A Gathering Of Butterflies

April 21st, 2012. Just south of GA-83, Starrs Road - the road from GA-83 through the Oconee National Forest into the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge – jogs to the right before it continues south the NWR. (On Google Maps, the road on the left marked Starr Road is the road; the ‘road’ that looks like it continues directly from GA-83 is a power line right-of-way.) For some reason, butterflies are attracted to this specific section of road. Some gather here in large numbers. This day was no different. We found four different butterflies: an American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), a Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), and many Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis) and, a new butterfly for me, the American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis). We saw one American Lady also known as American Painted Lady or Painted Beauty.

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Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis). We don’t see Hackberry Emperors very often – although I’ve seen several this year - so it is always a treat to see this one.

Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), wings open. By a rough count there were probably 20 to 30 of these. Of course, the challenge is to get a look at the underside of the wing to see if it’s a…

Question Mark or an Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma). Clearly this one is a Question Mark. And then there was the new kid on the block…

Next: American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
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Identification resources:
Michael Beohm, West Central Georgia Butterflies:
- Polygonia interrogationis (Question Mark)
- Vanessa virginiensis (American Lady)
- Asterocampa celtis (Hackberry Emperor)

BugGuide:
- Polygonia interrogationis (Question Mark): [Wings open] [Wings closed]
- Vanessa virginiensis (American Lady): [Wings open] [Wings closed]
- Asterocampa celtis (Hackberry Emperor): [Wings open] [Wings closed]

Related posts:
- April: Butterfly Afternoons At Scull Shoals
- Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)