21 Species of Butterflies Today!

With another possible sighting yesterday of the extremely rare visitor, the Fadus Sphinx moth (Aellopos fadus) that was at the park last week, it brought out some of the city's best moth and butterfly experts this morning with the hopes of finding and if lucky enough, photographing this little beauty from Central America.  Moth expert David Beadle (Peterson Field Guide to Moths), as well as butterfly experts Bob and Karen Yukich, Leon Schlichter, Barry Harrison and a few others, myself included (not that I'm an expert by any means in either field), searched the Gardens from top to bottom for several hours but unfortunately the little moth with a 58mm wingspan was nowhere to be found.  What was found however was another, or possibly the same Hummingbird Clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe) that has been visiting the flowers at Rosetta for the past week and a half.  To my knowledge, this is at least the third sighting of this far more common moth over that time period.  Far more common but incredible to see all the same as both of these moths fly like minature Hummingbirds, darting in and out of the flowers getting quick sips of nectar as they go.

Fadus Sphinx moth - 18 Aug 2017 (photos courtesy of Lynn Pady)

With all of the searching for the Fadus Sphinx moth today the group managed to compile Rosetta's best ever 'single day' count for butterflies - an amazing 21 different species were found and all but 1 were found in the main gardens that surround the fountain.

Here's what we observed...

Black Swallowtail
Giant Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Summer Azure
American Snout
Monarch
White Admiral
Red-spotted Purple
Viceroy
American Lady
Painted Lady
Red Admiral
Mourning Cloak
Question Mark
Eastern Comma
Silver-spotted Skipper
Wild Indigo Duskywing
Fiery Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Northern Broken-Dash

A huge 'thankyou' goes out not only to the experts that were there today but also to so many of the usual 'Rosetta gang' for pointing out anything that they found insect-wise as well.  Lots of new and interesting creepy bugs around!  I managed to see another Great Black Wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) today.  A wasp that's about twice the size of any of the common wasps that we usually see.  I saw and photographed one a few years back at the park.  Back then their northern range was somewhere in and about northern Pennsylvania/ southern New York state.  Thanks to global warming (No Donald Trump, it's not a hoax!!!), they've moved a little further north and are now seen in southern Ontario far more frequently.

What a day!

See you again soon,

Walter

A Few Great Bugs (updated)

Hi folks,

Thanks to all those who are keeping me informed of what butterflies and moths they're seeing at the park.  It's been fairly exciting so far and we've only just completed the first week!  Can't wait to see what we get this coming week.


Butterflies...

Black Swallowtail
Giant Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Cabbage White
Azure sp.
Monarch
Red-spotted Purple
Viceroy
American Lady
Painted Lady
Red Admiral
Mourning Cloak
Question Mark
Eastern Comma
Silver-spotted Skipper
Fiery Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Northern Broken-Dash
Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper is new for our park list.  It's species #39!  I found it on August 8th in the main gardens by the fountain.


Moths...

Fadus Sphinx
Hummingbird Clearwing

The Fadus Sphinx moth is new for our park list and is extremely rare for the province!

Paul Reeves' moth that was identified as a rare Titan Sphinx moth has now been correctly identified as an even rarer Fadus Sphinx moth.  They are quite similar looking.  Again, congratulations Paul for such an amazing find!

This moth was possibly seen and photographed (positive identification still pending) by several people again this afternoon.  Keep an eye out for it over the next week!  It likes the Butterfly Bushes (Buddleia spp).

Good butterflying and mothing,
Walter

Another Osprey!

Thanks to Blaine who told Walter that a migrating Osprey went by the park yesterday.

YTD:

Merlin 1
Osprey 2

Lee

Monarch tagging started today - tag numbers XAJ575 to XAJ584

Hi all,

I tagged 10 monarchs today at RMG to see if there was any migration happening.

Some observations:

1) None of the 10 tagged monarchs were seen again at RMG. 

2) 9 of 10 were males, which is to be expected.

3) Some of the males were extremely heavy.....big abdomens...full.  one was .96g heaviest I have ever weighed.

4) On release, all monarchs flew towards the fence and west indicating they were on the move.

5) Non tagged monarch movement is happening but very very subtle and slow.  

6) Tag numbers use XAJ575 to XAJ584.

I'd suggest we are still a few days from any real steady migration.  

No raptors seen at the hawkwatch. Too early.

Lots of other butterflies in the gardens!  1 real nice Viceroy!

Terry