'LOTS OF LUCK' NEEDED FOR INSECT COUNT

CARDEN ALVAR COUNTS BROKEN UP THIS YEAR, SAYS BOB BOWLES

In order to organize successful insect counts, you need detailed knowledge of the subject, skill in predicting weather patterns and lots of luck.

Ideal count conditions are warm days around 24 C, with no wind, rain or lightning. Dragonflies don't fly below 16 C, nor butterflies below 18 C, and extremely hot days around 31 C are not ideal.

A few adults are on the wing in May, increasing in late June, peaking in numbers in early July, and then decreasing in number by late July and August. Elfin butterfly species like hoary don't fly after late spring, and skippers like Leonard's don't fly until late summer.

Last year, we planned the 25th Carden alvar counts for butterflies and dragonflies on July 23 and 24. It was hot and dry, above 31 C, on the first day, and we cancelled the count on the second day because of rain and lightning. The last place you want to be standing during a lightning storm is on a flat limestone alvar with few or no tall trees — and you the tallest object on the landscape.

Why pick a July count day in March? With recent changes in swallowtails, azures, crescents and duskywings, you need several skilled observers in order to properly identify them. Newsletters come out in March, and you want to give participants ample time to plan their availability.

This year for the 26th Carden alvar counts, I have decided to break the two counts up. The dragonfly count will be on Saturday, June 24, and the butterfly count on Saturday, July 15. Rain dates will be the following day.

These dates should be after the cool, spring temperatures in early June and after the unpredictable, unsettled weather in early July, but before species numbers drop in late July.

We now have good planning for flight times and weather patterns. Now we need lots of luck.