Sighting for June 20, 2013
Jeff Trahan
Kisatchie National Forest
Natchitoches Parish, LA
- Pipevine Swallowtail 5
- Zebra Swallowtail 3
- Palamedes Swallowtail 1
- Little Yellow 11
- Gray Hairstreak 8
- Eastern Tailed-Blue 1
- Variegated Fritillary 1
- Pearl Crescent 12
- Common Buckeye 2
- Common Wood-Nymph 5
- Southern Cloudywing 1
- Confused Cloudywing 1
- Swarthy Skipper 1
- Meske's Skipper 140
- Southern Broken-Dash 10
- Dun Skipper 1
- Dusky Roadside-Skipper 1
Meske’s skippers are usually abundant in Kisatchie NF in late June. At this time of year I usually see about 20 individuals. This year I counted 140 of them—a very large number for this species. Most were seen nectaring on pycnanthemum which which was blooming profusely along the main road through the forest.