White M Hairstreak


Field Trip Report: Cole Prairie
September 10, 2006

Eleven GPBC members went to Diane and Gary Cole's property and had a fantastic day of butterflying.  In total, we found 23 species of butterflies and skippers, including three that were definitely noteworthy: a dainty sulphur (a first for a GPBC trip), a beautiful white M hairstreak (2nd this year - you may recall that the first one we saw this spring at Fox Ridge was a county record), and the most surprising of all - a gemmed satyr.  Gemmed satyrs are not common butterflies and, on top of that, they are typically a southern butterfly that are usually found only in the south tip of Illinois.  Needless to say this was a new Coles County record.  Many thanks to Diane and Gary for their butterflies, hospitality, and cookies!

Our total species list for the day was: pipevine swallowtail, black swallowtail, giant swallowtail (larvae), cabbage white, little yellow, dainty sulphur, clouded sulphur, orange sulphur, cloudless sulphur, eastern tailed-blue, summer azure, gray hairstreak, white M hairstreak, pearl crescent, question mark, buckeye, monarch, gemmed satyr, silver-spotted skipper, Peck's skipper, fiery skipper, sachem skipper, tawny-edged skipper.
*If anyone wants to provide more complete information or corrections for any of the below items, feel free to contact the club by email*

All photos copyright Paul V. Switzer. Do not use without permission




Gemmed satyr
This small brown butterfly is related to the more common little wood satyr.  It is named for the small shiny "gems" on the edge of its hindwing.  Not a striking butterfly to look at unless you know that it is an unusual find!

 
White M hairstreak
This individual was very cooperative, happily feeding on the sedum flowers in the small garden near the Cole's cabin.  From the underside it looks a lot like the gray hairstreak (see below), but is more brown than gray, has just one orange spot on the hindwing, and when it opens its wings is a beautiful blue on the upper side.  This individual was in great shape and probably had recently transitioned from the pupa.




Buckeye


Gray hairstreak

Fiery skipper
Larva of a hooded owlet moth
(Cucullia sp., Noctuidae)
This interesting moth caterpillar has a similar color pattern to that of some swallowtail larvae (e.g. the black swallowtail).  It was feeding on Canada fleabane (a.k.a. mare's tail/horseweed).

Spider wasp
(Pompilidae)
These wasps are called spider wasps because the females provision their young with spiders that they have caught and paralyzed.
Spider wasp
(Pompilidae)

  Crab spider
Crab (or flower) spiders sit and wait on flowers with the intent of grabbing insects visiting the flowers for nectar. Their front two pairs of legs are very strong and they can effectively grasp insects many times their size.  Generally crab spiders are pretty well camouflaged on their flowers.  This one is a little more conspicuous than most on its orange zinnia!



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