I have been meticulous in the removal of burlap and staples from all trees that we set them on, and so I required two full days to take everything down. If you are up at Blue Hills and notice a band that I missed, please let me know. Just like yesterday, I found more Satyrium pupae among the vast amounts of Gypsy Moth and other caterpillars. I found 2 on one tree and a third on a different tree. Both were relatively young trees and ones that I had not yet collected from. Interestingly, the pair that I found on one tree were tucked under the upper margin of the burlap skirt where I would not have seen them during a normal check. It’s totally possible I could have missed some pupae last year because of this or even because the descending prepupae tucked themselves under the bark of the white oaks. I always kept this in mind when checking, but it is impossible to see under every scrap of bark.
![Satyrium ?favonius ontario_3](https://oakhairstreak.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/satyrium-favonius-ontario_31.jpg?w=618&h=463)
A Satyrium pupa under the first burlap band I checked today. This one was on a relatively young tree.
![Satyrium ?favonius ontario twins_6](https://oakhairstreak.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/satyrium-favonius-ontario-twins_6.jpg?w=616&h=462)
Note the different coloration and size of these two pupae. One may have pupated more recently or it may be a different species.
Despite the butterfly that emerged in our lab, I think it is too early to look for adults since the caterpillars are still pupating and nectaring sources have not yet begun to bloom. The Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is up but without flowers yet, and the milkweed has a ways to go. I will return in a few days to see how things are progressing.
![Achillea millefolium_1](https://oakhairstreak.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/achillea-millefolium_1.jpg?w=632&h=474)
Yarrow (Achillea millifolium) nearly in bloom.
Here is a tally of caterpillars species I saw while removing the burlap over the past two days on Red and White oaks. Red Oak: Dasychira obliquata (5), Glaea sp (2), Hypoprepia sp. (2), Lithophane sp. (2), Lymantria dispar (51), Malacosoma americana (3), Malacosoma disstria (10), Malacosoma cocoons (1), Orthosia hibisci (1), Orthosia rubescens (3), Phoberia atomaris (7), Satyrium ?calanus (1). White Oak: Catocala ilia (1), Catocala sp. (1), Dasychira obliquata (8), Glaea sp (5), Hypoprepia sp. (8), Lithophane sp. (1), Lymantria dispar (60), Malacosoma americana (18), Malacosoma disstria (17), Malacosoma cocoons (10), Orthosia hibisci (3), Orthosia rubescens (13), Phigalia titea (1), Phoberia atomaris (18), Satyrium ?ontario favonius (4).