November Butterflies! (Monarch, American Lady, Cabbage White)

[Steve Mirick]

I led a bird walk today for the Brookline Bird Club along the NH
Seacoast.  Not much for butterflies, but they're certainly not finished yet!

Monarch - 1 at Odiorne.  Sadly, would not land for a photo
American Lady - 4 for the day.  2 at Odiorne and 2 at Ragged Neck.
Cabbage White - Perhaps 3 or 4 for the day.

Steve Mirick (and others)
Bradford, MA

[Judy Guptill]

I'm not very knowledgeable at all about butterflies but I'm learning. My husband brought home an article from the New Hampshire Wildlife Journal about the White Mountain Fritillary. Have you ever seen one?

Judy Guptill 

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[Steve Mirick]

The White Mountain Fritillary (currently treated as a subspecies of  Arctic Fritillary) and the Mount Washington Arctic (currently treated as a subspecies of  Melissa Arctic) are two very specialized races (possibly distinct species?) of butterflies that are only found in the high altitudes of the White Mountains of NH.  They are difficult to see, but both can be found by taking the auto road to the top of Mount Washington.  Two of the most important considerations in trying to find them are to go up there at the right time of year and TO GO WHEN THE WEATHER IS IDEAL WITH SUN AND CALM WINDS!  The last factor is critical since the weather on Mount Washington in the middle of summer can be terrible, even when it is great in Conway.

Jane and I have seen both on separate trips up Mount Washington.  The Arctic we found in the high rocky tundra near the Alpine Garden trail of Mount Washington on 7/18/15:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/126993487

The Fritillary, we found just a bit lower in some patches of asters in shrubby vegetation along the auto road on 8/15/22:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/130916682

The Vermont folks did a good job writing up the life history, timing and location to find these species:

https://vtecostudies.org/wildlife/invertebrates/butterflies/white-mountain-fritillary/

https://vtecostudies.org/wildlife/invertebrates/butterflies/white-mountain-arctic/

Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA

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