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If you're into butterflies, you might know that Texas and Florida are the top spots in the US for watching them flutter, but you may have to elbow other binocular-clad fans out of the way to get a decent view. Want a more secluded spot? Try Ohio.
“Nobody thinks of Ohio as being a wild place but it is,” said Elisabeth Rothschild, a board member of Ohio Lepidopterists who has been butterfly-watching for 15 years.
With nearly 150 species of butterflies and more than 3,000 species of moth, there’s plenty to see in Ohio – if you time your visit right.
“The later in summer it gets, the better it is. We typically see the most activity in late July and early August,” Rothschild said. “They’re out when it’s between 60 and 80 degrees, though the hotter it gets, the faster they fly.”
Different butterfly species make appearances at different points of the summer. Some can only be seen in-flight once while others are in-flight several times throughout the season.
“Overall, in terms of the total volume of butterflies, most will be out in mid to late summer,” Rothschild said.
For the casual butterfly-watcher, that’s the best time to see a wide variety, though if there’s a particular species you want to see, Rothschild and the other members of Ohio Lepidopterists can help you figure out the best time and viewing location.
The most common butterflies in Ohio are Pearl crescents and Cabbage whites, though other frequent flyers include Monarchs, Painted ladies, Eastern tiger swallowtail, Black swallowtail, Spicebush swallowtail and Meadow fritillary. Summer days in Ohio’s forests provide a fluttering rainbow of species.
Though there are opportunities for quality butterfly spotting throughout Ohio, the biodiversity of Appalachian Ohio, in the southern and southeastern portion of the state, makes it an especially nice habitat for Lepidoptera.
When asked about the best place for butterfly-spotting, Rothschild says: “Definitely Shawnee State Forest and Shawnee State Park in late May and early June.”
The state park has a lodge, cabins, and camping areas available, which makes finding nearby accommodations a cinch.