I found it too - looks like a friend of mine. :)
A.
Daily Pictures #92
Hi Amanda, when was the last time you've realeased one of those "friends"? They sure are pretty. I thought about your fabulous pictures that you've added to bugfiles when I took this pic. today.
DW found it because it was driving me crazy!!
I found it pretty quick only because I have had those land on the yellow leaves when trying to take their picture. When I saw the picture I knew what was hiding! Good shot, they are quick too.
That reminds me to go and look for some casia seeds in the wild, Sheila. I saw one in blooms during the summer, I need to return to the spot and finding some seeds. Hope the weather has let off some where you're. Best wishes.
Our weather is very mild here still. In our morning stroll, DH and I found this American Painted Lady bf;
...
Thanks, Lily. :)
Yes, the sulfurs are darty and hard to catch in a photo so I was pleased to see this one. What's amazing is the difference in color on the underside of the wings you see in the photo you posted in the leaves and the top of the wings which is a dazzling yellowy-orange!
I looked yesterday and there were still 2 chrysalises left. They are exposed (1) on a stick; and (2) on the screened lid of its container in a raised bed in my neighbor's front yard. There they receive direct sun from about 11 a.m. - dark. As I mentioned, sun and temperature had a direct impact on eclosure rates so I hoped with "the season" waning that they'd get out as fast as possible!
One had already started to change colors. The last one (on the stick) was the last to morp so that one may take a little longer.
Will check tomorrow. I had a busy day and did not get to look at all. It was over 70 degrees here today and enjoyed every minute of it!!! :)
Have a pleasant evening.
A.
p.s. I'd love to get some seed of the native Cassia marilandica! I'll bet it would do better/bloom faster here than the tropical variety (C. alata) I tried to grow here. I let it go to the frost the other night. Too many unknowns at this point to try and dig that mother up. ;)
Some pics of today...lots of activity, but everything was moving around!
Interesting pose
Warrior..tough life
Small sulphur.
This one just wouldn't sit still.
My favorite. GF on sage.
Battered sulphur...
I also saw several American snouts, a red admiral and a couple of unidentified skippers.
Not sure about this one.
Russell
I've zone envy here Russell. I don't get to see as many butterflies here. Yesterday, however I and DH saw this Common Buckeye (?) on our stroll. Today I saw a passer-by Monarch. Yes, a Monarch-- but it didn't stop for nectar-- but just passing by. Sorry I didn't recognize the last butterfly you posted. Hope someone will chime in soon.
I love those buckeyes. I rarely see them in my yard this time of year, generally they are here in the spring. I was shocked by the number of different species cruising around the last couple of days.
Russell
Russell, I think that is a common checkered-skipper. If you go to the lepfarmer's site and click on the left side under "What's on the wing" there is usually pics of all the butterflies that are being found flying in N TX at that time. Some are in your area also. Very good place to start when trying to id.
Thanks Sheila. I have the site bookmarked now. That looks like the best fit for this little one.
Russell
yakmon love the photos, activity has been high here also, and the monarchs are still laying eggs. Lots of variety...haven't seen any hummers though.
Monarch cat on my milkweed this past week
Nice pic sunkissed - I miss having those! I haven't had any monarch or queen cats this fall, despite the yard being swarmed by them. There are several milkweed assassin bugs camped out on both varieties of MW I have. I wonder if they are killing the cats. I had a problem with wasps earlier in the year and caught several of them eating cats right off the plant.
Russell
Yes, the assassin bugs do prey on caterpillars and other insects. Here is a couple of links I want to share. The first is on the assassin bugs. http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/bugs/assassin/assassin.htm
http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/
This link is a wonderfully done website that came up in my search. It has a good monarch photo section where it shows wasp even destroying a final stage chrysalis! http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/wasppupa.php There is loads of other interesting facts on that last website too.
This message was edited Nov 21, 2011 12:48 AM
Nice photos Russell - thanks for sharing.
Hey! Lily -way to go on your first (?!) sighting. I know you've been passed over this year. :/
Sheila - hope to take a look at those links before next season. All the more motivation to take and protect as many as you can. I have to laugh at myself when I think about what a lame hobby this has become. A slave to a bunch of bugs.
Hope everyone's had a great weekend. I got together with some DG friends not too far away and had a lovely pre-Thanksgiving dinner.
Hugs,
A.
Caught in the act! The MW assassin got a bee this afternoon.
Russell
Amanda, I've seen many a Monarchs in the garden earlier in the season. Only no eggs or cats. Whoaa! Russell, the MW assassin bug is something else isn't it? That could be a fly instead of a bee?
Great photo Russell!
Went back to a previous to give the correct link on the paper wasp and Monarch. http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/wasppupa.php
This message was edited Nov 21, 2011 12:50 AM
Ooops - right Lily. My BF said he saw a sulfur yesterday. I was away for the weekend and have to go across the street to check if my last chrysalis eclosed. Then I will need advice on how to overwinter the BSW cats in this mesh box I have! One or two have already fallen from their stirrups, but 2 years ago when I had my first overwinter, she surprised me by crawling out from the closet on the floor after I thought I had lost her when she fell from the stick she'd attached to.
Have a nice week fellow bug lovers.
A.
Russell:
Your first "Small Sulphur" is a Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside). The next is a Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe). The battered sulphur is another Lyside (nice shot!). And the skipper is a female Tropical Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus oileus).
Sheila: Perfectly normal to find some monarchs in our area that are continuing to breed through October and even early November. Quite doubtful that most of them will be heading to Mexico, though. Monarchs in my yard the past week or ten days or so are showing no signs of moving south, even after cold fronts move through. Natural selection at work...
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Thanks Dale! I have such a hard time with the sulphurs. I appreciate your assistance.
Russell
Dale - non-migratory birds? Like Canada Geese at the retaining pond?! :D
A.
Russell that is an amazing catch of the assassin bug eating a bee. I've never seen the assassin bug in my garden. Here the problem is mostly with ants and wasp. The little inch long one above..gone...something got it. That is the largest I saw a cat get this year. I do miss the years I used to see them get full sized. Haven't see that in a few years now.
I was reading hummers and lady bugs also will eat the eggs. Doesn't see to be a chance out there for them.
Still enjoying Gulf Frits, Monarchs, sulphurs, and skippers daily. Haven't see anymore swallowtails this past week.
I have several pics to share of those I have seen...but no time. Getting ready for the holidays. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Ditto that, Sheila - I'm thankful to have found a bunch of bug-crazy friends on the internet. ;)
A.
Me too Amanda--happy thanksgiving everyone!
Bruce
I'm thankful there is a small group of us here that share same love for the outdoor and wildlife. Happy Thanksgiving Bruce, Amanda, Sheila, Marna, Dale, Nan, sunkissed and everyone that visits this forum. ^_^
(pic. from last Summer).
News to be thankful for:
I sent an email this evening and received a prompt reply from the gentleman who volunteered to share FL Paintbrush seed. He said he was going to collect some this weekend and he would get back to me afterwards. I now have his addy to send my SASE. I should send a giant bubble envie, yes? :D
I will let you know when I hear back. If I get more than 10-20 seeds, there may be more to share than just those sent to Dale to propagate for the rest of us. ;)
Have a good night/great weekend. I will be around and not entertaining (but being entertained!!!) so I will check in to let you know if I see any butterfly activity.
A.
Glad I volunteered Dale! That said, he has a wonderful garden there and even if I don't get seeds later, I could visit at tour time and take pictures!!
And I'm glad you volunteered me, too, Sheila! And I'm glad that Amanda is pursuing this -- looks like a great butterfly plant for all of us to have in our gardens. Even if I can only get a few plants going, those will eventually make seeds, and so on and so on....
Hope everyone has a wonderful thanksgiving day. While you're preparing this morning for the big feast, I'll be putting plastic over the last of the greenhouses. Once that's done I'm off to a family gathering and intend to eat like a p.i.g. hog.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Enjoy Dale! My family is coming tomorrow because of work scheldules etc. I have been cooking today in preparation so my pig day is tomorrow!
I am still seeing Monarchs flying around the yard two or three today, and wasn't out looking! This is the first time I can remember having flowers in bloom at Thanksgiving. I am sure that will end in the coming weeks.
Greetings friends!
As of the very early morning after Thanksgiving, there is one sulfur chrysalis left in a sheltered spot in my neighbor's front yard. This was the last to go thru the process, and I had to coax him/her to do that.
It has turned a bit orange which has been the harbinger of eclosure, but it's not going anywhere fast. We are still having 60 deg. temps in the daytime and night temps vary, but we have only had 1 night of hard frost. Crazy critters.
Still - no one has replied to my new thread about overwintering BST chrysalis. You all could weigh in over there, but you folks in TX and FL prolly have no experience with this. :D
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1231254/
Thanks for all you do.
A.