Photo From the Field: Frosted Elfins in Cape May County

Surveying for a Rare and Elusive Butterfly

By: Larissa Smith, Wildlife Biologist and Volunteer Manager

Last week ENSP Biologist, Robert Somes and I surveyed a site in Cape May County for the New Jersey threatened butterfly the Frosted Elfin. We found a few flying around near their host plant Batpisia and were lucky to see a female ovipositing eggs.

Frosted Elfin with recently deposited egg on Baptisia plant@Rober Somes
Frosted Elfin with recently oviposited egg on Baptisia plant@ Robert Somes

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Larissa Smith is the Wildlife Biologist/Volunteer Manager for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.