Early butterfly observed south of the Kaiyuh Mountains along the west bank of the Yukon River.
Observation: Early this time of year for butterflies.
LEO says: We have had another recent early butterfly observation in LEO Network - April 11th in Koyuk, a village located 160 miles to the north. This butterfly resembles the Milbert's Tortoiseshell Aglais milberti, but we will need some help to confirm our identification.
On June 9, 2014 an infestation of Milbert's Tortoiseshell caterpillars was observed by La'ona DeWilde in Chalkyitsik. "There were thousand of caterpillars on the nettle covering an area of about 100 square feet. It was a mass of moving black swarm eating the plants down." See related post.
According to Insects of Southcentral Alaska by Dominique M. Collet, tortoiseshells butterflies have a wingspan of 1-3/4". The caterpillars feed on nettle leaves. Tortoise shells are widespread through the northern hemisphere."
LEO Members are welcome to comment on this observation. It has been shared with the UAF Cooperative Extension Service.
Member Comment Derek Sykes writes: "There are two photos of butterflies. One with the word 'GOLD' above it - that butterfly is a Milbert's Tortoiseshell. The other is a Compton Tortoiseshell.
Resources:
Butterflies and Moths of North America – Range: "Boreal North America south of the taiga. Southern Alaska south to California, Nevada, and New Mexico; east to Newfoundland and West Virginia."
Butterflies of America – Aglais milberti subpallida (Cockerell, 1889). Milbert's Tortoiseshell Life Adults photo collection.
Wikimedia Commons – Milberts Tortoiseshell - Aglais milberti 2, linked to a photo for insect identification comparison. Source: WCs the free media repository
iNaturalist – "There are two broods from May to October. During this time adults mate and lay eggs. The female will lay her eggs in bunches of up to 900 individuals on the underside of the host plant's leaves. Early-instar caterpillars eat together in a web, but later instars feed alone. They hibernate as adults, often in small congregations. Adults have been known to mate in low-elevation watercourses in arid regions."
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