Butterflies of Scherman-Hoffman Sanctuaries, Somerset County, New Jersey

DIRECTIONS: Take I-287 to Exit 30B, Bernardsville. From the exit rump go a short distance to traffic lights at Route 202. Continue straight ahead through the lights onto Childs Road. After 0.2 miles stay on right onto Hardscrabble Road. After about 0.8 miles you will see the entrance to the sanctuaries on the right.

HABITAT: 250 acres of deciduous woodland and fields.

BUTTERFLY LIST:

Abbreviations are:
A, abundant, likely to see more than 20 individuals per visit to the right spot at the right time
C, common, likely to see 4-20 individuals per visit to the right spot at the right time
U, uncommon, likely to see 0-3 individuals per visit to the right spot at the right time
R, rare, unlikely to see any individuals even at the right spots at the right time
S, stray, vagrant, not seen most years

E, early in month
M, middle of month
L, late in month

Numbers refer to months. For example, the first species, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, is uncommon to common from late April through September.

BEST TIME AND SPOTS TO VISIT: The open field adjacent to Hardscrabble Road as you enter the sanctuary and the field next to the sanctuary building (plenty of milkweed and dogbane in early to mid-summer) are the best spots. A visit in early to mid-July should be productive in terms of number of species. Look for Compton Tortoisehell in early spring and check the River Trail for Harvester, especially in July and August.

SPECIALTIES: Possibility of Compton Tortoiseshell and Harvester, and a good variety of skippers.

NOTES: Restroom available in sanctuary building. The sancutary also has an excellent store that sells nature books, birdfeeders and binoculars.