Outstanding October butterflies in Manhattan

Though we are now well into autumn, butterfly season is not over in Manhattan, and a few finds in particular so far this month demonstrate the value of staying alert.

1. Funereal Duskywing

On Oct. 10, @kasimac took a photo of an unusual-looking butterfly that turned out to be New York state's first record of Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funerealis), a southern species that is known to wander widely: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34169876

2. Harvester

Early this month @spritelink photographed a Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius) in Central Park: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33778666. This species is the only U.S. butterfly with a carnivorous larval stage; the caterpillars eat aphids. Apparently there have been only two other sightings in Central Park in the last 25 years or so.

3. Horace's Duskywing

Not on par with the previous two observations but apparently rather rare nonetheless was a duskywing I photographed in Central Park, now identified as Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33932164.

Have fun out there!

Publicado el 14 de octubre de 2019 a las 12:54 PM por djringer