Little one
Two Ids please on my butterflies...
Pretty guy
Excellant shots!!!
My GUESS on the first one is a Spring Azure Celastrina argiolus
fantastic shots. I think the first pics is a type of Blue and the second pic looks like a Variegated Fritillary in Kaufmans book but not in the Audubon book
Second one I guess is Variegated Fritillary or Euptoieta claudia
This one has host plants in the Viola family, the Linum family, Sedum lanceolatum and Sedum purpureum, Plantago
also Passiflora foetida, P. caerulea, P. incarnata
Your photography was very nice - could see details in the patterns on the wings. To get these, you must be a very patient photographer, too. What a happy butterfly garden you must have!
If my book is right, both pics are of males, but of the fritillary, it didn't show the female.
Those are pretty BFs, luvs.
Indirt and Donna--Just wondering--what books do you use for ID's.
I borrowed Kaufman's from the library this week and it seems pretty good. Is there another that I should try to get, too?
Thanks Donna and indirt for the ID.
I must have taken 100 shots before I got a good one. I know I look funny chasing them around!!
I do know my butterfly garden makes me happy that's for sure!!
Thanks for the compliments too...
LOL luvs, I believe we have all looked a bit funny in our quest for a good butterfly picture. I know I have for sure.
Another good book for ID's is the National Audubon Society "Field Guide to Butterflies". I have that one, and I'd be certain that that is the one DonnaB was referring to above.
Again, excellant pictures!!
yes Lorri that's the one and I like Caterpillars of Eastern North America and Caterpillars of the Field and Garden but it is not as extensive as the first cat book. Those 3 are my favorites but I have several others as well. Butterflies of North America by Ken Kaufman is more extensive in detail but I just can't see the smaller colored drawings as well as actual photographs. It is a great book for those with good vision
Oh, that sounds good, Donna. I don't have a caterpillar book at all. As far as books...the better the visual, the better it is for me. I'll have to check on the cat books at Borders. I'll be going there either today or tomorrow, as the book I ordered about seeds came in.
Lorri get Caterpillars of Eastern N.A. by David L. Wagner it has so many more than the one that is supposed to cover all of N.A.. It is 1 1/2" thick compared to Cats of N.A. which is only is only 1/2" thick
I have the Butterflies of North America by James A Scott. It only covers butterflies, not moths, but has actual pictures of butterflies and is as extensive as can get. Not an average field guide, though. It describes the caterpillar and host plants, but does not have cat pics. Really serious about butterflies? Then it is worth the price.
"Whats that bug" web site has lots of caterpillar pictures posted.
Is there a Caterpillars of Western NA? Does it have actual pictures? Does it include host plants?
Thanks for the book reviews!
Yes, excellent reviews! Thanks so much.
(I wish now I had made a separate thread since this is such great info for all to have!)
Will look on Amazon for the guides. Maybe I can get them used at a good price.
And yes, the Visual is so important for me, too!
I got most of them used in new condition on Amazon
Thanks Donna for the info!!