I am going to have to start getting better at identifying the skippers this year. I see that one (I think) all the time and several others....but don't know the names.
Daily Butterfly Pictures Page 83
I think it is the Fiery Skipper see second picture of link
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/images?l=2066
Me too Sheila. I have several different kinds on the zinnia, but don't know what they are.
Sure looks like that one Josephine, thanks!
Roly - sorry for not getting back to you but yes, the 9th NABA Bi-ennial meeting was Thursday with butterfly trips Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
There was no 'butterfly festival' - the Chamber of Commerce of Mission turned over the trips to NABA. The city had a family day at the state park about a mile down the road from NABA/NBC.
Our meeting place was at the Cimarron Club - we had vendors, the seminars, guest speakers and our social hour and dinners held there.
The meeting was on Thursday and the seminars/trips were held Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I think the final total of butterflies sighted throughout the three days was 131 species. Best bugs were: Aquamarine Hairstreak, Band-Celled Sister, Banded Peacock, Blomfild's Beauty, Blue Metalmark, Boisduval's Yellow, Curve-Winged Metalmark, Erichson's White Skipper, Evan's Skipper, Four-spotted Sailor, Glazed Pellicia, Green-backed Ruby-eyed Skipper, Guava Skipper, Obscure Skipper, Red Rim, Red-Bordered Pixie, Spot-Celled Sister, Violet-Banded Skipper, Xami Hairstreak and I'm sure I missed a few others...but it's hard to pick which are the specialties when life lists ranged from 3 to 85 new butterflies for some folks :o)
Anyone interested in what these uncommon and rare butterflies look like can browse through our NABA South Texas Chapter Website photo gallery. http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabast/photoschecklist.html
The party's over now but there is another after meeting trip scheduled tomorrow to Port Aransas.
~ Cat
Here's a photo of about 90 of the folks that showed up. It was a bit like herding cats - others had already taken off before we could get the photo :o)
This message was edited Oct 31, 2010 7:39 PM
Did you meet anyone from the Miami Blue NABA Chapter?? I know of a couple of people that were attending. Make sure to post pictures of the butterflies here for us to enjoy.
Helloooo everyone checkin in again I cant believe that its almost the end of the season again:(
Still have a few things going on here but definitely slowing down. I have been playing with a new camera and have a few pics to share.
Tpp. That is a very cool looking butterfly, very unique.
Glad to see that we had a very good season all around, there were many great pics and like I have said before I think this is the best forum.
Posted in last forum Oops.
Nice closeup.
Peacock. Very happy that they began to show up though be it late in the season.
This guy looks angry.
Tiger paid me a visit today.
I think this is a female orange barred sulfur.
Nice collection, Viceroy. When will you start seeing butterflies again? (new season)
Cat..."was a bit like herding cats " ....I can imagine it was difficult to get that many people to pose for pictures. LOL!
Great pictures Viceroy!
Lovely news from TX! I'm so glad to see that Peacock b.fly out of FL, and all the other great photos.
I need some help folks, and don't know who else to ask. : - (
My greenhouse has been invaded by caterpillars. (I've been down with the flu, and believe me, it was harsh.) They've eaten my dichondra, are well entrenched in my 4 O'clocks now, and they are really enjoying DH's strawberries. I went out and took photos and found one eating one of my guppy plants.
My Eldest Brother tells me that they are good cats, and I'd like to learn more about them but he couldn't tell me more. He did say not to worry about the dichondra, it'll come back, and not to worry about the 4 O'Clocks or Guppy plants, they'll reseed. He said it would be worth the loss of the strawberries for the show I'm going to have next spring. : - )
(Is my Dad playing with me again? It'd be just like him.)
What is a good source for learning about the life cycle of the b.flys? We decided to pretty much let them do what nature intended in there. How long I have to wait before I bring the rest of my plants back into the gh, without worrying they will be devoured? They don't seem to like the mint or the banana. Don't seem fond of the Bougainvillea or the bamboo, or the philodendrons. They haven't reached the other plants yet.
Am sending one photo of the type of Caterpillar, have a lot more, some are darker than this one, but this one seems to be in the majority.
I also know I'm asking for a lot here. Thanks to all for indulging me. : - )
Thank you even more for sharing the beautiful butterflies you have living in your part of the world. It really makes my day! : - )
WIB,
SW
SingingWolf:
This is an armyworm, either Yellowstriped Armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli) or Western Striped armyworm (S. praefica). I don't think you'll get a great "show" from them at all. The adult is a moth that, while intricately patterned, is only about an inch and a half wide and rather drab in appearance.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Had two firsts in my garden this month, a American Lady and even more fun a Mourning Cloak..sorry pic is not that good. I was so excited I dropped the phone and hung up on my girl friend to take the pics LOL
Sheila, hope I see a Buckeye, that would be nice. What species of butterfly is this pic? A Lady GA GA?
Thanks lepfarmer. I guess I'll be out on my hands and knees tomorrow picking off as many as I can. They most closely resemble the Western Striped Army Worm (Boo hooing). The chickens will appreciate the effort, and maybe my plants will come back. : - (
I guess I'm also going to rethink having my small patch of dichondra if I have to cope with this year after year. Sigh.
I should have known better than to trust EB#1. Wait, that's why I asked! : - )
Well, at least it'll be warm in the gh.
WIB,
SW
Roly - there were several folks from the Miami chapter there - can't remember their names as we had numerous trips with different folks each day. Contact your friends there and ask - and then tell them to post photos of the great butterflies they saw here!!!
~ Cat
Too funny Peg!!! I wish I could have trick or treated at your house to see that in person! You could have smiled at least!
Jules....so sorry you are fighting those buggers! I have had a few but never brought one in that I know of. Maybe you could turn your chickens loose in the gh!
Very cute Peg, Frank and I were having fun too. I love the Mourning Cloak hasn't visited me yet.
Mrs.Ed it is hard to say really last year about this time with the cold it was really bad.But with a mild winter the season can go right thru slowing down for many of the ST.Most of the small guys are around almost all year long.
Cute Josephine! Funny how folks that are married a long time get to looking alike! LOL!
I spotted a Red Admiral on the ground basking yesterday..
And the Mist flower is still a big hit with the Queens, Monarchs, and others like the American Lady. But this one on the native asters made a nice shot.
Wow, first time I've ever spotted the Pink-haired Lady Gaga bf! ROTFL!!
And ,yes, that couple does look strikingly alike for some reason, don't they? :-)
I am envious of all those gorgeous bf there in TX but we did have a successful bf season here this year so I won't complain. They were abundant. Even still seeing a few stragglers around.
Very enjoyable thread!
I dressed up for our annual Halloween Costume Contest at work too. Wasn't nearly as 'cute' as you guys ..... Will find out within the week who won the contest. I was a 'lousy horse-thief'.......you know.... they use to hang horse thieves. Complete with rope, peeling skin and the whole bit. lol
I MISS my BF's. Still have some yellow sulphers and skippers, but haven't seen much of anyone else.
...am still waiting for the photo of the dog with matching brows and mustache :o)
LOL!!!
Well in Frostweeds case it would be a cat!
Its been a bumper year for BF's in my garden. The Pipevine are still laying eggs, not sure if I should take the chrysalis in for storage or just let them be. Ever since I adopted two batches from Josephine I have a steady sighting of them, and laying of eggs. I do attribute the visits to planting more native host and nectar plants over the years. I now build butterfly gardens for local clients and share my plants with them.
I attribute most of my knowledge to the people of Dave's Garden for the great information that is posted and for the ID's over the years, especially Sheila, Frostweed (Josephine) and Texas Pudding Print and Dale (Lepfarmer).
Sheila my W. Texas Mist Flower is also a magnet, I can't do without it. Loads of Queens and still Monarchs are using it. I have it planted all over the yard. The Butterfly Brew is what drew in the American Lady and Mourning cloak.
Thanks to you all!
Yes, this is a very special thread for sharing and learning about butterflies and the plants they need.
It all leads to much enjoyment for us and for them too, which is a very good thing. How lucky can we get?
Question: Do you folks in Texas have bfs all winter long?
I saw a sulphur fly by today! But every time I check my asters (about the only thing blooming), there's nothing there. :(
I've seen a few of those lately here in TN too, Mrs Ed. My purple coneflower had a very late rebloom and I also see a few bfs around some of the flowers on the herbs and the tagetes I left in a pot.
In my yard I get some Red Admirals on warm days during the winter, but not many butterflies her in North Central Texas, however in Central and South Texas I am sure there are more of them.
Texas is a big place, so there are different climate zones.
Texas is big, for sure. How cool to have bfs year around. :-)
Out here in deep south Texas the fall season (October-January) is our best butterfly time of the year. It is when we get rare strays and new US records coming down off the mountains in Mexico to the Lower Rio Grande Valley :o)
Once in a blue moon we'll get freezing temps at night but they usually only last a few hours. By the next morning when the sun comes out it warms up nicely and the butterflies hit the flowers.
We had a total of 131 species (possibly a couple more as the full count hasn't been posted yet) sighted during the NABA Bi-ennial meeting this past weekend :o)
~ Cat
Now that is awesome!!!