2023, unlike the previous year, was marked by rather rainy and windy weather. The temperatures around New Years' Day were unusually warm, with a record high of 16°C during New Years' Eve. The remainder of the winter saw some snow and some cooler temperatures that still were above average for my region.
March and April were particularly rainy – so rainy that groundwater got pushed to the surface between Zone II and III – and cool, which caused most spring plants to not bloom until the end of April. Right at the beginning of May up until mid-June, my area experienced yet another drought, causing many butterflies prominent in April to suddenly disappear. The rest of June and most of July were a mix of rain and sunny but windy days.
August was the first month to finally see some relatively stable summer weather that lasted until the first days of October.
As a result, this year's species composition varied quite significantly. The most obvious difference was a decrease of individuals among most butterflies, most notably Aglais io, Aglais urticae, Aphantopus hyperantus, Araschnia levana, Pieris brassicae, Pieris napi and Vanessa atalanta. On the other hand several other species saw an increase in individuals, namely Anthocharis cardamines, Coenonympha arcania, Melanargia galathea, Ochlodes sylvanus, Polyommatus bellargus, Polyommatus coridon, Thymelicus lineola and Thymelicus sylvestris.
Overall 36 species were observed this year. Of 3 species, either imago and caterpillar or adult and eggs were present.
By Season
This list is sorted by meteorological seasons and first observation. Caterpillars and eggs are listed separately.
Spring
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
| SPECIES | MONTH |
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Aglais io | April, August, September |
| | October |
| Aglais urticae | April, June |
| Anthocharis cardamines | April, May, June |
| Nymphalis polychloros | April |
| Gonepteryx rhamni | April |
| Erynnis tages | April, May |
| Pieris napi | April, May, June, August, |
| | September |
|------------------------------+------------------------------|
| Polyommatus bellargus | May, July, August, |
| | September, October |
| Pieris rapae | May, June, August, |
| | September, October |
| Cupido minimus | May, June, August |
| Polyommatus icarus | May, June, August, |
| | September, October |
| Aricia agestis | May, June, July, August |
| Coenonymphia pamphilus | May, June, July, August |
| Araschnia levana | May |
| Vanessa atalanta | May, July, August, |
| | September, October |
| Coenonymphia arcania | May, June, July, August |
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
Summer
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
| SPECIES | MONTH |
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Satyrium pruni | June |
| Lasiommata megera | June |
| Plebejus argus | June |
| Maniola jurtina | June, July, August |
| Pyrgus malvae | June |
| Thymelicus sylvestris | June, July |
| Polygonia c-album | June, August, September |
| Issoria lathonia | June, August, September |
| Pieris brassicae | June, July, August, |
| | September, October |
| Melanargia galethea | June, July |
|------------------------------+------------------------------|
| Colias sp. | July, September |
| Melitaea athalia | July |
| Thymelicus lineola | July |
| Ochlodes sylvanus | July |
| Polyommatus coridon | July, August |
| Argynnis paphia | July, August |
| Aphantopus hyperantus | July |
| Ochlodes sylvanus | July |
| Thecla betulae | July |
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
Caterpillars
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Pieris rapae | July |
| Pieris brassicae | July, August |
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
Eggs
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Thecla betulae | March |
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
By Location
This year's weather caused a slight shift among my additional loctions that are being visited irregularly. Despite visiting the Meisel forest once like last year, I was unable to spot a single butterfly and only observed a lonely dragonfly fighting against strong winds. Instead I included my village's cemetery, which attracted a very small and rather isolated population of Pieris napi due to one grave being covered in masses of lavender. The grave, ironically, is that of "Odrich", whose son now takes care of his pond (Zone III).
Additionally, one family from my village turned their front yard into a small meadow dominated by field scabiosa, making it the only spot in the middle of my village attracting Thymelicus sylvestris.
This table covers the locations in which I discovered each species. Adults, caterpillars and eggs are listed separately.
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Zone II - David's Fields | Thecla betulae |
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
-----------------
+ The adults of both Colias hyale and Colias alfacariensis are identical in regards to appearance, genitals and biotope, making them indistinguishable when no caterpillars can be discovered nearby.