Category Archives: Midlands Chapter

Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve — Lexington, SC — March 17, 2018

Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter Trip Report
Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve and Shealy’s Pond Heritage Preserve
Lexington, SC • March 17, 2018

The day was cool, mostly cloudy and windy with temps in the 50’s and 60’s, but the group was still hoping to see the Brown Elfin. Unfortunately that did not happen. Very few butterflies were found as they searched from 12:00-3:30. Dave Kastner was our leader. In attendance were Alison Smith, Alice Clark, John Demko and James Wilson.

Peachtree Rock HP
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 1
Red-banded Hairstreak 1
Gray Hairstreak 1
Juvenal’s Duskywing 1
Duskywing species 1
Hairstreak species 1

Shealy’s Pond HP
Dave went to this site to search for butterflies from 3:45-4:45.

Silver-spotted Skipper 1
Azure species 1
Duskywing species 1

Submitted by Marty Kastner

Midlands Chapter — Orangeburg, SC — September 16, 2017

Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter
Trip Report
SI Group (formerly Albemarle)
Orangeburg, SC
September 16, 2017

On September 16 the CBS Midlands Chapter visited the Si Group’s Hundred Acre Woods. It was sunny and warm with the high reaching the upper 80’s. Numbers of many species were lower than our visit on September 19, 2015. These are shown with an asterisk. Missing this year were Black Swallowtail, Great Purple Hairstreak, Red-Banded Hairstreak, Red Admiral, Southern Skipperling, Least Skipper, Zabulon Skipper, Whirlabout, and Ocola Skipper.
Diane Curlee organized and Arthur Sweatman from SI Group led our walk. In attendance were Alison Smith and Marty and Dave Kastner.

Palamedes Swallowtail 2* (+ 1 caterpillar)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 5* (1 dark female)
Sleepy Orange 44+
Cloudless Sulphur 25+
Gray Hairstreak 4*
American Lady 1 (on Goldenrod being eaten by a spider)
Gulf Fritillary 19* (+ 2 caterpillars)
Variegated Fritillary 3*
Common Buckeye 15 (+ 4 caterpillars)
Red-spotted Purple 3*
Viceroy 1*
Goatweed Leafwing 4* (no caterpillars, one ovipositing)
Southern Pearly-eye 2
Carolina/Intricate Satyr 6*
Monarch 1
Silver-spotted Skipper 1
Long-tailed Skipper 1
Horace’s Duskywing 1
White Checkered-Skipper 5
Tropical Checkered-Skipper 1
Checkered-Skipper species 4
Fiery Skipper 2*
Dun Skipper 3*
Clouded Skipper 8*

Marty Kastner
Richland County, SC

Midlands Chapter — Wee Tee State Forest, SC — August 23, 2017

Carolina Butterfly Society
Midlands Chapter Trip Report
Wee Tee State Forest, Williamsburg County, SC
8/23/17

On August 23rd, five of us braved the heat and humidity to look for butterflies in the Wee Tee State Forest. We were out from 10:00 – 3:00 and were rewarded with 45 species. Dennis Forsythe was our trip leader. In attendance were Tom Austin, Salley Dupree and Dave and Marty Kastner.

Spicebush Swallowtail 1
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 1
Palamedes Swallowtail 1
Little Yellow 13
Sleepy Orange 28
Cloudless Sulphur 21
Summer Azure – 1
Red-banded Hairstreak – 1
Gray Hairstreak 3
Gulf Fritillary 29 (no Variegated Fritillaries)
Zebra Heliconian 7 (a nice surprise)
Pearl Crescent 38
Painted Lady 1
Red Admiral 1
American Snout 1
Common Buckeye 4
Red-spotted Purple 1
Hackberry Emperor 2
Tawny Emperor 1
Southern Pearly-eye 2
Monarch 25 (another nice surprise!)
Viceroy 2
Carolina Satyr 14
Intricate Satyr 4 (confirmed by Tom Austin – photographed)
Carolina or Intricate Satyr 6
Gemmed Satyr 1
Silver-spotted Skipper 2
Long-tailed Skipper 3
Southern Cloudywing 1
Horace’s Duskywing 2
Zarucco Duskywing 1
Duskywing species 3
Tropical Checkered-Skipper 8
White Checkered-Skipper 2
Checkered-Skipper species 5
Swarthy Skipper 1
Least Skipper 2
Fiery Skipper 16
Whirlabout 4
Southern Broken-Dash 2
Little Glassywing 2
Dun Skipper 44
Byssus Skipper 8
Zabulon Skipper 15
Clouded Skipper 22
Lace-winged Roadside Skipper 5
Ocola Skipper 3

Marty Kastner
Richland County, SC

Midlands Chapter — Wateree River Heritage Preserve & Wildlife Mgt Area — June 24, 2017

CBS Midlands Chapter Trip Report
Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area
June 24, 2017

The CBS Midlands Chapter joined SCAN (South Carolina Association of Naturalists) on their monthly outing. This month we went to Wateree River HP in Richland County. We Began around 10:45 and ended at 4:45. The day was hot, humid and mostly sunny until late afternoon when the clouds came in for the promised thunderstorm. We were in cars leaving when the rain hit.

Palamedes Swallowtail 2
Pipevine Swallowtail 1
Zebra Swallowtail 7
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 1
Spicebush Swallowtail 5
Little Yellow 1
Sleepy Orange 11
Cloudless Sulphur 1
Variegated Fritillary 4
Pearl Crescent 9
Eastern Comma 1
American Lady 1
American Snout 1
Common Buckeye 4
Red-spotted Purple 9 (including 1 ovipositing on wild cherry. Found 4 eggs
and 2 first instar caterpillars)
Viceroy 2
Carolina/Intricate Satyr 8
Hoary Edge 2
Silver-spotted Skipper 3 (including 2 ovipositing – one on Amorpha Fruticosa
and the other on a different unidentified plant)
Southern Cloudywing 1
Fiery Skipper 1
Whirlabout 3
Dun Skipper 6
Zabulon Skipper 2

Marty Kastner

Midlands Chapter — Sumter National Forest Enoree District — May 18, 2017

Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter Trip Report
Sumter National Forest Enoree District, Newberry County

May 18, 2017

On May 18, the Midlands Chapter tried a weekday trip hoping that we would have some folks come who usually are unavailable on weekends. It worked. We had eleven participants – Dennis Forsythe (leader), Pat and Jerry Bright, John Demko, Rusty Wilson, Caroline Eastman, Jeff Kline, Tom Austin, Matthew Prioleau and Dave and Marty Kastner. The weather was partly cloudy and in the afternoon became sunny. Temps were in the 80’s. There had been no recent rain so the roads were not damp and we did not find the numbers of road puddling butterflies that we had expected, however we had a great time and some people added to their life lists.

Cromer Road and Cromer G Road
Spicebush Swallowtail 1
Cloudless Sulphur 1
Eastern Tailed-Blue 3
Pearl Crescent 1
Question Mark 2
Eastern Comma 1
Anglewing species 1
Common Buckeye 1
Red-spotted Purple 2
Carolina/Intricate Satyr 1
Little Wood Satyr 2
Silver-spotted Skipper 1
Northern Cloudywing 13
Southern Cloudywing 11
Hoary Edge 4
Swarthy Skipper 9
Crossline Skipper 7
Zabulon Skipper 7

Asias Branch Road
Zebra Swallowtail 6
Eastern Tailed-Blue 2
Summer Azure 4
Banded Hairstreak 2
American Lady 1
Common Buckeye 2
Red-spotted Purple 2
Question Mark 2
Anglewing species 4
Little Wood Satyr 2
Satyr species 2
Northern Cloudywing 9
Southern Cloudywing 9
Hoary Edge 4
Crossline Skipper 1
Clouded Skipper 2
Zabulon Skipper 9

Brick House Road
Eastern Tailed-Blue 2
Red-spotted Purple 2
Carolina/Intricate Satyr 1

Flint Hill Road
Question Mark 4
Anglewing species 6

Marty Kastner

Midlands Chapter — Clemson Sandhills Research & Education Center — May 6, 2017

Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter Trip Report
Clemson Sandhills Research and Education Center
Columbia, SC

Overnight temperatures dropped to 49 degrees so we decided to begin our walk at 12:00 instead of 10:00. The skies were mostly sunny with temperatures in the low to mid 60’s, but it was windy. Part of our walk took us through the woods which was a welcome respite from the wind. Ten years ago on this date, the Midlands Chapter took their first walk in this area. At the end is a comparison of species then and now. In attendance were Susan Creed, Jean Fontaine and Dave and Marty Kastner.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 1
Spicebush Swallowtail 1
Palamedes Swallowtail 5
Cloudless Sulphur 1
Summer Azure 1
Azure species 2
Eastern Tailed-Blue 1
Variegated Fritillary 10
American Lady 1
Common Buckeye 14
Red-spotted Purple 1
Silver-spotted Skipper 3
White Checkered-Skipper 3
Fiery Skipper 1
Lace-winged Roadside-skipper 1 (FOY)

Here is a comparison of species from ’07 to ’17.
’07 – 10 species, ’17 – 14 species
Seen in ’07 but not in ’17 – Sleepy Orange, Eastern Comma, Clouded Skipper.
Seen in ’17 but not in ’07 – Spicebush Swallowtail, Palamedes Swallowtail,
Eastern Tailed-Blue, Red-spotted Purple, White Checkered-Skipper,
Fiery Skipper and Lace-winged Roadside-skipper.

Marty Kastner
Richland County, SC

Midland Chapter — Cheraw State Park and Carolina Sandhills NWR — April 1, 2017

What a beautiful day to butterfly and some people had a four Elfin species day!  Many of us came away with at least one lifer.  It was sunny with temperatures ranging from around 59 to a high of 79.  Chris Talkington was our leader.  In attendance were: Gene Schepker, Lois Schneider, Ann Newsome, Sven Halling, Gary Carter, Leigh Anne Carter, Becky Carter, Jean Fontaine, Laura Domingo, Dennis Forsythe, Rob Gilson, Lenny Lampel, Ethan Lampel, Shawn Smolen-Morton, Will Stuart, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf, Susan Creed, Cheryl Talkington, and Dave and Marty Kastner.  Will Stuart was our hero, finding the Frosted Elfin in the morning and leading the group back to the same spot in the afternoon where we found three.

Cheraw State Park
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail   3
Spicebush Swallowtail   2
Palamedes Swallowtail   9
Black Swallowtail   1
Zebra Swallowtail   1
Sleepy Orange   1
Great Purple Hairstreak   2
Red-banded Hairstreak   1
Brown Elfin   3
Henry’s Elfin   5
Eastern Pine Elfin   1
Eastern Tailed-Blue   2
Summer Azure   2
Azure species   1
Pearl Crescent   1
American Lady   11
Common Buckeye   3
Carolina/Intricate Satyr   3
Silver-spotted Skipper   1
Zarucco Duskywing   2
Juvenal’s Duskywing   1
Duskywing species   1

Carolina Sandhills NWR
Black Swallowtail   1
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail   2
Spicebush Swallowtail   3
Palamedes Swallowtail   2
Zebra Swallowtail   1
Colias species   1   (white form)
Cloudless Sulphur   8
Sleepy Orange   3
Frosted Elfin   3   (ovipositing)
Gray Hairstreak   1
Eastern Tailed-Blue   6
Azure species   1
Variegated Fritillary   1
American Lady   2
Common Buckeye   3
Pearl Crescent   1
Red-spotted Purple   1
Juvenal’s Duskywing   3
Zarucco Duskywing   1
Duskywing species   7

Marty Kastner

Midlands Chapter – SI Group Butterfly Count – Sept 17, 2016

Below is Diane Curlee’s trip report for the SI Group in Orangeburg.

Butterfly Count
Sat., September 17, 2016
SI Group “The Hundred Acre Woods”
Weather: temperature 71 ͦF; overcast; light breeze
Beginning Time: 10:00AM
Ending Time: 1:00PM

Seven people:
Jerry Bright
Pat Bright
Jean Protho
Alice Clark
Sharon Jones
Arthur Sweatman
Diane Curlee

Butterfly List:

Swallowtails
– Tiger Swallowtail – 3

Satyrs
– Southern Pearly Eye – 1
– Carolina Satyr – 2

Heliconians & Fritillaries
– Variegated Fritillary – 2
– Gulf Fritillary – 1

Leafwings
– Goatweed Leafwing – 1; 1 caterpillar

True Brushfoots
– Common Buckeye – 4

Grass Skippers
– Clouded skipper – 1
– Little Glassywing – 1
– Southern Skipperling – too many to count (they were everywhere)
– Fiery skipper – 3

Spreadwing Skippers
– White Checkered-Skipper – 6
– Cloudywing species – 1

Sulphurs
– Cloudless Sulphur – 1
– Sleepy Orange – 3

Hairstreaks
– Red-banded Hairstreak – 1
– Gray Hairstreak – 2

33 individuals + Southern Skipperlings – everywhere!

Arthur is to be given credit for the Southern Pearly Eye. He saw it fly up on our drive into The Hundred Acre Woods. It landed on a tree. It looked like a very thin shelf fungi clinging to the tree! It stayed still allowing us to almost touch it. Many great photos were taken of it.

Many of these butterflies were very fresh. One of the Buckeyes kept its wings folded. We at first thought it was a Tropical. But after comparing with pictures of the underwings, it was determined that it was a Common Buckeye.

Alice and Sharon were very enthusiastic on their first count. They commented over and over how glad they were to have come out and joined in on the hunt. They asked many good questions. They helped us remember our past excitement and interest. It also made us realize how far we have come in our knowledge of the flutterbys.

Midlands Chapter – Enoree District, Sumter National Forest, SC – July 16, 2016

All,

Midlands Chapter-Carolina Butterfly Society- Enoree District, Sumter National Forest, SC 16 July 2016 Trip Report

Date: 16 July 2016
Location: Enoree OHV Area Laurens Co., section of the Enoree District, Sumter National Forest.
Participants:Doug Allen, Jerry and Pat Bright, Dennis Forsythe (leader), Jeff Kline, Irvin Pitt, Roger Wellington, Rusty Wilson
Time: 10:00-14:00 hours
Weather: AM 82 f, overcast. PM 92 overcast light rain at 14:00 hours,
Coverage: Walked from Enoree OHV parking lot down Garlington School Rd, to CSX RR Tracks
Miles: 2.66 mi (GPS)
Others: Verbena brasillensis main nectar source
Species List:

E. Tiger Swallowtail 9
Cloudless Sulfur 3
Sleepy Orange 3
Gray Hairstreak 1
Eastern Tailed-Blue 2
Summer Azure 1
Eastern Comma 1
Red Admiral 2 plus one DOR
Common Buckeye 5
Pear Crescent 12
Red-spotted Purple 6
Hackberry Emperor 3
Carolina/Intricate Satyr 1 female
Silver-spotted Skipper 3
Hoary Edge 20
Southern Cloudywing 2
Northern Cloudywing 1
Horace’s Duskywing 3
Wild Indigo Duskywing 1 county record
Swarthy Skipper 2
Clouded Skipper 4
Zabulon Skipper 3
Dun Skipper 6
Common Roadside-Skipper 9 a record count?
Ocola Skipper 2

Dennis


Dennis M. Forsythe PhD

Midlands Chapter – Peachtree Rock, Lexington, SC, March 19, 2016

On March 19, the Midlands Chapter went to Peachtree Rock in Lexington , SC. The site had had a recent burn and the sand-myrtle (Kalmia buxifolia) that would have been in bloom had been destroyed. Along the burned over trail they saw a dozen or so small brown butterflies, possible Duskywings of unknown type as they were very quick and always on the move. At the northern edge of the road of the recently acquired property that had been spared of the burn they spotted some Common Buckeyes. Jerry Bright lead the trip and created the following list:

March 19, 2016
10:00 A.M. – 2:20 P.M.
Temperature – mid 60’s to low 70’s
Participants – Jeff Kline and Jerry Bright
Distance walked – ~ 4.5 mi (GPS)

1 – Eastern Tiger Swallowtail female dark form
4 – Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
4 – Brown Elfin
1 – Red Banded Hairstreak
5 – Common Buckeye
12+ – Duskywing sp.?

Dave & Marty Kastner
Blythewood, SC
Richland County