Patty,

Welcome to the world of watching glittering flight. It's great to read of
your enthusiasm. Check the antennae on your bug. I suspect they're thin and
wiry (moth), rather than clubbed (butterfly). I suspect you've got a
day-flying moth there. Your description doesn't quite fit, but there's a
small moth called The Infant (Archieris infans) now flying during the day.
Its forewings are dark with two white "notches" and its hind wings are
largely orange with various black markings. I'll email you a photo of one,
as well as some other information about VBS. Thanks again.

Best,
Bryan Pfeiffer
VBS Staff



At 4/10/2004, you wrote:
>Hello-My name is Patty Lambert from Richford. I went for a walk April 8th
>and saw 7 of the same small butterfly. I was totally unprepared as I
>thought it was too early to see any. It was sunny but breezy, early in the
>month and only 45 degrees. I just volunteered and don't go to a training
>till June 6. I had never seen this butterfly before and had no net, jar,
>camera etc. Luckily it let me creep close and I cupped it in my hands and
>went home to put it in a jar to study then send in. I looked at both my
>field guides and the e nature site and couldn't find a match. Is it OK to
>leave the name space blank on the voucher card if this ever happens again?
>What do the spaces on the back of the card mean where it says nectar and
>host plants. Do I list the plants in the area where I see a butterfly? The
>butterfly I saw was amazing. I thought it was orange but when it landed on
>the dirt road it was the same color as the road. The top was brown with a
>couple small beige notches. While holding still with wings flat, you can't
>see any orange but when fully open there is an orange crescent on the
>inner margin of both hind wings. The underside is orange with a thin brown
>band at the bottom, two brown notches on the side and between the brown
>notches it was yellow. It was about one inch across. There are very few
>colt's foot on the roadside, nothing else blooming and no houses where I
>saw them that would have crocus or other early garden plants.There is sap
>running and a few insects.They kept landing on the road or side of the
>road. Could they have been interested in the road salt? I will try to find
>another specimen in case it doesn't arrive in good shape. Yesterday was
>40, cloudy and breezy so none seen. Today it is snowing. Does it sound
>familiar? Thanks for any info.Patty

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