btk's Favorites

Special Concern in MA. Observed in a large Aurolaria patch that emerged from a long-dormant seed bank following a 2014 fire-influenced natural community restoration. Nearest known Pyrrhia and Aureolaria populations are ~5 miles away (Aureolaria occurrences are very well-documented in the greater Quabbin area). Aureolaria is extremely fragrant, and likely attracted the Pyrrhia even at this distance. Pyrrhia's pioneering ability into this re-established Aureolaria occurrence shows well how the meta-population concept works on large-scale fire-influenced landscapes (individual small habitat patches may wax and wane in their abilities to support specialized species, but the greater landscape is always supporting adequate representations of suitable habitat for mobile species to exploit). @btk, @danjwilder, @ginny-d, @lynnharper, @wernerehl, @purplecort.