If anyone wants to see the life cycle of the Pale-banded Crescent (Phyciodes tulcis) please have a look-see at Jan Dauphin's (a local butterflier) photos on her community webshots. She has raised numerous rare butterflies and they have a yard count of 142!!! She is also in the process of raising Blue-Eyed Sailors :o) She's also got lots and lots of great butterfly photos on her CWS page.
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/561300356mRjveO
~ Cat
This is a Pale-Banded Crescent
Hey...at least I was lucky enough to catch them mating! ROLF!!! :o)
~ Cat
TPP Nice pic of the Pearl banded crescent. And thanks for the tip about J. Dauphin's website and photos. Lots of good info there and beautiful photos.
Can't believe she has a count of 140 butterflies for her yard! Quite a record! (What is her yard like?!)
If I ever get down to the RGRV I will be sure to study her site in depth!
I'd say the actual growing area is only about 45x45. However, they knew what they wanted and they hooked up with a landscaper that specializes in creating gardens to attract birds and butterflies. Everything they planted is native to this area and provides food, shelter or nectar. They also planted numerous larval hosts to attract uncommon and rare butterflies.
The annual butterfly festival includes their yard as one of the tour stops for this part of the LRGV :o)
~ Cat
45 x 45 growing area is quite a nice space. I lust after that much room! And so many butterflies...
Yep, I've got to get down there for the butterfly festival! Sounds like fun!
Cat, you must give off some kind of pheremone that puts butterflies "in the mood". Is there a species you haven't seen mating? : )
Melanie
Ha! Ha! Melanie :o) All those photos come with the territory....you gotta remember we get about 320 species down here throughout the year and since our weather is nice and warm it's the perfect mating season for them several times a year.
Tab...I guess I keep thinking it's small since it is in a retirement village filled with mobile homes. Am assuming on a lot that is 45x100...that 45x45 would be left over around the home?
I have several times that much around my house...but alas, when I contacted a landscaper to remove the lawn and revamp my yard to turn it into a butterfly friendly garden I was quoted $5,500! I told myself I could it for a heck of a lot less...but have yet to get off my duff and really get 'er done.
So far I have planted along the perimeter of my fenced back yard and around three sides of the house that can be seen from the front yard...and I have potted plants under trees, on the porch etc but still have way too much of a neatly mown lawn that I do not want.
~ Cat
