DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 10

Continued from, Page 9.... http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/748467/

Hello to everyone, and a new page. Glad to see a few new faces posting!

Chris~ Great pic of the Tiger ST in page 9, feel free to keep sharing! This thread is for everyone to share their daily pics, Welcome in!

Get those cameras ready, gang! Ready, Aim, Snap!

:-Deb

Here a fm Pipevine ST digging deep into the Zinnia. I hope this means I will be having anopther brood of PVST cats!

This message was edited Jul 22, 2007 8:37 AM

I'm ba-ack! Well, my vacation was less than perfect, but it was definitely interesting. I'll narrate as I post my bf pics. The first problem was that my car died at the second toll plaza on the WV turnpike. I handed the lady the money, and when I went to take off, the VW (New Beetle) died. Just died. I knew since it had just passed the 100,000 mile mark (and was now past warranty) something was sure to go wrong. Tow people wanted $260 to bring me into Charleston, so instead we slept in the car and in the morning Dad (who I was travelling with and has a Ford F150) went to U-Haul and rented a trailer to tow me with. We got it to the dealership to find out that my timing belt had broken - and destroyed my ENTIRE ENGINE! Luckily, since I'm the original owner, the dealership "rolled back the mileage" and since my engine had its own 100,000 mile warranty, the ($7,000) engine was going to be replaced at VW's expense. They tried to have me done by the end of the week - but the wrong engine was sent. So they have to keep my car a few more weeks in WV. In the meantime, they rented me a car (again, at VW's expense) and I have to go back in about three weeks to pick up my car. At some point in all the drama, I lost my debit card. I cancelled it after checking that no one had used it (thankfully), but it was one more annoyance.

I have to give major props to Moses VW in Huntington, WV (these people are golden). Also, the folks at the second toll plaza who let us use their bathroom, checked on us in the middle of the night, and came out to help shove my car up on the trailer (while I fearfully clutched the wheel and tried to guide it up the ramps). I've always said that I love going on vacation up in WV because the people are so nice and it just reminds me that there are still lots of good people in the world.

So after all that, I got to grandma's house and took a nice walk around the yard. FYI, grandpa died last Sept so this was the first visit to grandma since the funeral. Grandpa liked pawpaws and had several trees in the yard. I inspected them all for caterpillars, and while something had been eating it, I couldn't find anything. Grandma said they had a couple of late frosts when I asked why there was no fruit. I did find this little guy sitting in the yard. I think it's a Carolina Satyr, but feel free to confirm or deny. I didn't have my book with me, but I knew it was in there!

Then there was this little hairstreak.

Edited to say I was looking in my book and I think it looks like the Eastern Tailed Blue. We don't get those in my parts so I wasn't sure what it was. Feel free to throw in your opinion!

This message was edited Jul 22, 2007 7:20 PM

No idea what this guy is. I know my picture isn't so great either...

I just remembered I think this was a crescent I was chasing.

This message was edited Jul 22, 2007 7:21 PM

One of the things I wanted to do on vacation was return to Oil Springs, KY - where last year we found two Long cemeteries, one of which holds my GGG-grandfather. I had been doing genealogy research for quite some time, and found a site that listed where they were buried. We went in May of last year and found them (along with a third cousin who was there cleaning up). My grandpa told my dad it was one of the best days of his life (and I had been worrying about dragging everyone around all day). When he died last Sept it made me feel so grateful that we had that one last trip together, as it was the last time I saw him.

This year, after I photographed all the tombstones in the first cemetery (for genealogy research) I found a few butterflies.

Somehow it made me happy knowing the butterflies were around.

Oh, that's an amazing pic, Deb! I think this is another PVS, on my butterflybush. It's so nice...the butterflies are coming back! Also the Queens have finally returned . I haven't spotted one in the yard (have seen them elsewhere in the area), but I know one has been here....found several little cats yesterday on a milkweed.

We then headed down the hill and across the creek to the site of my GGG-grandfather's cemetery. It has been really overgrown, although someone had come by and cleaned it up a few months ago. You have to go on someone's private land to access it, but as they have two cemeteries on their property, they are super nice about letting people come and visit. In fact, the owner said he had seven carloads of people have a reunion last year on the other cemetery (the Yates family). He also gave us his number and address so we can contact him before we go up again. We'd like to put a little fence around the graves, and he was fine with that. Here's the little cemetery in case you're curious.

This message was edited Jul 22, 2007 7:22 PM

After clearing all that land, and righting two of the tombstones which were leaning a little precariously, we were hungry. So we stopped at Wendy's just north of Louisa, KY where it had just finished raining. As I was eating I noticed a bf flying around in the field past the parking lot. It landed on the ground and seemed to be staying there. I told myself if it was still there when we were done eating, I would go investigate. Apparently, the rain had set the bfs to puddling, as this one seemed to be doing...

It's a red-spotted purple, right? BEAUTIFUL!! I was so excited to see it; my parents just waited in the truck as I ran around taking pictures of it.

I also saw one of these guys at Wendy's, but while Mom watched it as I ran to get my camera, he flew away. However, I spotted some more a few days later. Grandma needs some work done to her house, so we made trips to Home Depot and Lowe's. I decided to peruse the gardening section at Lowe's since I wanted to know what kind of plants they sell in WV (the same as in FL but with less palms and more rudbeckia and echinacea varieties). While at Lowe's there were at least ten of these guys flying around.

These are the Silver-Spotted Skippers right? Like I said, Mom and I saw the one at Wendy's but he flew away as soon as the camera came out. The ones at Lowe's were far nicer and went flying around stuffing themselves on the veritable buffet of flowers.

Vincas are yummy!

By some miracle, one of the yellow sulphurs (Dogface?) actually sat still and I got a photo! This one liked the salvias.

So grandma had a heart catherization (spelling?) last week and they did an angioplasty. She's had bypass surgery so I figured this was nothing compared to that and she was feeling much better. In fact, the doctor said if she rested all week she could go to the family reunion up at Cedar Lake. But when we got there, grandma thought she had a urinary tract infection. Given her condition, we spent the afternoon at the ER to get her checked out. They gave her antibiotics and she is feeling much better. While we were waiting I decided to roam the grounds in search of bfs. I found some bushes and small trees that formed an informal hedge out in the field and there was a small stream flowing nearby. I saw several bfs including this guy...

I like how they're light below and dark on top!

I was a little suprised to see a monarch! Is this some kind of milkweed it's on? I know there are some pink varieties.

I've never seen a Red Admiral in my area, but you guys post lots of pictures of them. So I was pretty sure that's what I saw flying around. The little guys land, but never for very long. I was in the midst of chasing them to get a perfect shot when it was time to go, so I'll have to show you my less than perfect pictures.

I was following it with my eyes when it suddenly decided to land - ON ME! I wasn't prepared to take a photo so close and this is the best I got.

Millie,
Nice shots and I enjoyed the sharing of your trip. Too bad about your car problems on the way. You saw quite a few bfs as you did your visiting along the way.
Nice pics of the PVS Deb and Linda.

mellielong-

Holy cow! That's quite the story. At least you got some cool butterfly pics and you have a better attitude than I would have had. ;*>

Jenny

Nice pictures.. and you sure a wonderful person...
Elaine

I hear ya Jenny, Our Millie is a real trouper!!

Millie Welcome back.. Sorry it had to be such a hassel..Go fig, over 100,000 mi mark, and kablooy! Good thing they are at least fixing it. I hope it goes at least another 100,000 and serves for a lot more better butterfly trips up to WV! I enjoyed reading about your trip. Really glad you're back in one piece!

The little butterfly you were chasing is definatly a Pearl Crescent.. The one you think is a Silver Spotted Skipper is correct. The one above the Monarch pic is probably a Gray Hairstreak, and the Monarch is on a Pink Milkweed.. very good! Nice to see that growing out there in the wild! The yellow guy is a Clouded Sulphur.. definatly not a Dogface. (It is easy to confuse them.) You did find a pretty Red Spotted Purple, and I thnk your right about the Eastern tailed-blue. The top one does look to be a Carolina Satyr. Wow Millie, thnks for taking the time to share your trip with us! Nice butterflies!

Thank you Sheila and Linda! What a nice shot yourself of the PVST!

Waves at Elaine o/~ nice to see you!

:-Deb

Ditto what Elaine says. Even though you had car trouble, I'm glad you had quality family time & got to visit your ancestrial cemetary.

Deb, you're super sweet and I love your photos but I do need to clarify one thing - my screen name is MEllie, as in nickname for Melanie. I've been meaning to tell you that for a while, but just hadn't gotten to it. No problem though!

As for having a good attitude, the way I view it, I'm basically getting a new car. I've tried really hard to keep up maintenance, and even one of the guys at the toll booth said it looked brand new. So I figure with a new engine in it, it should last me at least another 100,000 miles (let's hope anyway). I'm thinking it's one of those "blessings in disguise".

I was hopping between the Dogface and Cloudless in my book and couldn't make up my mind - like the crescents, they're so hard to tell apart! My book also says I'm right on the border of the Red Spotted Purples, so I was super happy to see that one. I kept thinking I would see lots of bfs in the woods, and yet most of my pictures were right in the city - at Lowe's, Wendy's, the ER. While we were clearing the cemetery there was a swallowtail flying around, but I couldn't tell what kind. I'm glad you're happy about the milkweed. I didn't think about what it was until I uploaded the pic to my computer and got a good look at it. By the way, the Red Admiral, Monarch, and that Hairstreak were all in the field behind the hospital - proof that you can find a diverse bf population even in the city.

When I go back to get my car I'm going to have to pull over and take some pictures of the wildflowers. Right now in WV there are these blue flowers that I think must be some kind of cornflower or maybe aster. They are sooo pretty and you know how rare blue is in the garden. The rudbeckias were also in bloom everywhere we went - I'm so jealous! And for the second year in a row I have to say NC wins for having the best flowers in the median of the interstate. I drove by a cosmos mix that was breathtaking, and last year there were miles of what looked like Flanders poppies. It's a good thing there wasn't a lot of traffic as I'm sure I was weaving looking at the flowers!

As for my neck of the woods, my gulf frit cats are still hanging out. One of them is so fat he must be getting ready to make a chrysallis soon. I seem to have less cats than when I left. How long do they take from egg to chrysallis, and what does the chrysallis look like? I spotted more eggs on the passion vine and on the fence, and there were a few tiny cats. I saw a GF butterfly zoom past the window this morning on that side of the house. A zebra longwing also flew by me this afternoon; I saw it checking out my abutilon (which Dad still can't believe looks just like a maple tree, LOL). I was yelling at it to come back when it flew into my neighbors' yard, and some lady was going by walking her dog; I'm sure she thought I was insane. A swallowtail (looked kinda like a Spicebush) flew over and past me. No luck with pictures today; I'm too tired to run far. I'll be out in the garden more tomorrow. We got a lot of rain this past week and the weeds are huge! I have to get out there and reclaim my flower beds!

Welcome back Mellie. : )
Sounds like you had an adventurous trip. Love your butterfly pictures.
I had to laugh at you yelling at the butterfly,.... I do that too. lol : )

~Lucy

I like to yell at lots of things. I have a habit of talking to inanimate objects, so I would think that butterflies, being living creatures, is actually a step forward for me. : ) Plus, they've proven that plants grow better when talked to, so maybe one day the bfs will listen, too. It's just not fair that they have wings and I don't - how am I supposed to keep up?

I talk to my cats and chrystalis, so when they are released they recognize my voice and may come close again. :-))

This Tiger Swallowtail must live in the woody area behind my property. He/She passed all my flowers without even checking them out.

Oh yeah Deb! (Nice shot!) That's because it is a 'he'.. They will stop nectar when they get really hungry, otherwise they whiz by looking for a mate.. One track mind..(The female has a lot of powder blue along the lower dorsal wing.) Females usually take more time to nectar and touchdown their feet on a lot of plants. so they can taste, (with her feet) if they are a larval host.

So sorry Mellie... (How goofy of me to miss that?) I am very glad you said something. Yes, and I too talk to butterflies.... so we are all in good company, lol! Some of us are even butterfly whisperers...

Mellie~ Kim & Mike (on the road), gave me permission to use a couple of thier photos for a presentation I am doing, and for non-profit educational purposes.. I will post 2 of their pics here so you can see the 'dogface' in the Southern Dogface.

another of Southern Dogface>

Last one of SDF> This one is Cat's pic, (TexasPuddyPrint) also very good outline of the dog's face with the backlight.

While I'm at it might as well post the pic of the cat with the above...

Here is another one of Cat's pictures. This is the Southern Dogface Caterpillar.

Wow, I'm learning a whole lot today. Those are great photos - much better than my book. It's nice to see different angles too.

When I checked on my cats yesterday, I had one that was so fat I thought that he better become a butterfly soon or he wouldn't be able to fly he'd be so chubby! This morning I came to check on him and he was in the classic "J" shape.

Then, this afternoon he looked like this...

When I left to go to the store, this guy was hanging out and he was still there when I returned. My caterpillar is going to look just like this! That's glandularia tampensis (Tampa Mock Vervain) by the way; it just started blooming again. As I drove in one of those white butterflies actually landed on my blanket flower and sat still for a moment, but of course I was in the car with a bunch of cold groceries...

FYI, where I sit at my computer I can see out the sliding glass doors into my side/back yard. I just saw a zebra longwing go up over the roof and there's the usual swallowtail flying around my neighbor's yard (what does he have that I don't, LOL).

I know Spanish Needles are a great butterfly plant - I even read that in one species the males need the nutrients contained in them so that they can mature sexually. But they've always been a weed here in FL, and I'm trying hard to change my mind about them. Maybe I can prune them to grow in a prettier manner. They're growing between the glandularia in the above photo and this little duskywing seemed to be enjoying them.

The above photos were across the street at the entrance I take care of. While standing there I saw something flying around my neighbor's yard so of course I had to investigate. Apparently, the duskywings also like frog-fruit http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/62730/ I've seen it grow in the local preserves and the little yellow ones seem to like it too.

I think this guy is another duskywing but I only got the side view of him so I wasn't 100% sure.

Do you see how he seems to have tails? I think that's why I was confused. I was trying to imagine him if I was looking straight down and it didn't seem like he would be a duskywing.