[TN-Butterflies] Re: November update - Kentucky Manor (November 30, 2010)
- From: "Steve Stedman" <birdsongteam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Tennessee Butterflies" <tn-butterflies@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 08:39:54 -0600
MessageRS = rare stray.
It has been known for some time that Clouded Skipper was inaccurately mapped in
most or all of the butterfly guides, in sofaras TN is concerned. In part, this
inaccuracy devolved from a paucity of records at BAMONA when the guides were
being written (5 years ago there were probably fewer than 20 counties with
records of this species), and at the time of the writing of the guides, even
longer ago, the number of counties with documented records was even lower. We
know a lot more now, but only because a lot of dedicated folks submitted
photo-documented records; we will continue to improve our understanding of the
state's lepfauna only if everyone contributes to the collective knowledge.
Steve Stedman
Cookeville, TN
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Lee Bierly
To: Tennessee Butterflies
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 5:14 PM
Subject: [TN-Butterflies] Re: November update - Kentucky Manor (November 30,
2010)
Since the last post, the following have been observed at the Manor.
Clouded Skipper. [Note: D = Digital]
November 28 (2,D) - In the Zinnia Garden, there are around 50 fair to
meddling zinnia blooms remaining (all zinnias have been covered nightly when
freezing temperatures though only 25% of the plants are still viable). Once the
plants were in the sun, I started watching them every 10-15 minutes for
butterfly activity. At about 1:30 p.m. while standing at the zinnias, a Clouded
Skipper flew in from the west. Could not tell if it fed but it seemed to hid
quickly. It flew to another plant and got under the flower though in the sun.
Then up and flew off and didn't see where went. I immediately went around to
the other side of the driveway and the Arizona Cypress where there are two
verbenas in bloom, plants the Cloudeds have used during the summer and
recently. Yup, there it was feeding on Perfect Pink Verbena. Most of the
flowers were in the sun. It would feed and then fly a short distance and land
on a plant leaf or in the path and sun. Then would come back to the flowers.
The right forewing had a vertical tear in it with some white showing. When it
was seen with closed or nearly so closed wings, large amounts of gray could be
seen, consistent with an individual on the 22nd and previous though that one
did not have a tear in the wing, at least then. After a few minutes of this
pattern going back and forth to feed and sun, my eye caught movement on my
right. There sitting on the side of a plant label was another Clouded Skipper
sunning. Shortly, it too moved to the verbenas and went back and forth feeding
and sunning. Once both were seen feeding on the same flower stalk! After about
45 minutes of watching, I left them to feed as long as they could. Shadows were
starting to shade some of the flowers. Even though the zinnias were in the sun
for a couple more hours and were checked frequently, no other butterfly
activity was noted on them. Even though the official temperature this morning
was 26 F, lowest so far this winter and there have been other freezing days,
there are still micro areas at the Manor where pieces of tender plants still
are viable--like impatiens, pineapple sage. Nine species of plants at the Manor
are still in bloom though some with limited flowers. In addition, in bloom in
the yard to the west are violets and dandelions. Cherry Tomatoes in good
condition and ripe were harvested today from under the leaves where they had
fallen (plants are gone). There were two Clouded Skippers on November 20 and
22, one of which looked the same but without the right wing tear. The one with
the wing tear just had to be the same one as it knew exactly where the verbenas
were. You cannot see the verbenas from the zinnias and it was on those flowers
within seconds of leaving the zinnias.
http://mlbierly.smugmug.com/Butterflies-2010/Skippers-Grass-Skippers/Clouded-Skipper/13062346_PoFQ4#1107799592_zZWXy-L-LB.
November 29 (1,D) - When the window of butterfly activity appeared
mid-morning, clouds came over and closed it completely. It looked like it was
over for the day, but early afternoon a very small window opened with off and
on sun AND A CLOUDED SKIPPER. It sunned itself on the wall at the edge of the
Street Garden and then up and flew. Lost it, but I went directly to the verbena
and, guess what, it beat me to it, feeding all over the remaining flowers.
Shortly it left. The weather immediately closed in and I had to be off to take
a friend to the doctor. Thanks to the skipper for making my day!
http://mlbierly.smugmug.com/Butterflies-2010/Skippers-Grass-Skippers/Clouded-Skipper/13062346_PoFQ4#1109189102_FLKUp-A-LB.
The last date for the Clouded Skipper at Kentucky Manor in 2009 was November
28.
The attachment is a summary of sightings for November 2010 at Kentucky Manor.
There have been 17 species seen in November. Click on the red numbers for image
links. Kentucky Manor is a urban residence, 57'x150' (0.19 acre), located in
West Nashville.
As an aside, I find it disturbing the inaccuracies of the range map of the
Clouded Skipper in Glassberg's and Kaufman's guides (and there are others). In
Glassberg's (plate 64), the range is only in the lower half of the state (not
Nashville) and in Kaufman's guide (page 308) the range map show the species
barely reaching the southern edge of the state though in the text it states
that it may wander. I don't consider 91 dates in 2009 and 70 dates in 2010 at
the Manor wandering. It has been recorded in 65 out of 95 counties (68.4%) in
Tennessee according to BAMONA. I don't buy that this is new information since
publications. And they are allowed to continue to sell these guides. Also,
Glassberg refers to the species as an irregular immigrant or RS (can't figure
that one out) north... This immigrant status I assume means outside of his
mapped area. So, is the Clouded Skipper in Tennessee considered a resident or
an immigrant? I have thought it as a resident.
Michael Lee Bierly, Nashville, Davidson County, TN
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