 Several factors combine to make RRMSEA one of our region’s premier butterfly sites. Butterflies are concentrated on the trail because it is a sunny, raised, railroad bed in the middle of the floodplain of Irondequoit Creek. Butterflies are also attracted by the exceptional diversity of caterpillar plants and nectar sources that grow in and along the linear meadow, which is warmed by the sun for much of the day. The plant diversity is extraordinary and documented elsewhere on this website – it draws the butterflies to the trail.
Butterflies often seen in high numbers include eastern tailed blue, wild indigo duskywing, and silver-spotted skipper. Several large showy butterflies are frequently seen, including four species of swallowtails, including giant, monarch, red admiral, eastern comma, question mark, all of which have their host plants growing right alongside the trail. 2007 was an extraordinary year for red admiral butterflies, and thousands of caterpillars were found on the nettles growing right along the trail. Viceroys (photo upper right) lay eggs on willow shrubs also growing along the trail, and great spangled fritillaries are regular visitors. Locally uncommon species include tawny-edged skipper, Dion, and broad-winged skipper, the latter two known only from a handful of local sites.
If the proposed plans go through, and the trail is widened, the Rochester Butterfly Club has stated that they will “no longer have any reason to visit RRMSEA for field trips or butterfly study."
Photos © Steven Daniel , Chuck Schleigh www.Schleigh.com, and Kim Hartquist |
In MemoryWe dedicate this website to Christine Sevilla. Christine was a tireless advocate for preserving local habitats and wetlands. She knew and loved this section of the Auburn Trail, even before it was scheduled for destruction. Christine photographed it, wrote about it, and spoke at Town Board meetings to preserve it.  Visit: www.christinesevilla.com On the TrailJack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)    |
Butterflies |
