2019 was the 2nd year that I started keeping the list of butterfly species that where verified and confirmed sighting in Lebanon Count Pa - for the year 2019 there where 50 species sighted.
As I just saw my first butterfly of 2020 on March 13 (a Cabbage White at Middle Creek wildlife Area) , I thought I would review some of the highlights of 2019.
In 2019 both a Spring Azure, Cloudless Sulphur & Cabbage White where recorded March 20 as the first species seen and recorded in Lebanon County. The Cabbage White may be the most recognized and abundant butterfly species seen in Lebanon County. Just look out over any farm grass field and you will see them fluttering. Quite a site when you see hundreds of them in June & July.
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| Spring Azure |
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| Cloudless Sulphur |
Also as with other years, my yard meadow again this year had an abundance of Tiger Swallowtails, Pearl Crescents, Silver Spotted Skippers, Spicebush Swallowtail, Spring and Summer Azures just to name a few. The pollinator meadow continues to amaze me with the abundance of species I record there each year.
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| Red admiral |
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| Hobomak Skipper |
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| Tiger Swallowtail |
A real surprise was the sighting of a Tawny Emperor on July 2 sitting on my house siding - the first recorded yard sighting of this species.
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| Tawny Emperor |
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| Tawny Emperor |
The Painted Lady and Buckeye butterflies seemed to be in abundance in 2019, with many reported sighting throughout the Lebanon County. Pearl Crescents where also quite common in 2019.
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| Painted Lady |
A Swarthy Skipper was recorded for the first time on July 26..another yard first.
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| Swarthy Skipper |
August 25th also saw a surprise with a Hackberry Emperor sighted at the edge of the forest bordering my yard. Another yard first in 2019
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| Hackberry Emperor |
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| Hackberry Emperor |
While Monarch numbers where down somewhat from other years, there was still many reported sighting of Monarch's in the Lebanon and the surrounding counties.The last species of 2019 I recorded in Lebanon County, was a Buckeye on October 11.
As the Spring of 2020 approaches I look forward to another exciting year of recording the butterfly sighting of Lebanon County Pa.
Until next time.
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