywing 5, Com. Checkered-Sk. 4, Com.
Sootywing 5, Clouded Sk. 1, Least Sk. 16, Fiery Sk. 24, Sachem 3, Zabulon Sk.
1, Dun Sk. 1. Unidentified: Swallowtail sp. 8. Total 40 species, 1043
individuals. Field Notes: 1High number.
