by Carl Strang
Butterflies are the most conspicuous insects, and to the extent that they are representative, they are telling us that insects got through the winter in pretty good shape. Butterflies have been abundant and diverse this spring, both species that wintered here and ones that have migrated north. Earlier I mentioned red admirals in this context, and their congeners the American lady and painted lady butterflies have been showing up as likely migrants as well. A member of a species new to my experience appeared at Mayslake Forest Preserve last Thursday.

Obviously a fritillary, it seemed too big for a meadow fritillary and too small for other species of my acquaintance. Also, it lacked silvery spots beneath the hind wing.
My practice is to photograph doubtful cases when I can, and this time it paid off. The newcomer is a southern species known frequently to wander north, the variegated fritillary.
On Friday I saw 3 question mark and 2 mourning cloak butterflies.

One of the question marks, named for the pale silvery small markings on the underside of the hind wing.
That in itself is not all that unusual, as I have seen both species at Mayslake before. What seemed odd was, in this butterfly-rich spring, these were the first of both species I have encountered on the preserve. Both overwinter as adults, and back in March during the warm weather we experienced, I would expect to have seen them, especially with multiple sightings of both species happening now. What gives? Yet another little mystery to tuck away in memory.