[TN-Butterflies] Report of Roan Mtn. TN butterfly count

  • From: dnldhlt@xxxxxxx
  • To: mebc-butterfly@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, tn-butterflies@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, butternuts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:44:19 -0400

The following report of the Roan Mtn Butterfly Count includes (probably, just 
off the top of my head) the following First-of-Year species for Carter Co.:  
Painted Lady, Viceroy, Tawny-edged Skipper.

Don Holt
Johnson City, TN




Region 13 
Appalachians (KY, TN, WV)
William Haley, Regional Editor


1. Roan Mountain, TN. Yr. 18, 36.1067°, -82.1105°, center at Carvers Gap, 
Carter Co., TN, and Mitchell Co., NC, at the crossing of TN Hwy. 143 / NC Hwy. 
261 over TN/NC state line. See 1993 report for habitats. 17 July 2010; 
0930-1730 hrs; sun AM 10%, PM 11-25%; 73-85°F; wind 0-10 mi/hr. 4 observers in 
1 party. Total party-hours 7; total party-miles on foot 2. Observers: D. 
Draper, Don Holt (910 Smalling Rd., Johnson City, TN, 37601; dnldhlt@xxxxxxx), 
A. Mattes, J. Potter. 
    1Pipevine Swallowtail 702, E. Tiger Sw. 168, Spicebush Sw. 3, Cabbage White 
27, Clouded Sulphur 9, Orange Su. 9, Gray Hairstreak 2, E. Tailed-Blue 58, 
'Summer' Spring Azure 12, Gr. Spangled Fritillary 8, Aphrodite Fr. 7, Meadow 
Fr. 58, Pearl Crescent 43, Question Mark 1, E. Comma 1, Painted Lady 1, Com. 
Buckeye 1, Viceroy 1, Com. Wood-Nymph 12, Monarch 12, Silver-spotted Skipper 
145, Wild Indigo Duskywing 1, Least Sk. 14, Peck's Sk. 2, Tawny-edged Sk. 1, 
Sachem 29. Unidentified: Colias sp. 2, Speyeria sp. 7. Total 26 species, 1336 
individuals. Field Notes: The usual afternoon visit to the Rhododendron Gardens 
in Pisgah National Forest above Carver's Gap was not possible this year due to 
temporary closure of the area by the U.S. Forest Service for paving and 
construction. This high elevation (over 5000 ft) site was one of the original 
reasons for choosing this Count's center, as it sometimes produces spectacular 
populations of Aphrodite Fritillaries. This year we had to content ourselves 
with a trip to the Dave Miller Homestead in Roan Mtn. State Park, at about 3000 
ft. elevation. This location also has Aphrodite Fritillaries, but this year it 
was the source of an unusually high number of Pipevine Swallowtails which were 
nectaring on Common Milkweed, sitting tight and thus easy to count 
accurately.1New high count for this species on this count. 




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