Observation date: November 02, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: On the edge of the large, purple-flowered aster stand (~0.5 acres), on an open patch of sand, a White Checkered-skipper was vibrating its wings and making short rapid movements which I interpreted to be mate-attraction behavior. After a few seconds, a Gray Buckeye circled then landed a few inches away, then began moving rapidly towards the skipper, even bumping into it head-on, this activity occurred over a 2-3 minute timeframe. They had separated and flown when I left.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: December 13, 2021
Coordinator notes: moving this over to Gray Buckeye . . . Jim, us reviewers normally have to pick a species to "accept" and it's hard when there are two that share equal billing. But the checkered skipper is not identifiable to species anyway, so I'll go ahead and approve for Common Buckeye. and at some time in the future you may learn that this is "Gray Buckeye" (Junonia grisea) rather than "Common Buckeye" as the taxonomists work their magic. Just so you know.
