DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 66

We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1012049/

Well, that thread was getting long and I want to show off new pictures - like my Sleepy Orange here. Doesn't he just look so soft and velvety like you want to pet him?

Marna, that was a great article. My caterpillars are superstars now!

Ok, so I have to talk about my hummingbird. I know I have two because Mom and I both saw them at the same time. One seems to live in the west side oak tree and the other tends toward the east side oak tree. The one I usually see is the west side with the red throat. Today, I went to get the mail and when I turned around I saw a Monarch flying around and then the hummingbird appeared! It chased the Monarch a bit and stopped to nectar on my purple cat's whiskers http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2085/ This is the first time I've seen it on something other than porterweed. I watched it through my car window as I slowly creeped forward.

Then, it seemed to call a truce with the Monarch. It flew across the entrance of my house over to the porterweed and left the other plants to the Monarch. By this point I had creeped up near my car and was pretending to be a statue. I stood there for about 3-4 minutes just watching it. It even stopped a couple times to perch on the porterweed. It looked like maybe it got an insect out of some of the flowers because I saw something white on the end of its beak. Anyway, I noticed this hummingbird didn't have the red patch like the other and I think it was a little bigger, too. Does that mean it's a female? I can't remember.

So the weird part is when I finally had to go in the house. I took a slow step forward and the hummingbird came at me in three little spurts. I stopped, and it stopped. I moved again, and again it darted toward me in short little spurts of flight. We went through the routine one more time before I moved forward like a normal human and then it kind of circled and flew back to the east side tree. Oh, and the first time it tweeted while it flew at me! The one with the red takes one glimpse at me and goes flying off so I was surprised to see this one almost challenge me. I don't know much about hummingbird behavior so you'll have to enlighten me. And are they known to chase each other, because they've been doing that lately?

In other news, my Tersa Sphix moths are silking everything together to make a little nest. I have to say, I am quite impressed with their silkwork. No simple sling for these guys!

Who says spiders are the only one who can build webs?

My mystery over the eggs on my rue plant has deepened...I found three baby Giant ST cats on the Hercules' Club today. However, I also checked the parsley I sat out front (so it would get hit by the sprinklers until I got a chance to plant it) and it has a couple of eggs on it. So we know I have both Black ST and Giant ST in the neighborhood. Guess I'll just keep waiting until they hatch.

I can't remember if I mentioned this but in addition to the rue being egged, my senna also got egged. I'm pretty sure I mentioned getting egged by a sulphur, but I wanted to point out that it chose my native senna over my non-native cassia. The Sleepy Orange also prefers it. Yea for native plants! I found one small cat amongst all the eggs and he's super small but I "think" he's a Cloudless Sulphur. But watch him grow up and prove me wrong.

Finally, my Dorantes is looking a lot darker so maybe he'll come out tomorrow? I'll keep you posted. Here's what he looks like now...


Melanie

Edited to add that it's my Senna ligustrina the Sleepy Orange is eating and that got all the eggs. I think I previously referred to it as Senna alata. I think we have every senna and cassia known to man at the museum so I got a little confused. And by the way, they've been using the Senna obtusifolia at the museum. It's coming up everywhere and the Sleepy Oranges are taking advantage of it!


This message was edited Jul 17, 2009 6:45 PM

Ok, talking about sulphurs made me realize I hadn't updated everyone on my Dainty Sulphurs in a while. The big one made his sling while I was at work today. I think it's adorable how these tiny cats make tiny slings. He's up in the lid of my tupperware. This can be a problem when I have to take the lid on and off, but he's so freaking small he's fine.

Notice the stripe down his back and if you look about halfway down his body you can see where the sling is attached.

Now, about the stripe. I read that the Dainty Sulphurs have varying degrees of this purple-reddish stripe. Apparently, it's because they're trying to match the stems of their host plants. And as much as I've seen Spanish Needles, I never realized that until I read it.

Check it out - see where the two leaves meet the stem it takes on that purplish hue? The cats blend right in. Except for the one on the left who's gorging himself, LOL! There's your interesting caterpillar fact of the day!

Melanie

Thank you for the fact of the day Melanie! Love your pictures, make sure to post that Tersa cocoon and the Dorantes on Bugfiles. I haven't posted much out there lately, I need to go back on some of my pics.

Everyone....don't miss the article that Melanie mentioned by Mrs_Ed.. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2358

Where is everyone? Out gardening, I guess! Too hot to do much here. I weeded one of the main flower beds on the side of the house. It took me forever because it's so hot I feel like I'm moving in slow motion. For those who have never experienced the joy of a subtropical summer, go walk into a steam room. That's what it feels like. We also had a weird thunderstorm this morning around 8:45 so instead of just getting dirty I got muddy, too. We need the rain though so I can't complain.

After running a few errands once the rain moved through, I went to my favorite nursery. I wanted to get a few plants for the front of the street - some native porterweed, a salvia greggii, some pentas. The owner managed to snag some rue, dill, fennel, and parsley. I watched the eggs being laid on it and grabbed a couple rue for myself. Also got some Veronica "Sunny Border Blue" (I LOVE this plant). My rue came with a bonus egg!

Here's one of the culprits having a snack in between ovipositing sessions. Eastern Black Swallowtail!

I saw the hummers again today and the red-throated one was chasing the other one. Is that some kind of hummingbird foreplay? The one with the red is far more skittish around me but the other one doesn't let me get too close either. I can't tell you how many times I've scared them off today. I just went out to pick some passion vine and unintentionally did it again. They just chill in the oak tree until I'm gone. I actually sat and watched the red-throated one sit in the tree for a couple of minutes. They're so small!

Oh, I also had an army of woodpeckers in my backyard this morning. I've seen one around but today there were at least three. Two had red heads and the other one didn't. I'm not much of a bird person but with the Red-Shouldered Hawk and the Sandhill Cranes I'm learning to appreciate them. And they eat bugs, too! I keep trying to figure out how I can domesticate a crane to be my personal bug exterminator...

Here's a cool Gray Hairstreak. After this picture he settled on the jatropha where he stayed for hours. Literally! I felt bad when I finally had to weed around him. He was mostly sitting under the blooms (shade, I guess?) but he would come topside and eat every so often. I've never seen a Hairstreak that still for that long.

I don't know if this is a Dorantes or Long-Tailed. I don't remember seeing any bluish-green on it. There were some Long-Taileds around later in the day. Either way, the skippers were out in force!

Be jealous of my Polydamas! You Texans get lots of cool butterflies so I have to show off the few I get when I have a chance. I actually had two of these guys flying around which is good since I haven't released any here this year (give it a few more days). it's nice to know the natural population has found my house. Let's hope they don't find my pipevine until it has a few more leaves on it!

By the way, this is right in front of my house - you can see my welcome mat in the upper corner. Even if you live in the suburbs or the city you can still attract lots of butterflies. A guy at the museum asked me last week if all the butterflies there were native. I told him yes, and that I had seen every one of them in my garden before. Got to let everyone know they can do it, too!

The Giant Swallowtail was actually the first butterfly I saw at my house today. I was sitting under my cherry tree pulling up weeds and looking for more Red-Spotted Purple cats (no luck there). I didn't want to jump up and scare it so I tried to get its picture but it didn't turn out well. Luckily, it came back later and proceeded to hit nearly every flower in front of my house. It seemed to prefer the pentas. Oh, and the Polydamas actually got off the porterweed long enough to have some anise hyssop! The Giant ST also hit the hyssop, Stoke's Aster, porterweed, and sage. My Tampa Vervain is starting to come back so that should help as well. Like I don't have enough butterflies, right?

Oh, I found a Black ST cat on my parsley plant today. It's my original plant, not the new ones I just bought. So that was exciting.

Here's an extreme close-up of one of the Duskywing army. They will not get off the anise hyssop. It is their territory and they will fly at anything that tries to take it away. Like the Monarch that was cruising around earlier. He had to settle for some porterweed.

I was briefly gifted with a visit from the Spicebush ST. They sure don't stay in one place for very long! But they love my plumbagos. Ok, they love the neighbors' plumbagos, too. But I don't spray mine with chemicals or anything. Only nice, organic food for my butterfly friends.

Meanwhile, inside the house the Tersa moth is still chilling. I think they do a gut purge, too. At least, from the evidence I'm going to assume they do. I pried open his nest so I could watch him but made sure his bottom half is still attached to the leaves so he feels secure and can molt properly.

And my Sleepy Orange couldn't wait five more minutes to make his chrysalis. So when I got in he was about halfway done.

Another Poly picture!

Ok, I'll stop rubbing it in now. But I usually don't get good shots of these guys because they move so fast. I love the orange racing stripe down the side. Oh, and how Mom still has to think hard about whether she saw a Polydamas or a Palamedes. She tries to say them both at the same time; she's so cute when she's befuddled.

Melanie

I have been lurking and reading and getting more and more interested in butterflies. Know almost nothing about promoting BFs in my flower garden but have seen some beautiful ones that I don't know what they are. One huge BF was bright yellow with black - stripes, I guess would be the best way to describe it. Really intense yellow was predominant color. Have not been able to find a photo of it anywhere.

Took the attached photo today. Is this a Monarch ??? Have had several of these for about 10 days on my zinnias and daisies.

DNP

DNP, welcome to the obsession! We have tons of Texas folks that can help you out. Your picture is of a Gulf Fritillary. They're common, they eat passion vine, and we love them! As for your yellow butterfly with black stripes, have you looked at the Tiger Swallowtail http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/4/ ? That's the first thing that comes to mind.

Melanie

Melanie,
Thanks for the ID on the Gulf Fritillary. The yellow/back BF isn't the Tiger Swallowtail. I have looked at BF photos so long today, I have cramps in my "mouse hand." LOL. Still haven't seen anything that resembles it. The yellow/black BF never did land on anything, so couldn't get a photo. Each time it was flitting around my back yard, which doesn't have anything growing or blooming now except dwarf Mexican Petunia but we do have 40 acres of all kinds of untamed vines and trees across the street.

Thanks,
DNP

Melanie....You go ahead and rub it in...we enjoy seeing the pics from anyone's butterflies!
DNP We are almost neighbors! Glad you are getting interested in the obsession of watching and gardening for butterflies. Stick around and we will have you raising them too!
The B/Yell butterfly you saw, was it large like the one that Melanie directed you to? If not was it's wings striped all over or just on the edges? I am going to attach a link that you can use to ID it maybe. Look under Sulphurs if it was small and Swallowtails if it was large.

http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/

This message was edited Jul 18, 2009 6:55 PM

Sheila,
After looking at all of those on the link you sent, DH and I are pretty certain it was Giant Swallowtail or Eastern Tiger Swallowtail . I remember it as the intense yellow being the more predominant color than the black but patterned more like Giant Swallowtail. I saw more yellow than black. (Not sure my description made any sense.) It was the largest BF I've ever seen.

Yes, I think this is something I could really get interested in. Oh, boy, just what I need, one more garden hobby. The cutting table in what used to be my quilting room is now covered with my seed collection cups. What a sight !

My Tersa Sphinx moth made it's pupa. The other one looks like it will do so at any moment. It kind of reminds me of wood paneling. You would think it would be hard but it was soft to the touch this morning. And of course, it twitched and I squealed like the girl I am. I wonder if it will harden up in a while?

I got to release two Great Southern Whites today at the museum. I can't recall having them before so I wanted to get a picture. My camera is acting kind of odd today; think I might need a new battery. So I missed getting a pic of the first one but when the second one was ready my camera cooperated for a minute. I need to remember to get a picture of the chrysalis. It looks like white bird poo.

Melanie

Hey DNP...
That is indeed one of the milkweed family. Could be antelope horn, not sure. The one people usually have in their gardens around here is the Asclepias 'curassavica' commonly called Mexican Milkweed in Texas. It is an annual but is winter hardy for us in the DFW area. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/604/
Others that do well here is Swamp Milkweed and Tuberosa. But there are a whole lot of others but the don't sell them as much as we would like in the nurseries. Not sure in your area who might have them. Now is the time to get them going though...Monarchs will be back this way in about two or three months. I will pot up a couple of mine I started from seed this year and also give you some extra seed if you want to come up this way. If you are interested dmail me.

BTW...don't try to dig the wild ones, they don't transplant well. You might snag some seeds and try them near your house.
Here is two links DonnaB posted with a lists for butterfly host plants.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=3701847

This message was edited Jul 19, 2009 8:36 PM

Marna I just read your article. It is wonderful.

Hi all you butterfly addicts. Really enjoyed going through and peeping at those butterflies.
Here are a few of mine.
Elaine

ETS

Nice shot of the Am. Lady Elaine....what is the plant it is nectaring on?
LOL...just had a funny thought....it sounds kind of funny saying "male Am. Lady".

OOOh..pretty TST too!

This message was edited Jul 19, 2009 9:02 PM

Last one for now.. yawn.

Thanks, think it was on the Anise Hyssop. It also liked my Rosecreek Abelia.

New Queen, eclosed today...off to see the world. I feel bad releasing butterflies into an area scorched by such bad drought. But it can stick around here. I have some milkweeds I've kept in good condition. Much less blooms in the yard than normal for July, however.

Hello Linda,

What a beauty!!!!! I have yet to see one of those here...thanks for posting the pic! :)

I'm not an addict. I can stop anytime I want! (Says the lady raising eleven species of caterpillars). : )

Melanie

I'm no addict, I'm raising 8 different ones right now, 120 babies all together

It's a good addiction.. lol

Yes I love it, and they stay in the yard and flit all day

I could think of a lot worse addictions!

Just when I had all my Polydamas babies in a chrysalis, I saw three clusters of eggs on my pipevine today. I knew with them flying around lately it was gonna happen, but I was hoping they would wait until I had a few more leaves.

I checked my rue since you always miss a few eggs, and sure enough I had five or six baby cats on it.

My Dainty Sulphurs are getting big; the second one went into its chrysalis today. I noticed something new that I didn't see on the first batch I raised. It's really hard to see, but they have two orangish "horns" on their head. In the picture, the left side of the two cats are their heads. By the way, these cats poo an awful lot for being so dainty. I know I've got like eleven of them, but still!