Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

17 May 2022.

We all know the importance of leaf litter where many arthropods in all life stages overwinter. In Spring, when temperatures are warmer, they will continue on with their development into adulthood. We are seeing a good number of butterflies, moths, ants, wasps, and flies, on the NEMT Forest floor, their lives and roles interconnected having coevolved in the same ecosystem for millions of years.

Leaf litter is most important for this beautiful Eastern Pine Elfin. "Females will lay eggs singly on flower buds. The caterpillars eat both the flower and the developing seedpods. Chrysalids hibernate in loosely formed cocoons beneath litter below the plant. Larval foods include jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and white pine (Pinus strobus)....adults emerge over a somewhat extended period in spring...with one long flight, lasting from the beginning of April through about the end of June."(source: butterfliesofmassachusetts.net)