Butterfly Sighting Lists

These sightings are submitted by butterfly enthusiasts across Wisconsin.

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2008 sightings

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Sightings for July 2008

Jul1

Judith Huf
Location: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Bayside
Milwaukee County

Jul1

Wayne Anderson
Location: Green Circle Trail/ East of Airport
Portage County
Only the second time I have seen a Dainty Sulphur in Wisconsin. C.patruela where out in numbers also.

Jul1

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: Lake Farm Park, near Madison
Dane County

Jul1

Mike Reese
Location: Riley Lake Wildlife Area
Price County
Also saw and was lucky to photograph my first Williamson’s Emerald
emerald6040-c.jpg

Jul1

Natalie Serna
Location: Pell Lake, WI
Walworth County
They love my garden. I see them in my yard all the time. My daughters and I love it.

Jul2

Christine Taylor
Location: in my house northwest of milwaukee/ tosa
Milwaukee County
My daughter caught 3 caterpillars and they did their thing and this afternoon she saw that two had emerged. One has already manged to be set free, we are still waiting for the other to decide to climd out of the bug catcher to freedom. The third has yet to emerge.

Jul3

Ron Arnold, Ann Thering, Mike Reese
Location: NABA Sandhill/Seneca count
Wood County
The weather cooperated nicely for this year’s count, not too hot, cloudy, or windy, (or too many skippers to drive me crazy). We also saw a very worn Tiger Swallowtail but weren’t able to determine the species. The Baltimore Checkerspots and Least Skippers were more than I’ve ever previously seen in one day.
0997BronzeCopper07032008.jpg1026BronzeCopper07032008.jpg1011EdwardsHS07032008.jpg1014NPearlyEye07032008.jpg1016CoralHS07032008.jpg1035BaltimoreCk07032008.jpg1006TigerBeetle07032008.jpg

Jul3

Tod Highsmith
Location: Cherokee Marsh along the RR tracks
Dane County
Just a quick look, but found these on milkweed.

Jul3

Mike Kirch
Location: Town of Addison, Allenton Marsh
Washington County

Jul3

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: Olbrich Gardens and home (Madison)
Dane County
The hairstreaks and mourning cloak were seen where I live near Rimrock Road. The remainder are all from Olbrich Gardens.

Jul4

Mike Reese
Location: Germania Marsh
Marquette County
Milkweed was barely in flower. I went looking for skippers and only saw a single Least Skipper!
bandedhairstreak6432-c.jpgalbibarbefferia_albibarbis6403-c.jpg

Jul4

Wayne Anderson
Location: Spring Green Preserve
Sauk County
Also flying many rusty holomelinas, urola nivalis and Reversed Haploas. Cicindela splendida, C. formosa and C. punctulata also seen.

Jul4

Joan Braune and Tod Highsmith
Location: Grady Tract, UW Arboretum
Dane County
IMG_1511.jpgIMG_1520.jpg

Jul4

Peter Fissel
Location: FR2316/Blue Spruce Rd. near Mountain
Oconto County
All species seen in the tornado blowdown area south of Hwy 64.

Jul4

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: 9 Springs ewat near Madison
Dane County

Jul5

Rose Tiegs
Location: Buzz Besadny Fishery , Kewaunee
Kewaunee County
Milberts Tortoiseshell July 5 2008 Buzz Besadny Kewaunee 003.jpgBaltimore Checkerspot July 5 2008 Buzz Besadny Kewaunee.jpg

Jul5

Mike Kirch
Location: Riverside Park West Bend
Washington County
The Swallowtail had a chunk of it’s right side tail missing.
SwallowtailSwallowtail

Jul5

Ron Arnold
Location: town of Seneca
Wood County
Saw a robber fly chasing a Meadow Fritillary.
1074MonarchCt07052008.jpg1081MeadowFrit07052008.jpg1083CabbageWht07052008.jpg1085LongDASHING07052008.jpg1086DunSk07052008.jpg

Jul5

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: Vermont Lutheran Church cemetary, south of Black Earth
Dane County

Jul6

Adrian Konell
Location: Lake Township
Marinette County

Jul6

Ryan Brady
Location: Chequamegon National Forest southeast of Grand View
Bayfield County
Pink-edged Sulphur was a surprise in this non-barrens habitat. Also surprised by the Baltimore Checkerspots in this northwoods habitat.
White_Admiral_RBrady.JPGPinkedged_Sulphur_RBrady.JPGBaltimore_Checkerspot_RBrady.JPGLong_Dash_RBrady.JPG

Jul6

Mike Reese
Location: Rocky Run Oak Savanna SNA
Columbia County
This was the most Tawny Emperors that I have seen in one day. Despite lots of milkweed in flower, there were not many butterflies flying. I was most amazed at not seeing a single grass skipper.

Jul7

Adrian Konell
Location: Lake Township
Marinette County

Jul8

Andy Paulios
Location: Spring Green Preserve
Sauk County

Jul8

Andy Paulios
Location: Marblesee Prairie
Green County

Jul8

Mike Reese
Location: Cedar Springs Fishery Area
Waushara County
Clear skies turned cloudy and then some unexpected rain.

Jul8

Tom Poklen
Location: Rock River Prairie SNA
Rock County
Not a lot of butterflies, considering it was excellent butterfling weather. Been seeing the same in Illinois so far this summer.
Delaware Skipper.jpgMonarchs.jpg

Jul9

Laureanna Raymond-Duvernell
Location: Town of Lisbon
Waukesha County
I have two black swallowtail caterpillars on my parsley. I placed them in a butterfly habitat, and they left the parsley and have been walking around the mesh all morning. They’ll hopefully be in a chrysalis by the end of the day.

Jul9

Mike Kirch
Location: LacLarawn Nature Preserve, West Bend
Washington County

Jul9

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: Fitchburg, near Oregon
Dane County
I have garden spot with some friends near Oregon. Their house is surrounded by trees where the eyed browns and hairstreaks were.

Jul10

Ann Thering
Location: Cherokee Marsh
Dane County
My hike was cut short by overcast skies and ferocious mosquitoes.

Jul10

Wayne Anderson
Location: Dewey Shooting Range
Portage County
A short walk before work today not much going on in some of my other sites.

Jul11

Judith Huf
Location: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Milwaukee County
A sick American Elm tree near the parking lot is dripping sap and is attracting butterflies. At one point, there were 4 Mourning Cloaks, 1 Red-spotted Purple, and 1 E. Comma all feeding at the same time.
Elm with Mourning Cloaks.jpg

Jul11

Adrian Konell
Location: Lake Township
Marinette County

Jul11

Larry Breneman
Location: Bauman Rd.in Enterprise Forest.
Oneida County

Jul12

SWBA Field Trip, 18 participants
Location: Schurch Thompson
Iowa County
Cool, overcast conditions kept numbers down, but we managed to flush a a few butterflies while walking through the prairie. Leadplant and yellow coneflower were beautiful.

Jul12

Ron Arnold
Location: town of Seneca
Wood County
Very windy today. Saw a robber fly catch a Northern Crescent and saw another one chasing a Clouded Sulphur. The Buckeye nectared for over an hour on a patch of Oregano in my garden.
1111GrSpangledFrit07122008.jpg1112Buckeye07122008.jpg

Jul12

Wayne Anderson
Location: Buena Vista Prairie / Lake Road Area
Portage County
Big patches of thistle and milkweeds butterflies were few and far between.

Jul12

Ryan Brady
Location: Chequamegon National Forest southeast of Grand View
Bayfield County
Very windy. Harris’ Checkerspot and Painted Lady were highlights. Also lots of N. Pearly-eyes here in the woods.

Jul13

Rose Tiegs
Location: Navarino wildlife area Mcdonald rd. Navarino,wi.
Shawano County
American Copper Navarino July 13 2008.jpgEdwards Hairstreak Navarino July 13 2008 010.jpgEdwards Hairstreak Navarino July 13 2008 ..jpg

Jul13

Craig Ellefson
Location: Decatur Lake near Brodhead
Green County
Area includes the boat launch and trail between the two dams.

Jul13

Ron Arnold
Location: spruce/tamarack bog in the town of Cranmoor
Wood County
Very windy today with gusts at 20+ mph. Saw several butterflies and skippers that couldn’t be identified because of the wind. Went looking for Bog Coppers and found 3. All had crossed a ditch out of the bog and were along the side of the road. Two were nectaring on Yarrow. They ignored me while I steadied the Yarrow with one hand and attempted to photograph with the other. I was lucky to get any usable photos. Photos 1133 and 1177 are of one individual; 1179, 1184 and 1185 are of another.
1162BronzeCopper07132008.jpg1133BogCopper07132008.jpg1177BogCopper07132008.jpg1184BogCopper07132008.jpg1185BogCopper07132008.jpg1179BogCopper07132008.jpg

Jul14

Mike Reese
Location: Puchyan Priarie SNA
Green Lake County
Flooding on the road and through the field to the site.
poweshiekskipperling7127-c.jpgpoweshiekskipperling7143-c.jpg

Jul14

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: Captol City Bike Trail, Fitchburg
Dane County
I think this may be the first Baltimore checkerspot that I have ever seen. I was quite excited about seeing it.

Jul15

Adrian Konell
Location: Lake Township, Harmony Township
Marinette County

Jul16

Sharon Morgan
Location: Town of Menasha in my front flower bed
Winnebago County
likes my lilys…the first of the season here for me.
IMG_9055.JPG

Jul16

Adrian Konell
Location: Lake Township
Marinette County

Jul17

Mary Anna Thornton
Location: Conserve School Community Garden, Land O’ Lakes
Vilas County
The monarch was lighting over and over on butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). It was unusually faded and tattered.

Jul17

Mary Anna Thornton
Location: Conserve School Community Garden, Land O’ Lakes
Vilas County
Feeding on swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).
silver fritillary.jpg

Jul17

David G. Stakston
Location: Holmen,Wisconsin
La Crosse County
Copy of IMG_0380 Large e-mail view.jpg

Jul18

Kevin Brown
Location: Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Reserve
Ozaukee County

Jul19

Rose Tiegs
Location: Navarino Wildlife Area McDonald rd.
Shawano County
This spot never lets me down.Awesome!
Gargone checkerspot 2008 july 19.jpgGargone checkerspot 2008 july 19 ..jpgHarvester Navarino 2008 july 19.jpgMeadow FrittilaryNavarino 2008 july 19..jpg

Jul19

Ann Thering and Dave Eide
Location: Schurch Thompson
Iowa County
Intermittent sun. Absolutely beautiful Marine Blue!
MarineBlueD2S7753.jpg

Jul19

Kevin Brown
Location: Lion’s Den Gorge
Ozaukee County
Many Eyed Browns flying in the wet wooded/marshy areas on the Waterfowl Walk trail; 2 Appalachians intermixed with the Eyeds provided a great opportunity to compare and contrast. There are also many immature Meadowhawks (Sympetrum sp.) present; saw 1 adult Cherry-faced.

Jul19

Wayne Anderson
Location: Peterson Creek Fishing Area
Portage County
Lots of annoying mosquitos and deer flies drove me out of the swamp!

Jul19

Mike Reese
Location: Buena Vista Marsh
Portage County
Hoped to see my first Regal of the year, and was surprised that I had to work hard to find a single one. Lots of large robber flies, including a Promachus fitchii female laying eggs, a new species for me.
promachusvertebratus7688-c.jpgpromachusbastardii7814-c.jpg

Jul19

Ryan Brady
Location: Chequamegon National Forest southeast of Grand View
Bayfield County
Great morning with 25 species before clouds and rain moved in around lunchtime.
Acadian_Hairstreak_RBrady.JPGCommon_WoodNymph_RBrady.JPGAtlantis_Fritillary_RBrady.JPGTawnyedged_Skipper_RBrady.JPG

Jul19

Ron Arnold
Location: spruce/tamarack bog in the town of Cranmoor
Wood County
1206DionSk07192008.jpg1207DunSk07192008.jpg1208EyedBrown07192008.jpg

Jul19

Ron Arnold
Location: my property in the town of Seneca
Wood County
It’s very unusual to see a Silver-bordered Frit on my property. This one was nectaring on Oregano in my former garden. The Oregano has formed a huge patch and is a popular nectaring spot.
1216ComWoodNymph07192008.jpg1224SummerAzure07192008.jpg

Jul20

Wayne Anderson
Location: Peterson Creek Fishing Area
Portage County
Grass of Parnassus in bud stage, Swamp Thistle also in bud, Virgin’s Bower just starting to flower and Joe Pye Weed starting to flower. Should be good nectar sources in another week. Mosquitos and Deer Flies tolerable, very wet!

Jul20

Rose Tiegs
Location: Navarino Nature Center,Navarino.
Shawano County
I was surprised at how small they were no more than two inches.
Buckeye Navarino 2008 july 20 021.jpg

Jul20

Tod Highsmith
Location: East side of Madison
Dane County
Seen yesterday and today in our neighborhood and yard while doing yard work.

Jul20

Ryan Brady
Location: Chequamegon National Forest southeast of Grand View
Bayfield County
Fog until lunchtime and then partly sunny. Diversity is great right now — 28 species this afternoon just walking on and adjacent to my property.
Coral_Hairstreak_RBrady.JPGCompton_Toroiseshell_RBrady.JPGLeast_Skipper_RBrady.JPGBaltimore_Checkerspot_RBrady.JPGMourning_Cloak_RBrady.JPG

Jul20

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: Madison and Fitchburg
Dane County

Jul21

Mike Reese
Location: Greenwood Refuge
Waushara County
Robber fly cannibalism with the male preying on the female.
albibarbefferiaalbibarbis8193-c.jpg

Jul21

Ron Arnold
Location: my property in the town of Seneca
Wood County
This Monarch was flying at 6:30 in the morning.

Jul21

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: Lake Farm Park, southeast of Madison
Dane County
The blues and checkerspots were “puddling” in a muddy area. It was interesting to be able to compare the eatern tailed blue with the spring azure as both were seen at the same time.

One of the tiger swallowtails was a dark phase female which is so amazing to see.

Jul22

Ryan Brady
Location: Chequamegon National Forest southeast of Grand View
Bayfield County
My first of the year…
Banded_Hairstreak_RBrady.JPG

Jul22

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: Pope Farm Park west of Madison
Dane County
Pope Farm Park is a new county park about 1 1/2 miles west of the Beltline on Old Sauk Road. They have put in a restored prairie area which is full of blooming flowers.

Jul23

Judith Huf
Location: Bong State Recreation Area
Kenosha County
I also had a number of loverly Ctenucha virginica moths, a Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird moth and a lovely Celery Looper moth.

Jul23

Ron Arnold
Location: my property in the town of Seneca
Wood County
These were all seen between about 5:30 and 6:00 this evening. The American Copper was very fresh. The hairstreaks were in good condition except for one of the Corals which had a lot of wing damage.
1269CoralHS07232008.jpg1284CoralHS07232008.jpg1282AcadianHS07232008.jpg1280AmCopper07232008.jpg1271DionSk07232008.jpg

Jul25

David G. Stakston
Location: LaCrosse River West Salem,Wisconsin
La Crosse County
Copy of 011 Large e-mail view.jpg

Jul26

Wayne Anderson
Location: Peterson Creek Fishing Area
Portage County
Confused Haploa’s flying in the fen areas, Swamp Thistle just opening buds. Found one Buprestis laeviventris on a rock at the parking area (Black with greenish reflex and orange elytra spots)

Jul26

SWBA, Prairie Enthusiasts and Madison Audubon Field Trip - Rich Henderson & Karl and Dorothy Legler, leaders -17 partici
Location: Scuppernong Prairie
Waukesha County

Jul26

Mike Reese, David Reese
Location: Chafee Creek area along Ice Age Trail
Marquette County
Also observed a female Black Dash lay an egg on marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris).

Jul26

Mike Reese, David Reese
Location: Observatory Hill SNA
Marquette County

Jul26

Ron Arnold
Location: my property in the town of Seneca
Wood County
My Oregano patch is a popular spot for nectaring right now. Most of the butterflies today were seen there.
1297OldMonarch07262008.jpg1285ComWoodNymph07262008.jpg1288CoralHS07262008.jpg1295Robber07262008.jpg

Jul26

Ron Arnold
Location: DNR property in the town of Saratoga along Highway 13
Wood County
I tried to photograph some of the many tiger beetles that were here, but they didn’t cooperate very well.
1302TigerBeetle07262008.jpg

Jul26

Ron Arnold
Location: Buena Vista Marsh
Portage County
These were my first Gray Copper sightings. The most that I saw at any time was 2, but I was able to identify 5 different individuals from my photographs thanks to them being quite worn and with varying amounts of damage to their wings. I’ve included photos of the individuals in the best and worst conditions.
1307GrayCopper07262008.jpg1309GrayCopper07262008.jpg1324GrayCopper07262008.jpg1318CoralHS07262008.jpg

Jul27

Wayne Anderson
Location: Peterson Creek Fishing Areas
Portage County
Went out later in the day more skippers flying. Many more Haploa’s flying.

Jul27

Thomas Schultz
Location: My home, on my prairie restoration — between Green Lake and Princeton.
Green Lake County
American Copper 7-27-08 home1.jpg

Jul27

Ann Thering
Location:
Iowa County
Late in the day.

Jul27

Ron Arnold
Location: my property in the town of Seneca
Wood County
Also saw an unidentified Tiger Swallowtail. Lots of robber fly activity today and several ambushed insects as well.
1344AmbushedWN07272008.jpg1346RobberOnTimothy07272008.jpg1347SpiderWithBee07272008.jpg

Jul27

Ron Arnold
Location: spruce/tamarack bog in the town of Cranmoor
Wood County
There was Ambush Bug activity here today also. Photo 1367 isn’t one of my better ones, but I included it because the Black Dash is very close to being ambushed.
1365EasternTS07272008.jpg1368BlackDash07272008.jpg1367AlmostAmbushed07272008.jpg1370AmbushedBroad-winged07272008.jpg

Jul27

Mike Reese
Location: White River Marsh
Green Lake County
Not much for butterflies here even in areas with plenty of nectar sources. Anyone have any idea what the insect in the photo is?
unknown8873-c.jpg

Jul28

Mike Reese
Location: Peterson Creek Fishing Area
Portage County
Just checking out this area and saw a nice fresh Striped Hairstreak.

Jul28

Jorgen Goderstad
Location: Lake Farm Park near Madison
Dane County
These are the first viceroys that I’ve seen this year. Two were locked in a mating flight.

Jul29

Tom Poklen
Location: Newport State Park
Door County
Fewer species than same time/place last year.
Aphrodite.jpgGray Comma.jpgNorthern Crescent.jpgPearly-eye.jpg

Jul29

Ryan Brady
Location: Chequamegon National Forest southeast of Grand View
Bayfield County
Quick outing at my house in late afternoon/evening. Township mowed man