Butterflies of Yards Creek, Warren County, New Jersey

DIRECTIONS: Take I-80 to Exit 12, Route 521. Go north on Route 521 for 5 miles to Route 94. Turn left and continue for 3.8 miles to Walnut Valley Road. Turn right and take this road to its end to Yards Creek Pumped Storage Power Plant. Stop at the gate and tell the guard that you want to butterfly.

HABITAT: Both wet and dry fields at woodland edges. Areas with little blue stem; milkweeds in early summer, knapweeds in early fall.

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 second species, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, is uncommon to common from May through September.

BEST TIME AND SPOTS TO VISIT: : Mid-summer is the best time for largest number of species; early September for Leonard's Skipper (and Aphrodite) and early June for Common Roadside Skipper.

SPECIALTIES:Leonard's Skipper, Common Roadside Skipper and possibility of Aphrodite Fritillary. The dark form of the Common Wood-Nymph can be found here also.

NOTES:Restrooms and picnic facilities are on the site.