I spotted this darling several days ago. It has doubled in size since then. I sure hope the birds don't get it!
DAILY BUTTERFLIES PAGE 6
tgif, I think the first one might be a Spicebush Swallowtail. The most recent eggs on my Spicebush are starting to hatch. The second is a Gulf Fritillary. Lots of them around here due to lots of passionflower vines. And congrats on having the Monarch cat! Are you near the coastal area of MS?
I'm about 300 miles north of the Gulf. Almost due West of Tuscaloosa, AL. All of the b'fly pics I have posted are of ones that are here every year. I just never have taken the time to actually learn all the names. I have so much fun watching them that I don't worry too much about who is what. Over time I'll hear something often enough that it sinks into my tiny brain - then it sticks!
I do recognise the name Spicebush - thanks, that helps me. I always thought of Frits as being smaller - this one was larger.
The Monarch cat I did know. I just hope the birds don't see it! They are pretty good about stating on the undersides of the leaves, but sometimes they still get gobbled.
ginni
Just a little hairstreak today. It's getting way too hot outside to be hiking. Had a Spicebush swallowtail following me around but couldn't get a picture of it.
This was the only little flutterby I saw today that I was able to get a photo of. He kinda followed me around the yard as I was watering the garden beds. It was so hot that I wondered if he was catching some of the mist from the hose. He was really showing off for me. :-)
He was a White Peacock butterfly and was hanging out on my Maypop vines.
I gotta tell ya, Cyndiehook ..... YOUR Luna Moth is stunning! I wish I got them around here! They are really one of the most beautiful moths ever!!
I love those Lunas too, they're just stunning!
Here's a little female Gray Hairstreak, cute eyespots....I felt like I was being watched lol
Correct me if I'm wrong, please.
Gulf Fritillary
Yes, it sure looks like it, Deborah! :-) See .... your getting the hang of IDing them! lol
I had to use that map site that you and Becky have posted. Sure wish there were more researchers in GA. I have to go to the closest "big" town to determine BFs in my area. If most of the Ga counties surrounding me is highlighted, it's a good guess that my county is a particular BF's range too.
Good job Deb! That is a Gulf Fritillary, very nice! And way up there you posted a TST pic Post #3633807. It is an excellent example of a white form female Tiger ST.
Lucky you Ginny! A Spicebush ST! Wish I could get just a couple of them. I have 3 spicebushes ready and waiting.
Still out there builiding a cage today, between mommy-do's. So far it is simple, but not real easy..if y'all get my drift..
I will report back when I get it finished
:-Deb
Nice shots Ladies!
Cyndi- I love that Luna moth. I've never seen one but they sure look great!
Linda-I just found 2 Spicebush babies on my Sassafrass!! Yipee!
Becky-That W.Peacock is so pretty! I had one following me around today, too. Then she lay eggs right before my grateful eyes!!
Adrienne
Adrienne, congrats! Those cats are so special!
Adrienne - Oh! Those spice bush cats are the cutest. Do take photos as you raise them! Lucky you!!!
Also, which plant was your White Peacock laying eggs on?
Deborah - My suggestion is if the butterfly is found somewhere in your "state" then it may be very possible that you can get them in your area. Many counties in all states aren't updated because of lack of input from local folks. So if a butterfly species shows up on the GA map, I'd go ahead and add a host plant for it in your yard. That's one way to find out for sure! :-)
Adrienne!! Yaaaaaaaaaay SBSTs!!!!! You rock girl! Gotta see the pics! If you have any probs with close ups get a good magnifying glass and hold it up to the camera lense. What kind of cage are you using for them?
Lovely WPs Becky!!;-) .................Waves @ Linda o/~ ............Sweet Hairstreak Roxanne, LOL @ being watched:-D!
Deborah~ Maybe you can be 'the one' to do some intensive research for your area.. fill in the blanks and send them in for the counts.
Well it was a bit earlier than I expected but these guys (GSTs) were getting big fast>
Then yesterday 2 of them were in the comma position>
More ovipositing by Giant STs....not one but 2 at a time now. They alternated turns at the 2 Hercules Club plants.
Cage is coming along good, waiting for the glue to dry on 2 sides, so I can do the other 2 side windows. It is a Sterlite container... At first when I tried to cut it with a utility knife it began to shatter because of the quality of plastic. (DH said I shoulda used Rubbermaid.) I stopped and used the jigsaw instead, which worked much better for cutting out the windows without shattering around the cut.
Here are the 2 sides and top so far
Great job Deb!!!
Cool, Deb! That's what I need, more containers for cats...I'm not set up so good for a big cat year like this one. We had the same problem with cutting plastic...it just doesn't cut well at all. So DH had to help me. He's got tons of tools he rarely ever touches any more, but they come in handy on occasion. Oh, you have to have real good photos to report butterfly IDs not on the county lists...I don't think they'll take your word for it unless you're a professional lep person.
Deb-
That cage is GREAT! Are you using mesh? What kind of glue?
I'm going to raise everyone in my "Castles". Its all I'm using for now. The SBST are small so They're just on a sprig that I've stuck in oasis.
Becky- The W.peacock was laying eggs on Bacopa-water hyssop.
Thx y'all!
I was posting pics the other day and my puter boinked! I have been working to fix the problem, and it's touch and go, lol.
Yes Adrienne it is mesh fabric, and I am using silicone clear Liquid Nails to stick it on. Then there was a bit of space in the top where the lid seals to the box, so I put some self adhesive rubber weatherstriping to make a tighter seal to keep the wee buggies out.
They are so tiny... They look a bit like ants, but they can fly. They drill a hole in a chrysalis and then suck from them. I think they are a bit like mosquitos parasiting caterpillars, they love Swallowtails. Too bad their tase couldn't be for more undesirable cats. :-(
I had to use a magnifying glass to get this clear of a pic, but they are so small they can go through ordinary screen squares, so a cage definatly needs to be made with mesh, and the lid needs to be sealed without ANY gaps.
It is hard to show just how tiny they are... I am going to post this pic in the Bug ID forum and see what DGers think it is exactly.
I will post more pics if I can do it without my comp shutting down on me.
:-Deb
Deb - That almost looks like an ant, though I know it isn't. It's probably some kind of wasp. Here is a link I found that lists some parasites of cats:
http://www.tasleps.net/reframe.php?openframe=http://www.tasleps.net/a-parasites.php?
Sorry to hear of your computer woes! Been there. I hope you don't have a virus or a bunch of adware clogging your computer. Ugh!!!!
The other day my daughter came running inside telling me to come outside and look at this gorgous butterfly. I was expecting a Monarch or something big and beautiful. I saw this tiny cute little thing on my Sundown Coneflower. I was a little dissapointed but took the pic anyway. I have to say the photo turned out great. I love this pic now of this tiny guy and one of my favorite flowers. I hope you enjoy it too.
Anyone know what type it is?
Mitey purtee pic, indeed ..
Tis difficult to tell the size of these lil t-9c hairstreaks in (our) photos - but yours, sure looks to be the Gray Hairstreak or Common Hairstreak (Strymon melinus). See what you think ..
> http://davesgarden.com/bf/showimage/3268/
- Magpye
I've come to appreciate the hairstreaks. They tend to sit still long enough for photos. Their colors can vary quite a bit too which I think is neat. Plus, it's cool to watch them rub their wings together.
I love coneflowers but just don't understand why bfs don't impell themselves. They stick me everytime I deadhead one. LOL
Angel, your picture is a cutey.
OMG! C-Dawg, I think that everytime I see one on there! Those spines are so sharp and they don't seem to worry about their pose as far as I can tell. They don't fly around them and gingerly land or anything. Would't you think those spines would impale the body or wipe off 1/2 a wing or something?
Suzy
I have to wear gloves when I'm harvesting seeds from them and still get stuck right in the quick of the nail bed. Ouch!
I got stuck in the thumb -- no biggie, except I was totally surprised; I had no idea they were really sharp. I cannot stand to have any open cuts on my hands because of gardening and the animal manures and other compost that is all through my soil - they get infected so fast -- and it's the same with splinters.
I just sent out full seed heads of it from then on, and took it off my trade list. I don't really think I own any gloves that would protect me from those, and then the goldfinches come and it's fun to watch them balance on the stems to get the seeds.
Suzy
Loved the Luna photo, thanks for posting it. Karen
I wanted to try and get some shots in my Garden today! It was my first time actually! I'm usually just looking and gathering... But I got lucky! This beauty liked my Pineland Sunflower(a FL Native).
Adrienne
and there were 2 Zeb's flying around...but I could only catch one.
And this pretty girl laying eggs!
You got some great shots on your first sucessful walk with your camera!!
Thanks Sheila!
Here is a shot I got today. I had put bf bait on my feeders in the backyard and was headed to the front, but stopped to wash my hands before touching the doorknob. I turned around and I had two takers already! The Hackberry Emperor and Question Mark love that stuff!
I also got a great shot of my first Common Buckeye that I've seen in my yard. Everyone was hungry after the rains stopped.
