Hope he hung on in that storm today Lew_tex. If not he may be in Louisiana by now!
I had one in the yard as well earlier today and it even lit on my leg but of course I didn't have a camera outside!
Daily Butterfly Pictures #86
I found quite a few small BST cats on my dill plants yesterday. Today I came home to find a red wasp munching on them! That just won't do!....dang wasps are trying to ruin my fun...LOL.
I also had 5 monarchs eclose this morning before work. That was very cool. I even took one that was still drying for "show and tell." I won over several more BF enthusiasts and they are wanting some milkweed for their yards. Cool how that works! I will be sharing some seeds that MaryLeek sent me when my MW was dying off. Thanks again for the care package! I have already planted the three types of seeds you send me, you are most generous as are all of the DG folks I have come in contact with.
I missed the opening of the chrysalis, but here is one of the newly emerged monarchs. This is the closest I have come to seeing one eclose....next time!
Russell
You didn't miss much Russell. See the large abdomen, still full. The fluids are used to pump up the wings. They aren't ever "wet", just not hardened. That is why you want to make sure you don't disturb them when they first emerge. If they should fall looking like the one in your picture, it would never be able to fly. This is all you missed, it happens in the blink of an eye. They absorb the fluid inside the chrysalis leaving it transparent then bust it open and flip out, holding on to the empty chrysalis. Then they start working the proboscis in and out. It is two parts and will form one tube as they munipulate it.
Oh, forgot to comment on the wasp.....Grrrrrgh! They really are a bad guy in my garden. Some sting and take off with some small ones to feed their larvae with.
Thanks for the info Sheila. I did see the manipulation of the proboscis...that was very interesting to see up close. As for the wasps, I am seeing more of them and many different kinds in my garden since I have increased the variety of flowering plants. I have been trying to attract butterflies, but it seems that I have more bees and wasps on any given day than butterflies. I didn't realize wasps were so attracted to flowers. Oh well, I guess everything has to eat, but just don't take my BSTs away! The wasp yesterday met its demise and I hope some of the little cats will make it to BF status. Is there any way to discourage wasps in the garden without killing everything else?
I am wondering if I will see more BFs when the wind slows down some. We have been having steady 30-40 mph winds for what seems like forever. All of the newly hatched monarchs were clinging tightly on to the empty chrysalis shells to avoid falling off as their wings developed. I am glad they all hung on!
Russell
They have wasp traps you can buy but mine didn't seem to work. Just look around you house and under decks for nest and use the stream spray if you want to kill them. I also keep a small butterfly net to catch and squish them. Got to do what I can to protect me, dogs and butterflies from them.
I bring in the first instar cats and sometimes eggs and raise them inside because of all the dangers that can lower the counts. I know not everyone has time to do that but it is something I enjoy. If you want to read more on raising cats...look at the top of the The Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening forum for the "sticky" thread. It stays up at the top.
Found this guy on a Indian-Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) but not sure what it is. Doesn't look like the pics I found of Bordered Patch.
Did you forget to attach, shelia?
Here's an article I did a while ago about how members like Shelia raise caterpillars.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2358/
Have had some Tiger Swallowtails around...yeah!
Marna, that's absolutely a fantastic article! Thank you. Way to go Nan. Woohooo. Spring will finally arrive there for you.
You couldn't see them?? LOL! Yes, been a bit brain dead lately.
The BST
New cat, maybe a moth but not a Bordered Patch I don't think.
Marna....your article was a great one, so much information and detail. You did a wonderful job.
Got a few more shots this afternoon. The first day of calm winds I might add.
Female Monarch nectaring on Brazillian Verbena ...hope she will leave me some eggs on the MW before moving on.
Quick shot of a Silver-Spotted Skipper.
A Hairstreak...forgot to look for an id, also finding the Verbena tasty.
edited to say this is a Gray Hairstreak, pretty sure.
This message was edited May 1, 2011 7:25 AM
Last but not least, another I didn't id yet, on yes the Verbena. Tallest of anything in this bed for now.
Cute! Still not much action in my yard yet.
Hey, thanks for the article, so much good help from Shelia and Cat and others on that one. It was fun to put together. Today at the grocery store, I saw a pop-up screen room for 50 dollars. It was on the small side. But I was thinking what a nice HUGE flight cage it would make. hee.
Yes it would! LOL!
I caught this beauty buzzing around the sage plants yesterday. I am not sure of the id, but looks like a large orange sulphur. This one flew around and was very difficult to follow with the camera!
Russell
Another view on a different sage.
It is good to see some variety.
Whoops....picked the wrong file...do over.
I think it's an orange barred sulphur.
lovely.
Look at the Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe) female. That would be only a guess.
I saw many yellow butterflies flying around on this field during a garden tour yesterday. Some type of Sulphurs I guess. Wonderful pix everyone. I can't wait to see more.
I have been trying to find 2-3 more Bronze Fennel plants to plant for the BST and have had no luck in finding any type of fennel plants so far. Will keep looking. I have never had much luck with dill here but may give it another try if I can't find fennel.
Nice one Russell!
Yakmon -- Sheila nailed it with the id -- female Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe). Great shot with the wings open! And Sheila, the caterpillar on your hand looks to be a Salt Marsh Moth.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Ok on the salt marsh...those are everywhere lately. I recognize the larger ones.
Dale, what is my small brown skipper? I can't id it, thought at first it was a Brazillian Skipper.
Sheila -- Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
http://www.dallasbutterflies.com
Thanks for the confirmation of ID. I got lucky with the flight picture. I never get them with the wings completely open! There was a lot of activity yesterday, mainly on the sage plants, but the lantana had a few visitors too. I saw another type that was a little more orange than this one and seemed larger. Hopefully it will return today so I can get a picture.
Russell
Yakmon:
Probably a male Large Orange Sulphur. They are solid orange, while the females can be like what you photographed, or an "alba" form, which is mostly white, with the same markings.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
http://www.dallasbutterflies.com
Thanks Dale!
Hi guys. Beautiful weekend here, completed a few more projects on the list but added 5 more on the list. Managed to get a few shots in between my work. The ladies have made a strong showing this season and are giving the GFs a run for the money as they usually rule the garden.
here is another.
Pretty pictures Viceroy, love that Verbena.
Here is an orange barred sulfur female (I think)
here a red admiral and American painted lady share Buddleia.
here she is on Cassia.
And here my buckeye showed up.
here is one more. Thanks Sheila. Looks like a Brushfoot weekend for me. Can you or anyone else confirm my female orange barred? I think I got it but unsure of some of the markings.
