First Lepidoptera of 2024

This time of year, a Mourning Cloak is the likeliest sighting. But this White M Hairstreak/Parrhasius m-album turned out to be the first butterfly I’ve seen this year. These are unusual here: I’ve only seen one once before, and there are only 22 observations for NYC.

And is it early! In flight, the insect flashes a beautiful blue.

This is actually the second moth I’ve photographed this year, but this one is a stunner. I think it’s a Citrine Sallow/Pyreferra citromba. If so, the first observation in Brooklyn, second in the city, on iNaturalist.