First Painted Ladies Reach the Carolinas - Mid-July 2019

July 31, 2019

There were several first-of-season Painted Lady observations reported through the CarolinaLeps newsgroup in early to mid-July.  The first was observed on July 9 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina by Gene Schepker.  Two Painted Ladies, along with 7 American Ladies, were observed by Harry LeGrand on July 10 in North Carolina State University farm fields south of Raleigh.  Another first-of-season Painted Lady was observed on July 14 by Carolyn Seaton in Lancaster County, South Carolina.  Painted Ladies typically tend to first arrive in the Carolinas in early to mid-summer, and are often considered noteworthy when they are spotted there.

-- Royce Bitzer, July 31, 2019