More Butterflies from Sunny Florida

I am including some pics of butterflies visiting my yard yesterday and the day before 6/28, 6/29. This is a shot of a Black Swallowtail on Orange Cosmos.

This message was edited Jun 30, 2005 7:27 PM

Black Swallowtail on Mexican Sunflower, Tithonia rotundiflora 'Torch'

Another shot of Black Swallowtail on Tithonia 'Torch'--a magnificent butterfly attractor here.

Zebra Longwing nectaring on Firebush.

Gulf Fritillary nectaring on Golden Dewdrop (Durantha erecta).

Gulf Fritillary keeping one eye on me while it nectars from Purple Porterweed.

Another shot of a Zebra Longwing nectaring on Firebush.

A Long Tailed Skipper with short tails--his tails have probably been subtracted by a predator.

A Duskywinged Skipper (Horace's or Juvenal's) resting on Fiddlewood.

A Duskywinged Skipper (Horace's or Juvenal's) nectaring on Agastache 'Blue Fortune'.

A Duskywinged Skipper (Horace's or Juvenal's) resting on foliage of Orange Cosmos. I like the way she is sort of sweeping her wings forward like she is wrapping herself in a long cape.

WOW! All of those were just from 2 days in your garden???? I'm so envious! And I wanna coem live in your garden....what a treat! Thanks for sharing your little flutterby paradise with us :-)

-Julie

Thanks for letting me (us!) see these photos, Ed!

Ed,

As to the Gulf Frits., are the underside of their wings done in shades of brown?

I have B'flies that when perching, they look brown, but when they fly, they are orange.

Thanks,
Molly

Your pics are great!!

Golden Orange on top and brownish shades on the bottom with splashes of metallic silver.

Another Pic of a Gulf Fritillary--orange and black on the back and brown tones with metallic silver splashes underneath.

One more pic of the underwing of a Gulf Frit-brownish tones/some red/many splashes of metallic silver. You can't hardly go wrong on a Gulf Fritillary. They have a very distinctive look.

Unless they have the metallic silver markings under the wings they are not Gulf Fritillaries. The Question Mark also has Orange Wings above and Brown Wings below. Also, look at the Ruddy Daggerwing--Orange with stripes above and Mauve/Gray/Brown underwings. Julia's also have that sort of coloration--Orange wings above and Brown with white below.

What a beautiful animal!!