Rick Borchelt led a field trip to Allegany County, Maryland, targeting early-flying elfins and azures. It was a great opportunity to see some new butterflies—Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia), and Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)—as well as to meet some shale barren-specialist plants. I learned why I’m confused by Summer Azures (C. neglecta): they have two broods in this part of the country, the first of them flying earlier than Spring Azure (C. ladon). And we picked up some moths along the way, including azure-lookalike Bluish Spring Moth (Lomographa semiclarata) and Double-lined Gray (Cleora sublunaria) (several at the Oak Barrel Cafe).
Fun plants included Shale-barren Ragwort (Packera antennariafolia), Shale-barren Pussytoes (Antennaria virginica), and Moss-pink (Phlox subulata).