Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 741554

Crimson Patch
Chlosyne janais

Observation date: September 01, 2012
Submitted by: arthur_ctl
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Seen during a very warm (88-90 deg F) late afternoon. The butterfly was on a Butterfly bush in New York Botanical Gardens, along with a host of species commonly found there. I photographed the same butterfly 13 times for about five minutes at close range (point and shoot macro) as it returned again and again to the same cluster of flowers before I finally lost sight of it. I had never seen this species before, but after researching it I believe it is a Crimson Patch or close relation rather far away from it's home.
Status: Stray
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: September 05, 2012
Coordinator notes: Hi! This is indeed a Crimson Patch, a very long way from home. BAMONA has none north of Texas. I know that 2012 has been a fantastic year for migrants, at least here in Ontario, but this is riduculous!!! Ross Layberry. It is not that the specimen is misidentified, but that (1) the location is incorrect or (2) it is an escaped specimen from a butterfly exhibition. Ross Layberry
Checklist region(s): United States, New York, Bronx County