Slow start to the lep year in West Virginia

The weather the last couple of months has delayed vegetation around our house by two weeks. Red Bud is just coming out the last few days were it has typically peaked by this time in an average year. For March and April thus far temperatures have been below the average high about 70% of the time. The result is a very slow start to the butterfly season as most of you have seen. Barry and I went to Mineral County, WV today and did see some FOYs in the state, namely Juniper Hairstreak, Juvenal’s and Sleepy Duskywing and Falcate Orangetip. This brings my species in WV for 2018 to 9! Compare this to 22 at this time last year. I don’t however want to go right from winter into summer so here’s hoping that a more sustained Spring will finally kick in.