Season’s Greetings lepidophiles! Autumn provides us the opportunity to reflect upon the year. It is our chance to think of the good times we had and the moments of disappointment. We remember seeing Mourning Cloaks and Lorquin’s Admirals floating through the air while on patrol. We rejoiced in seeing the smaller Lepidoptera from Green Hairstreaks, to Pygmy Blues, to Clearwing Moths, and so many more. With the Holidays ahead, it is also time to reflect upon our family and friends. Some we lost, others we reconnected with, and others we are anxiously waiting to see for the holidays.

For myself, as I reflect upon the year, I look forward to visiting family as we will gather at my brother’s house down in sunny Arizona. Not only will I be able to reconnect with brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, and all their families; but I may be able to sneak in a visit or two to some prime butterfly locations. I hope to see a few hardy Arizona Sisters or large Two Tailed Swallowtails nectaring on winter-time bloomers. Of course, there is no guarantee that I will see any Lepidoptera at all, given the weather this year has brought.

The last year, especially early summer in the PNW was blistering hot! It was tough on so many species of wildlife and the plants that they depend upon. With host plants and nectar providers alike struggling to survive, the butterflies and moths that depend on them also struggled. Yet, some species did well as it seems to have been a very good year for Viceroys and other warmer weather flyers.

We have exciting news from the world of Euphilotes that will be released a little later. To me, one of the most satisfying aspects of the discovery was the role played by WBA members from “amateur” observers, to “professional” field work and of course our resident science advisor in Mr. Jonathan P. Pelham. Indeed, in our time of reflection, we need to appreciate all that they do for us and all that we do for them. In continued diapause, Jim

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