Karner Blue Easement today (LEONARD'S SKIPPER etc.)

[Steve Mirick]

After a failed hawk watch up north, Jane and I stopped at the Karner
Blue Easement on the way home.  In general, not much to report.  Dry and
crispy with not a lot of butterflies.  Goldenrod was providing some
nectar as were a few asters.  A couple of nice insects:

Butterflies
---------------
Monarch - 1
Clouded Sulphur - 2
Orange Sulphur - 1
Eastern Tailed Blue - 2
American Copper - 3
Gray Hairstreak - 2
LEONARD'S SKIPPER - 1.  Our first of the year.  Unfortunately, distant
views and photos as it was inside the fenced off area of the airport.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313422699

Bees & Wasps
--------------------
Cicada Killer - Just 1.  Notice carefully the presumed parasitic
"satellite fly" attached (upside down) to the tip of the abdomen in this
photo.  These flies are parasites to the Cicada Killer:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313422716

Notch-backed Cellophane-cuckoo Bee - A first for me if ID is correct:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313422722

Drury's Long-horned Bee
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313422725

Robber Flies
-----------------
Proctacanthus philadelphicus - 2.  Not unusual at this time of year
here.  But getting late.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313422711

Neomochtherus piceus - 1.  Surprised to see one here.  This is a late
summer flyer.  Although this species is reported to be relatively rare,
Jane and I have found several in the seacoast area of NH this fall.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313422697

Bee Flies
-----------------
Aster Bee Fly - Probably at least 3.  A first for us and rarely reported
in iNaturalist.  I submitted two individuals from today. Only the 3rd
and 4th reports for NH on iNat.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313424271
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313422724


Steve & Jane Mirick
Bradford, MA