It’s the end of March and butterfly season is slowing arriving as the observations begin to trickle in.
If you head out your door right now, which butterfly are you more likely to see in Vermont?
- Left
- Right
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voters
Click below to reveal the answers to this weeks’ quiz!
This was a tricky one because I should have specified during March in the question! The Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (left) is more likely to be seen in Vermont in March. In fact, one has already been seen this year! The West Virginia White (right) may start flying this week in the southern part of the state but you would be more likely to see one at the end of April or throughout May.
How do we know this? With VCEs’ flight chart! The flight chart calculates when butterflies might be seen in Vermont from the dates of previous iNaturalist and eButterfly records. You can sort by week of the year to see which butterflies have been most common at that time. Click on the species name to learn more about them.
Although they are uncommon, you can see Milbert’s Tortoiseshell throughout the summer from March to November (and even one observation in December!). You’ll have to be more deliberate in trying to find the West Virginia White. They are only out for a short period from the beginning of April until mid-June and you will only find them around their host plants, the Toothworts. If you miss them in the wild, don’t worry - you can read more about Vermonts’ populations in this storymap created by VCE intern Eli Byinton.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell by Kent McFarland (iNaturalist)
West Virginia White by Kent McFarland (iNaturalist)
Ready for next weeks’ quiz? Click here!