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Post by bluemoth on Jan 26, 2011 14:58:42 GMT -8
There has been a warm spell here in central California - 70s. I saw a Buckeye Butterfly in a park today. It is not fresh so can only guess it was over wintering near by and came out because of the warm weather. I thought Buckeyes were not supposed to over winter here - Santa Cruz County. Any one have any thoughts on this?
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Post by papilio28570 on Feb 5, 2011 21:59:48 GMT -8
They don't overwinter as adults. The specimen you observed hasn't been frozen yet by being sheltered in a frost free zone. Likely in a south facing thicket with a good wind break on the north. Having left the shelter where it remained in a cold induced torpor, it is unlikely to find as good a place to roost and will likely be killed off by the next freeze.
The same thing happens with Phoebis sennae here in NC. During a mild winter, some specimens can be seen on the wing in early spring.
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