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