Our 8th annual Blitz was a good one, with 45 participants submitting over 2000 butterfly observations of 44 species from Coles County. Thanks to everyone who helped us keep track of local butterfly populations by submitting observations to iNaturalist!  Top observers were colbylikethecheese, mlemmerich, kbulver, teresahdewitt, and tcanfam. Huge thanks also to Bike & Hike-Charleston for once again providing very generous prizes.

 

If you submitted an observation to iNaturalist for the Blitz but haven’t yet picked up your embroidered, commemorative 2026 Blitz patch, please stop by Bike and Hike-Charleston soon (959 18th St., open 10-6 M-F and 9-3 Sat) to pick it up at their desk.

 

The image is of all 44 species recorded this year, from the most common (upper left) to the least common (lower right).

 

We had some interesting results this year. Most participants felt that overall butterfly numbers were down compared to the past couple of years, but species diversity was still good. Although most of the top 10 submitted species were similar to previous years, pipevine swallowtail was #1 (for the first time since 2023) and spicebush swallowtail was #8, after not having any swallowtail in the top 10 last year. Also more commonly submitted this year were variegated fritillaries, American snouts, silvery checkerspots, and little yellows. Much less common this year were cabbage whites, black swallowtails, tawny-edged skippers, and Peck’s skippers, with no Peck’s being submitted at all.

 

Unusual finds included checkered white – the first time the species has been found during our Blitz – and a red-banded hairstreak. This is the 3rd year in a row for red-banded hairstreaks, which are a southern species that our Blitz results indicate may be establishing a population in our area. 

 

For complete results, visit the iNaturalist page for the Blitz: 

www.inaturalist.org/projects/charleston-butterfly-blitz-2026