Of Grave Concern

This is the American White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis) - a large and impressive butterfly distinct from the European White Admiral (Limenitis camilla). I photographed it on a Japanese tree lilac in our front yard.

The tree lilacs are a rich source of nectar should be bouncing with butterflies and humming with bees - instead, just the one butterfly today (so far) and precious few bees. Butterflies noticeably get fewer and fewer each year, and this year is the worst since we've lived here. It's dramatic.

Of course, by planting tree lilacs, a non-native species, we are not helping. Ironically, the birch trees that we had planted originally succumbed to some kind of insect infestation and the tree lilacs were a hasty replacement. I would choose something different today, lovely as the lilacs are. Either way, I suspect the main problem is the widespread application of insecticides. I also know that in the weeks ahead I'll be complaining about deer flies, Japanese beetles and Asiatic ladybirds.

Perhaps I'll go outside again and see if the admiral is back - always assuming one of the birds hasn't eaten it of course.

NW Wisconsin