Where did the butterflies go? [View all]

I am part of a group of people who get together, once a week to look for an photograph butterflies. We are in northern N.J., mostly Sussex County because it has traditionally been a place to find many species of butterflies. We go to state or county parks that have meadows. There is no application of insecticide onto these meadows.

Because of age related problems, I only go to one or two of these gathering each summer. In past, there would be 20 of 30 butterflies to be seen on the trips. This Wednesday, the weather was hot and sunny. Perfect weather to see butterflies.

We saw five butterflies. No Cabbage Whites or Sulphers. Out of the five, one was a Monarch. two Tiger Swallowtails and two Fritillaries.

No Azure Blues, No Buckeyes.

Where did they go?