Viola's Wood Satyr - Megisto cymela -

Oh, no, not lumped again. Heading back down again in late May. Maybe I can get some better shots.

but then it depends on who you're talking to and which author. Anyway, I just wanted to clean it up, since some viola where posted under M. cymela, some under M. viola, and some of the ones posted as "viola" were clearly not. I just went with the current 'Butterflies of America' listing, which seems to be the prevalent treatment anyway, and which (pending more evidence to the contrary) I tend to agree with. Seems to me that they blend into each other just at the north end of Florida, but with some individuals looking at least a little like "viola" all the way to Texas, Virginia, and Minnesota.

Somebody may come along with some better and more definitive evidence and pull them apart again.

We don't have many photos of "good" viola on BugGuide, and more will certainly be good to have.

Both Rick Cech and Harry Zirlin are on board with the lumped approach, even though they (the butterflies, not Rick and Harry) look somewhat different. Maybe just a geologic relict population.
I still don't understand about the northestern ones with 2 close broods. It is felt that the second one cannot be from the first brood - way too soon to be possible. But lots of skippers, like Peck's and Sachem have very short gaps betwen broods here. Maybe two populations from different places (and timing) that moved to here. Like one from the south and one from the west. We do get some things that come up through the center of the country then spread eastward to possibly meet up with others from up the coast. This is probably true of Common Checkered Skipper.

Heading in to the Big Apple tonight for the meeting of the NYC Butterfly Club at Rick Cech's apartment. Will ask him for his (and NABAs?) latest on this.
Now I'm thinking that these may all be gone by the time I get to Gainesville. I do not arrive until May 20th.