The number of butterflies continues to dwindle, so I was thrilled to spot this pretty little Variegated Fritillary butterfly (Euptoieta claudia) last Tuesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The weather has gotten cooler and it won’t be long before below freezing temperatures arrive, so I will be out chasing these last summer survivors until none remain.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I really must take my brother up on his offer to visit North Carolina in the fall. I have not seen any butterflies in several weeks.
They are getting hard to find, but there are still a few butterflies flying in my area of Northern Virginia (and a few dragonflies too).