July 27, 2022

American Lady

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 90°F, partly cloudy and breezy on July 27, 2022.
• 21 butterfly species made for a good day.
• Swarms of northern broken-dash were swirling above the back Old Hayfield.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• With August just around the corner, closely mowed grass was starting to brown.
• A hint of goldenrod yellow was beginning to appear across the front Old Hayfield.
• Spotted knappweed had attracted an American copper.
• Again the most common non-skipper was common wood-nymph.
• A silver-spotted skipper surprised me by going under a leaf, presumably for shade.
• It used to be a surprise, but giant swallowtail has been gracing our gardens for several years now - it had always been a more southern species.
• The bold yellow expanse below makes id easy, as does the pattern of yellow stripes on black above.
• Ah, but how lighting changes everything!
• A well worn great spangled fritillary appeared to have dodged a bird attack loosing just a bit of hindwing.
• Wow, another surprise was American lady. There is so much going on and with the screaming pink it is hard to notice the lilac appointments.
• A flash of orange across the Sedge Meadow Trail, then nothing... a question mark doing its best loose bark impression.
• The silvery arc and dot made the namesake question mark. In this photo, there is an extra dark spot to distinguish it from the similar eastern comma.
• Down along the damp and sunny part of the trail, Appalachian browns were perched or patrolling in the sun.
• In the back Old Hayfield, a monarch was visiting the wild bergamot.
• Every gap in the field held a web of a large black and yellow Argiope spider - this one cautiously attended by a much smaller male.
• Everything was so active in the sun and heat, but finally there was a shot at the olive and maroon hummingbird clearwing.
• The similar snowberry clearwing is more black than maroon and has a stripe from the eye down towards the legs.
• A dun skipper was taking a break from feeding.
• The little white dots - especially the notched, square one - indicate it's the female. The male has no dots.
• Little orange mint moths were common today.
• Tough to separate from the dun skipper, the Northern broken-dash has a thicker hindwing spot band, usually with a bump to make it look like a "3".
• Above, the distinction is much greater. Here, the female has white dots where the male has orange..
• Down on the Wappinger Creek Trail, an ebony jewelwing paused. Again, white dots indicate the female.
• Invasive Japanese stilt grass was getting big enough to be easily recognized. The shiny mid-rib separates it from similar grasses.
• Mind the stinging nettle on both sides of the path.
• The less familiar wood nettle's flower should be a hint even if the leaf looks innocent.
• Cool and quiet was the scene at the Appendix - the end of the trail today.
• It took some patience, but one little wasp was seen flying around the mounds. There must be a schedule to be discovered.
• Next week: the Cary Pines Trail the side of the trail system.

Sightings