This little guy was dancing on an unopened daisy. Hard to get a pic of him, too!
Last ID Needed
Looks like a Gray Hairstreak, they often bask with their wings open.
Yep...looks like a Gray Hairstreak. Then again, several hairstreaks look very similar :o)
~ Cat
Thank you so much!
That is adorable, I can never catch them with their wings open, you were very lucky.
Josephine.
All of mine have wings closed too. They are definately quick!
Stephanie: you have a female Gray Hairstreak. One of the very few hairstreaks that will bask with open wings. Females have a small orange dot on the back of the head, the male has an orange tinted abdomen.
Attached is one of my favorites, the Red-banded hairstreak (I like all of the small to very small butterflies, as they are a real challenge for photography).
Rod (mate of 8)
I never even noticed the orange dot! Thanks pointing that out and for all the information!
Great photo Rod....love the black and white legs and antennae!
Fly Girl,
Here is another one you might like. I call it Serendipity, as I got it entirely by chance. The drizzle finally eased off this afternoon so I told Catbird that I was going for a walk around the yard to see what might have started stirring. Hadn't taken two steps when a pair of mating Giant Swallowtails went by. I sprinted to the driveway in time to catch them landing in the pergola over the kitchen window. They stayed just long enough for a few quick shots, then they were off again. Means more Giants for the future.
Rod
What beauties! Send some up here would you?
This message was edited Jul 14, 2007 8:16 PM
Rod - Love the photo of the hairstreak! I love watching them linger and rub their tails together. They have such personality! Lucky you to have some mating Giant Swallowtails! I am sure you will be seeing many more soon! :-)
Becky - this is the first year for profusion of TST's in this part of Houston. Have males plus three versions of the females - standard yellow, Florida form (orange cast on dorsal side) and the black form. Have yet to see one laying eggs and really not familar with their host plant(s). We have citrus for Giants, spice bush for SBST's and herbs for BST's but nothing specifically for Tigers. Can't get pipevines to grow here at the house.
It looks like I just found a task for tomorrow. ID the Tiger host then a trip to my favorite nurseries in The Heights.
Attached is one of my favorite shots of a Gray Hairstreak laying eggs on a coral vine. Hard to imagine from the picture that their costa is in the 1 inch category. However, I shot a Western Pygmy Blue in Roswell, NM last Thanksgiving. 3/8 inch. Smallest butterfly in North America and possibly the world (according to one source).
Rod (mate of 8)
Rod - Here's a good link to find out about what butterflies/cats need what host plant:
http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/Butterfly%20Gardening/Host%20Plants%20by%20Butterfly%20Species.htm
Good Luck! I am sure if you had a host plant in your yard, they would be laying eggs all over it since you've had so many fly-bys! :-)
This message was edited Jul 14, 2007 11:43 PM
Becky, thanks for the link. It looks like it almost has to be a tree of some sort. My small lot is about full. Hopefully some of my neighbors or the golf course next door will have a tree that they like.
Rod