Observation date: September 28, 2022
Submitted by: jackmcdonough
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: NW winds below 10mph, low 60s. Large Orange Sulphur flew up the road along Harvard Ave at the Cape May Point dune crossings. Very rare for New Jersey, but not long after Hurricane Ian had done a toll on Florida, which might have had influence on its vagrancy north. I am submitting this record now because I have spotted, in the presence of others for one of those sightings, three additional Large Orange Sulphurs in southern New Jersey (Cape May & Cumberland Counties) this year (both during this month - June). They’re a species that I’ve never seen before here till last fall. Migratory bird counters at the Cape May Bird Observatory who know butterflies have claimed to have seen them once, or twice within the past three years or so at Cape May Point. Unfortunately, I was not able to get photos of the ones this June. They had no interest in landing. However, the experiences now have me looking deeper into the behavior of the species and atall the other historical records in the northeast. Perhaps climate change will push these butterflies to be a regular occurrence in NJ and other surrounding states within the next few years, if they aren’t already. I have a lot of experience seeing LOS in Florida, Texas, Arizona, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica. They’re a bug I know well, even in contrast to Orange Barred. I have studied butterfly migration in Cape May for the past three years during the fall working for the Monarch Monitoring Project under NJ Audubon. If I am able to photograph any this fall, or later this month, I will gladly report my sightings here. Thanks for reviewing.
Jack McDonough
Status: Migrant
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: November 17, 2024
Coordinator notes: Very interesting sighting, and thanks for the detailed notes. P. agarithe has been observed in NJ, according to some other records I've seen. I'm sorry to just be seeing this; I've only recently taken over NJ sightings. JRains
