I have a few pics to share of some visitors to my gardens. Some my be moths instead of BF but I haven't learned the difference yet. I started to post these on Debs daily thread but since I don't even know the names of mine I thought it might be inappropriate at the time until I learn at least what I'm looking at.
More will follow.....
Deborah
That particular flower, Gaura, has an infestation of bugs on it. I don't know what they are nor how to get rid of them without harming the whole purpose of having the flower gardens in the first place....Having Butterflies visit me.
I know this isn't a monarch. Monarchs have eluded my camera so far but leaves babies on my milkweeds. I'm still trying to capture a Monarch in pictures. I don't know who this fellow is but he brings 10 or more with him on his visit.
Here's a shot of the open wing pattern.
And another.
Don't know what his name is either.
He is unusually looking.
Tiny bit blurred.
Smiling for ya.
Slurpping nectar.
No picture? I should have said sipping nectar then.
This message was edited May 27, 2007 12:12 PM
Here's the last picture for the day.
'Howdy' Cordeledawg ...
The Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) > http://davesgarden.com/bf/go/16/
The darker flutterbye looks like it may could be the Juvenal's Duskywing.
And, your 'unusual one' may be the Fiery Skipper.
- Magpye
Thank you Magpye, I'll start an album. And thanks for the link too. I never noticed the bug files before.
;-] . . . You're very welcome!
Welllllll, by golly.. you're way overdue, on making contributions to the bug files then. (heehee)
- Magpye
Cordeledawg, I have a ton of trouble with aphids eating my gaura. They only stay on that plant but there are hoards of them. You can spray them with diluted dishsoap (I use lemon Dawn) a few times per week. They'll turn black and die. Keep it up for a couple of weeks until the eggs are hatched and you kill that generation too. Your gaura will spring back to life. I also have found an organic insecticide at Lowes made from fish oil and sesame oil. That works too. I love those gauras but the aphids love them even more!! =)
Thanks for the dish detergent tip! I'll try it.
Hey Dawg! Haven't seen you posting in a while, and just noticed this thread!
The funny thing is I had one of those 3-D butterflies (now possibly IDd as a Fiery Skipper) today for the first time on some Dahlberg Daisy. Mine looks like the photo on Butterfliesandmoths.org, but I didn't check all the skippers to see if there are many that sort of look the same. I ran in for the camera, but he was gone by the time I got back with it.
I'm glad you posted!
Suzy
Suzy, I'm glad to be back home. Been in the Smokies without a computer. Loved the 65 degree weather though.
I'm going to keep my camera ready for more pics too. I really want to learn the names of these beauties. They are the reason I have dirty ol hang nails.
Deborah Welcome back!
The Lady butterfly is actually an "American" Painted Lady.
(Vanessa virginiensis)
http://davesgarden.com/bf/go/157/
They have 2 large eyespots on the underside of the bottom wing. (The Painted Lady has 4 smaller ones.) They use different host plants from each other.
Nice Duskywing too!
:-Deb
Deb, what host plants do the American painted Lady use? I hope I have some growing around here since these bfs are in such large numbers.
Hi Deborah!
I would like to get good larval hosts going for these this year too. I have a Wormwood plant, but no cats yet. Not even sure if what I have is the right cultivar... It is the Silver King, the jury is still out though. When I finally get something working I will let you know. Meanwhile I have seen people on DG who have "Pussytoes", and that definatly works. Would like to get my paws on some of that one for sure.
From: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1769
Caterpillar hosts: Plants in the sunflower family everlasting (Gnaphalium obtusifolium), pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), plantain-leaved pussy toes (Antennaria plantaginifolia), wormwood (Artemisia), ironweed (Vernonia), and burdock (Arctium).
I have several Artemisia 'Silver Mound'; wonder if that would serve as a host? Also have a few ironweed growing somewhere around the pond margin. I took some pics of more bfs I can't identify. When dh gets home he'll upload the pics for me and I'll post. Thanks for the link. I'm going to bookmark it.
Nice photos, Deb! The butterflies really like your yard! Can't wait to see the new photos! Great job your doing there!!! Send some my way.
My yard has been very quiet for the past month. I've released about 40-50 GF and Monarchs, but none seem to be sticking around. Come Fall, I'll probably see tons of them!
I'm really disappointed that I haven't seen any Monarchs . I know they've been here 'cause she left me some cats.
Here's a white one with little spots.
This one has eye spots.
Edit for my pic file: This is a common Buckeye! yea!
This message was edited Jun 5, 2007 5:57 PM
How's the best way to look up bf's for id using the butterflies and moths link? I went to the GA map for the whole state but there are so many. Is there an easier way than clicking on every bf name?
This one doesn't look like the pic taken the other day of the American painted Lady. Is it the same?
That lovely with the eye spots on top of the wing is a Common Buckeye. Nice shot!
Deb
Thanks Deb. I'm trying to name my pics each time.
C-Dawg, There is a book called Garden Butterflies of North America, A Gallery of Garden Butterflies and How to Attract Them by Rick Mikula that I found very useful. The reason I am saying this particular book is not because it's the greatest book in the world, but it is on sale super-cheap everywhere I go. Bookstores, I mean. Under $10.00. It has most the common ones, all the ones you've posted, and all the ones I've tried to look up.
Suzy
Suzy, my dh is a book store junkie. I'm yelling to him in the next room to get me this book! Thank you for the heads-up.
