Date: 10/06/2024

Number: 1

Observed this freshly emerged male at 16:18 when I disturbed him from where he had been drying his wings. Strange thing is, the last fifth instar I saw in my yard was September 15. Fortunately, there are still some nectar plants in my waystation. The New England Aster is waning but there is another similar white wildflower that is still in bloom. He moved once, testing his wings to perch on a fallen Cottonwood leaf a few metres southwest from where the photograph was taken. Had a pear in my fridge with some bruising that I took out and cut up into pieces and left on the lawn (the only overripe fruit that I had on hand.) I also turned on the hose and wet a good patch of the yard where he might be able to detect it and get moisture if he needed it as things are very dry here. My gently sloping birdbath is located many metres from where he was and he was not likely to find it. The last place I saw him at about 17:00 was as he flew over my cedar hedge on the eastern edge of my property. I suspect he may have been going to perch there or in my deciduous tree line with an eastern exposure to be ready for the sun in the morning and to be in the lee of the gusty west wind. Temperature is still quite warm here. Overnight low 9°C.

Lakeshore, ON

Latitude: 42.2 Longitude: -82.9

Observed by: Laura
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.