[MDOsprey] Re: Pipevine Swallowtails

Miliff@aol.com
Tue, 13 Jul 1999 21:25:46 EDT


Mark and others,

       Though I've only been butterflying since about 1994 now, I do remember 
one other time when Pipevine Swallowtails appeared in the area in numbers and 
interestingly enough it was at the exact same time of year.  The day after 
the passage of Hurricane Bertha July 11, 1996, I saw my first Pipevine 
Swallowtail in northern Calvert County.  The next day George Jett and I had 
one (on milkweed?) in Charles County and two days after that I had about 8 
nectaring on Mimosa blossums at Bay Ridge near Annapolis.  Two were on that 
same Mimosa today.  Also in 1996 I believe Ringler, Stasz, and others had 
numbers on the Mimosa at Smith Island in late July.  At the time I assumed it 
was the result of the hurricane, but given this year's similar incursion 
(with a concentration again in southern MD (?)) I tend to doubt that.  
Interesting though...I still need it for a yardbug but my one Mimosa here 
only has 15 Tiger Swallowtails, 8 Spicebush, 10 SS Skippers, and a Red-banded 
Hairstreak.

Best,

Marshall Iliff
miliff@aol.com