I wonder if that could mean there may eventually be more of them?
Hee Hee...that's cute! Actually, though, I think it's really attractive and both sides are perfectly matched.
Thanks for the ID!! I love my new book, but there are just sooo many butterflies.
Oh, I forgot to say that Spring and Summer Azure are so alike that some believe there is no difference. I have no clue, so it's just Spring/Summer Azure to me. The more butterflies you see, the more you'll be able to identify. It helps to know what is in your area and relative size to others. I was hoping to see more butterflies in my yard than last year, but it's only marginally better. Thought maybe I'd get some new skippers. But September is usually good for them here.
And speaking of forgetting, I have a few pictures but not downloaded yet. But here's one from my phone. This was the last of three Eastern Black Swallowtails to emerge.
Thanks!
It was small, but not as small as a Fiery Skipper. It rarely stayed in one place so I had a hard time getting a pic. Hmm...I'll have to go back and look at my book some more. There have been so few butterflies in my yard this year. It's really strange.
Ooh, it's so beautiful...Congrats!! Your phone takes nice pictures.
Visited Caney Creek in Oklahoma today and checked out the swamp milkweed which was loaded with butterflies. Could that be? Yes, a Monarch. But out numbered by Spicebush and Tiger swallowtails as well as by hummingbird sphinx moths. It's great to finally see a Monarch this summer..
Really nice pic's ,!!! I love them !!! Only a few Buckeye and Red Spotted Purple here , and the usual ..
Suppose the Monarch was the one that was here last week?. lol "Only One" all year so far ..
Great pictures everyone!! I love to see all the action in your yards.
..... Whereas my yard flowers are almost devoid of BFs except for a few skippers that are harassed daily by dragonflies or the resident mocking bird.
If ONLY host plants could pull butterflies in this year. Well anyway, there are a few that come by once in a while. Here are a few week's worth
We've had some Tiger Swallowtails in the past couple of weeks. Here's the latest, a handsome male. Also a Common Buckeye and a Question Mark on a peach.
Nice collection of pics!
No camera but we saw the Spinx moth on the datura again last night, and I saw a hummingbird moth this afternoon on my tall verbena.
Otherwise still very slow here.
Still hoping and waiting ...
Just walked around the yard and did a quick count of what was flying. In a little over fifteen minutes I counted 17 different species with a total of 84 individuals. I'm trying to get into the habit of doing this sort of data collection a couple of times a day. It's something I've always done with pen and paper but a friend of mine has done a little program for my iPad that will make it easier (in theory) to look at large files of data. Queens were definitely a big chunk of the numbers today with over 35 flying around.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
I've never understood how one can count butterflies. How do you know you are not counting the same butterfly(ies) (several of the same species) over and over again? I can get a pretty good count of the number of different species...but several of the same species?...big mystery.
Vitrsna -- it's certainly not an exact number, but it's pretty close. It's really not that difficult as most are feeding and aren't interested in moving very much or far. The larger the number, the more difficult. Sure, there may have actually been 33 Queens flying in the yard (or 37), but counting 35 gets pretty close. And if you're using the same procedure and protocol every time then the numbers are still reflective of flight times, trends, etc. And it's another excuse to "get out amongst them".
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Virstna, when I count for my monitoring, I can include those that I may have seen before. Because my route is fixed and likely my pace, data will still show increases/decreases in species for each visit and over the years. I guess it depends for what reason you are counting. Now for the backyard bird count, you only list as many as you can see at one time.
Personally, here at home I have never seen very many butterflies at one time. Except for the Red Admiral craziness last year.
Thank you Dale and Mrs. Ed for your input. I think i get the idea...not an exact science :). If there are several species feeding on the same plant, it must be tricky Mrs. Ed because they are always moving from flower to flower. I suppose the idea is not to look up close but rather from a distance so you can see as much of the whole picture as possible, then get the idea that in this picture, there are say 3 polydamas, 5 queens, 6 clouded sulphurs, and a bordered patch. The problem for me is that they could all be back the next day or the next day there could be a new batch. I suppose with some practice one gets a "feel" for the numbers and i suppose the increases/decreases/absences/presence is what one wants a feel for?
I'm lucky if I get three cabbage whites at one. LOL!
Have had the same beat up Eastern yellow tiger swallowtail for three or more days between rain storms. :p
What is this? I'm afraid to ask. A friend sent the picture THEN she told me her sister freaked out and found that the inside was green and squishy. :(
I just know it something magnificent. It is so ornate.
This message was edited Aug 22, 2013 6:28 PM
Variegated fritillary chrysalis! Finding them in my garden is like finding a rare gem.
From a fellow DG member who lives in Minnesota. Her stupid sister is a grown woman. Hate stupid people! :/
Well sorry. I'm sure she is very bright, except she was very stupid to squish this chrysalis.
Amanda...Send her a link showing the beautiful creature she killed. Then ask her to think twice next time!
MrsEd..I wouldn't think of only having nectar plants, I feel I am creating an opportunity for the species to thrive. Also by no pesticide on mine, unlike the farmers and some homeowners.
On the counting, I don't keep records myself. However I have made videos of the multitude of queens on MW, or RA and QMs that are parked on a rotten banana. You can't see them all over the yard at the same time, but they will usually be in the same areas over and over. When I tag Monarchs I go from the backyard patches of Frostweed (pic-blk spec are Monarchs) and Blue mistflower to the front blue mist; then back again. Catch one go inside tag and out the other door always usually late afternoon. Got my tags ready for this year, hope I get to use them all.
oh i hope you also get to use all those tags. We're all counting on Texas!
Yes I agree to have host and nectar plans is a good thing. I'm just saying that this year it doesn't even help to have host plants. :(
I think I saw a comma/question mark ovipositing on some pellitory, but I couldn't find any eggs.
Good news. I'm told the squished fritillary was an accident because it was on the floor, and that the pictured chrysalis still exists. Some good butterfly news is always welcome.
These two need to get a room! Captured resting this afternoon under the neighbor's trumpet vine.
Russell
Released this BST this morning!
Congrats on the newly eclosed BST Nan. I haven't seen not-a-one of those in the garden. My dills have bolted many times over, and still there is no BSTs sniff sniff ~
I still have 2 more in their chrysalis. I had brought in the six but they were taking so long that I put the last 3 back out on the fennel. I did not want to get stuck having to over winter them so I put them back in the hands of Mother Nature!
I spotted this little guy yesterday and thought he/she was pretty. I've had so few butterflies this year that every one is special.
It was very tiny and had (to me) what looked like a unique shape so I searched both by color and shape, but had no luck. I'll learn...eventually. It also seemed to like the grass and dead wood the best. Sorry, if this should go into the ID forum, but I got so excited I wanted to share it.
The sun was bright and washed out the markings some so the last two pics I took using a scene mode (Sunset, I think?) in the hopes of bringing up the details more, but it does create a more yellow tone.
Giant White Skipper ? What do you folks say ?
Perhaps a Great Basin Female (fading ) I got the Skipper part anyway lol
This message was edited Aug 26, 2013 12:07 AM
Looks like a moth to me.... not sure what species it is.
I agree moth. I think if it were a butterfly, you'd see more of the antennae and it would be clubbed.
maybe this one.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Macaria-promiscuata
Nuts your moth looks like Macaria aemulataria - Common Angle which occurs in your area. See http://bugguide.net/node/view/11558/bgimage . Note that Promiscuous Angle moth which is identical occurs only in Southeastern states.
Wow...Thanks, you guys!!
It sure looks like those pictures. I still tend to think of moths as being nocturnal which is totally wrong on my part, I know. I thought it was really cool the way it blended in with the wood pile. Had I not seen it flying around the grass I would have missed it entirely.
I see moths in my garden during the day. Although they are not very active, if I disturb one, it will flutter around until it finds a new resting spot.
Today's top visitor : is .... A Painted Lady ?
Finally a Cajun invader and her buddy Sky King have arrived. A lovely lady Gulf fritillary and a Monarch in the Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing. The Gulf frit was noted oviposting on the passion vine in the host plant garden.
Beautiful photos, shorthog! I don't get Gulf Fritillaries here, just Variegated and very rarely a larger one that I haven't identified yet. (Probably a Great Spangled Frit.)
It's fantastic that so many of you have such variety of beautiful BF. I can lurk here now and then to get my fill. I generally keep quiet cause I don't have much to add. Forgive me if I miss complementing each and every one of you individually, but I guess I should stop by more often. I do love ALL of your pics, though.
BTW, Congrats, nanny!
Nice pics, juhur, and lovely Zinnias!
Stunning shots, shorthog...even the tiny thumbnails really pop!
Thank you Nutsaboutnature! Always good to hear from you .
Well folks ! Here's a green Caterpillar eating my black mustard plants .. This why fall growing a few is difficult , an ideas on who this is ;
This is one green Caterpillar!!!
There is a smaller one at the top of the pic on the leaf in the backgroung ,I did not see until looking at the photo. This is not a Buckeye or any I reconize , Chewing daytime mornings and evenings . not a bagworm .. not an admiral . I'm looking though
