Extremely rare (in Utah) form "nitra" of P. zelicaon nitra. Hilltopping, this male was initially mistaken for P. indra indra on wing. P. indra indra and P. zelicaon nitra are the only swallowtails in machaon group--indra complex that hilltop at this location. I netted the adult and was shocked that this is form "nitra" of P. zelicaon. P. machaon bairdii form "bairdii" is ruled out for four reasons. One: there are no breeding populations of P. m. bairdii found below in Davis County. Two: Size is small and consistent with the P. zelicaon and not P. machaon bairdii. Three: dark eyespot on hindwing is centered; consistent with P. zelicaon. Four: orientation and number of yellow dots on abdomen is consistent with P. zelicaon form "nitra" and not with P. m. bairdii form "bairdii".

At least 13-15 individuals. Habitat was a sizable cranberry bog in New London County approximately 3.5 acres in size, protected by a band of very dense mountain laurel swamp (not fun to bushwhack through) within wider classic eastern Connecticut deciduous forest with very thick understory. This may represent a new site for Bog Copper in CT. The substrate was uniformly cranberry-sphagnum moss; white-and-pink cranberry flowers and young green berries were everywhere. Above the bog floor grew copious rushes; patches of a Rhododendron sp. (no pics, sorry, the butterflies were a little consuming) were interspersed. Other plants associated with this acid bog habitat such as sundews, pitcher plants, or rose pogonias were conspicuously absent.

The coppers were concentrated in a relatively small area within and identical to the wider bog. We observed both males and females (contrary to what is displayed in photos, there were more males; our photographic bias was to the lovely golden females.) There was little interaction between individuals. We were overjoyed to see so many (13-15), both to see this threatened species thriving at this isolated site and because the conditions (75 degrees, extremely humid, wet post-drizzle, overcast) weren’t classic for butterflies.

This sighting represents the first record of Bog Copper for Connecticut on iNaturalist. If you would like to contact me about these threatened butterflies, please email me at willschenck22@gmail.com.