Butterflies/moths/bees are scarce!

[Mona Miller]

Mona - I am finding an extreme lack of butterflies, moths and bees. Yesterday I had photographers out at our place to photo both butterflies and hummingbird moths. It was big nothing! The big plant attractants are Coneflowers, Bottlebrush Buckeyes and Button Bush. In over 6 hours we found maybe a few Tiger Swallowtails, one Spicebush, 1 Red spotted Purple, a few Hummingbird moths, and a general lack of bee activity. Normally all of the mints, Monarda's and the like are loaded with bees and butterflies. Nothing this year!

We are not close to any fields or wine growers (grapes) that spray excessively, so we are completely puzzled! We are seeing not many, but a few more Monarchs than any one species of Swallowtails, which this has never been. I believe we are early, but should we not be seeing the Cloudless Sulfurs now?

Even my wife, who does not keep track of these notes of nature, has commented twice in the last week....where are the butterflies!

I hope there is some delayed reaction but with certain plants that always have Swallowtails on them, it is very disturbing. Any thoughts? What is happening in metro WDC? I will be checking with a local entomologist that lives here in Rappahannock County tomorrow and get her reading on the subject!

Still no Pipevine.....lots of Milkweed awaits the Monarchs! (Mona's Note: This a 200 acre property with extensive plants of native plants for wildlife.)

[texas butterfly]

Pollinators are having serious problems.

There is bee colony collapses, habitat destruction, droughts, pesticides, genetically modified crops etc....

I think that I'm seeing less butterflies this year also. And I have more butterfly friendly plants in my backyard. I'm seeing lots of different kinds of bees.

The only butterflies that I've seen are the ones that I'm releasing.

I have LOTS of dragonflies. The hummingbirds are just starting to come thru for their Fall/Southern migration. Initially the hummers seem to be more interested in the flowers rather than the feeders.

[Wyvern]

huh. I've seen more bees this year than in several past years combined (especially honeybees... had dozens of them flocking to a few holly bushes and butterfly weed plants this spring). Not sure about the moth population, but I am seeing hummingbird moths occasionally. As for butterflies, yes they are scarce for this time of year, but also remember we had very bad rains this spring/early summer and cooler than usual temperatures which has likely delayed/skewed their normal life cycle.

[Mona Miller]

Butterfly species are scarse at home and at the park in Vienna. But, not the bees and wasp. Too, many dang paperwasp here at home and in the park. This is why I was so surprised that my friend who has 200 acres has a lack of bees. He doesn't use any type of pesticide.

[texas butterfly]

I should have added not lots of bees, but just different types. Probably 3 or 4 types of bees.

I'm also seeing lots of different kinds of wasps. Probably at least 3 types of wasps.