Great pictures Roly! Some beauties you have there. Please don't forget to check and post in the BugFiles on those that don't have too much photos. That way they are easier to find than hunting back in our posts. The buckeye and that Atala are sp vivid!
Cross posted mj...nice shot!
This message was edited Aug 8, 2010 11:55 AM
DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 79
Gulf Frit same plant...........it's hot, humid, and I worked in the garden all morning. I get to see them, but by the time I take a break to photograph, I'm tired........
Wonderful pics everyone! Love the Peacock and the Longwing Roly!!!
We had our 41st species arrive today...an American Lady...Yay!
Wow...some real pretty ones Roly...love the White Peacock & the Atala!
Nice shots mj & Susan!
Quote from TexasPuddyPrint :
Is that a Dina Yellow? Not sure what you meant by Denna.
It is a Dina Yellow. I just didn't know the spelling. I'm new to butterfly gardening. Only been at if for a little over a month so I'm still getting all of the names learned.
Thanks everyone for your nice comments. I'll definetely be taking my camera with me next Sunday and adding them to the BugFiles as well.
Finally action on my milkweed. Not Monarchs yet but, the Queens are fun to watch also.. I brought in about 10 first or second instar cats. I haven't checked all the MW it is just too hot to care!
Spotted a Frit as I back out headed somewhere today without a camera. I think it was a Varigated Frit, but could have been another. I just know it wasn't a GF, but I did release one today. I found a chrysalis on a limb I was cutting back a couple days ago. Put it in with my others in waiting and it emerged this am.
This message was edited Aug 8, 2010 3:07 PM
How nice to see so many variety y'all have. Here is a BST, please say I'm correct in calling this one a BST. lol.
mjs...isn't that a Palamedes Swallowtail? I have photos of one I saw in Georgia - they are awesome!!!
Lily - it's a Pipevine Swallowtail. Those are the most abundant swallowtails out here - we get those by the hundreds most all year long. Sure wish we'd get some Tigers or Zebra Swallowtails though.
~ Cat
Saw this wasp trying to stuff a caterpillar into it's mud nest. I ticked it off trying to get photos - it turned around and came out of the hole and flew off with the caterpillar still in its clutches.
Oh my oh my! I've Pipevine Swallowtail in the garden. Good grief! That wasp is menacing looking one! I saw a wasp today and man the thing was twice an average wasp that I usually see. Thanks ~Cat for the possitive I.D. on the Pipevine Swallowtail.
Cat, you are right...got my gold bars mixed up.......we get a lot of both here. We have a large lemon tree and their are citrus groves within a mile of us which is host for the Giant Swallowtail and large stands of Bay Tree's which which are host to the Palamades. We also have a large population of Eastern Tiger swallowtail's due to the abundance of Wild Cherry and Magnolia's.
Here's a Giant I raised..........
I have never seen a Giant in person around here. Are they larger than the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail too mj?
Lily, Yes they are, the caterpillar looks like bird poop.
Our climate isn't ideal for citrus growing around here. Though, I've a couple in containers. Too few to attract any from a distance land I supposed. Happy gardening and butterflying. See you tomorrow.
Wonderful pictures everyone. Hopefully I can contribute before long. All I have right now was a giant wheelbug that was lurking around. Creepy looking, I haven't had too many GFs and found three around my vines.
I get GSTs on my citrus trees all the time. Citrus used to be a big crop down here but most of the orange and grapefruit groves have been bull dozed down to make room for new subdivisions and businesses. I still reminesce abou the times I would drive down the road with my windows open just to smell the heavenly aroma of citrus blossoms in the air.
Dratted cherry and sweet bay trees don't grow well out here. I do have a couple of pawpaws saplings I am carefully tending to. Do hope they make it.
Oh well, at least I can look forward to seeing GSTs in my yard - there are times they are quite abundant at the ranch - they use a native bush/tree - colima - prickly lime ash. Vicious thorns on that bush!!! Once in a while I'll see an Ornythion Swallowtail and on rare ocassions a Broad-Banded Swallowtail. Those are always special!!!
Here's a comparision photo of a Giant Swallowtail and an Ornythion Swallowtail - hard to distinguish when they're flying around!
~ Cat
Great comparison picture Cat. You need to post that in Bugfiles under both of the butterflies.
Happy Birthday jmorth!!
Hope you see lots of flutterbyes today!! Then start a new thread on your birthday!!!
^_^ Jack, happy birthday to you--and looking forward to new posts. ~Cat, awsome pic. of the two OST and GST! Wow such similarities in their appearances. Thanks for sharing them.
After my Black Star's mishap. I successfully released two BSTs. Two more to go. Thank all for your help to enhence my butterfly gardening a more enjoyable experience.
Hey, Happy Birthday Jack!!!
Painted Lady
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Meadow Fritillary
Pearl Crescent
And finally, the most gruesome butterfly photo I've ever taken. Buckeyes puddling on a dead frog. :( Circle of life, eh?
What bad timing the frog had to be on the truck path that rarely gets used.
Hah, many a gruesome pics. that we don't often talk about with OUR beautiful butterflies in our eco-system. I captured a pix of the BST puddling on something that wasn't photogenic this morning so I'll skip that pix. They're just trying to get mineral salts anyway they can?
Is this also a Pearl Crescent here too?
No wonder I can't draw the buckeyes to my yard.....no dead frogs! LOL!
ewwww.....at that last photo Mrs Ed!! lol
I saw a EST pudding on dog poop a couple weeks ago...yuck!
Found 2 more monarch eggs which gives me 5. I think that is enough this round. I have my first Monarch cat hatched now!
I will start a new thread for us...be right back!
Heeere we go!! http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1121944/
This message was edited Aug 9, 2010 2:57 PM