Fw: 2 tiger swallowtails of Grand Isle, 17-July

[Alex Grkovich]

 FYI....

 

From: Vermont Butterfly Survey [mailto:VTL...@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Alex Grkovich
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2016 8:37 AM
To: VTL...@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: 2 tiger swallowtails of Grand Isle, 17-July

 

Matt,

 

Agreed with these comments…and just sinking everything into “canadensis and a hybrid swarm” just doesn’t provide answers to a possibly complex situation.

 

The prehistoric movements of the glaciers from the Northwest and the North into New England has quite obviously brought some strange things into our areas…..For example, if we have the Kahli Swallowtail (machaon X asterius) in Manitoba and possibly North Dakota etc., why not something similar (as we appear to be finding – Dave H., comments?) in northern New England and the Canadian Maritimes?

 

Why just shut our eyes? (and “count” butterflies that we may not even know what we are actually counting?)

 

Alex

 

Alex Grkovich

BALA | TMP  

617 357 6060 ext. 329  |  a...@balatmp.com

 

From: Vermont Butterfly Survey [mailto:VTL...@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Matthew Arey
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2016 8:21 PM
To: VTL...@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: 2 tiger swallowtails of Grand Isle, 17-July

 

I'm going to have to say P. glaucus (summer form male) for the 14 July individual. P. glaucus gets into that region of the Champlain Valley as is in northern N.Y. and southern Ontario but do not get much east of there at all. Canadensis is for the most part done in northern New England (ME and N.H.) with only a few exceptions: very high elevations in the White Mtns or mountains of western Maine or far downeast in coastal Washington County. I have seen worn canadensis females as late as August 2nd in that region. P. appalachiensis (II) will range up into central VT, through central N.H. and into southern Maine as far up to Augusta and the Mid-Coast region. Late June into late July for that. Appalachiensis (II) will typically have two flights in southern New England. One in very late June through mid-July and another in mid to late August. P. glaucus will have up to three flights. One late April to early June, another in late July to mid August (strong) and a weaker or partial brood in very late August through mid-September. Then there are these strange 'Tigers' in central Maine particularly that will fly in tandem or closely overlap the P. canadensis flight in June. Much bigger than typical canadensis. I coin them  'Giant Canadensis' or 'Appacanadensis'. Of course then are these other Tigers Alex mentions in the N.H. White Mountains. I would say a miniature race of P. glaucus or something like P. rutulus. Definitively there are at least three species of Tiger Swallowtail in New England or possibly a fourth.

 

M. Arey

 

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From: Alex Grkovich <A...@BALATMP.COM>
To: VTL...@LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2016 11:15 AM
Subject: Re: 2 tiger swallowtails of Grand Isle, 17-July

 

David,

 

That female looks like an Appy female. Check them out on Butterflies of America.

 

Alex

 

Alex Grkovich

BALA | TMP  

617 357 6060 ext. 329  |  a...@balatmp.com

 

From: Vermont Butterfly Survey [mailto:VTL...@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of David Hoag
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2016 11:10 AM
To: VTL...@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: 2 tiger swallowtails of Grand Isle, 17-July

 

While on the subject of summer tigers

(and burning up more band-width),

2 more July Grand Isle tigers below.   

Dave H.