DAILY Butterflies Page 25

Woohoo!!! I was able to photograph a Banded Orange Heliconian (Dryadula phaetusa) today!!!

Went and met up with some friends who were out butterflying. I missed seeing a Tropical Greenstreak by about an hour but around 4pm a lady drove up from another park and was showing us photos on her camera. She thought she had photographed an Isabella Heliconian and wanted us to look at her photos. It was an Banded Orange Heliconian!!!

Man oh man, I've never seen so many scramble for their cars and speed off to the other park (about a mile from where we were at). The butterfly was still there and many were able to get photos too. This is a big butterfly - a tad bigger than a Julia Dryas and much more striking. It realy stood out in the garden. Very vibrant - a real looker!!!

The last time we saw one was in 2003.

~ Cat

This message was edited Dec 8, 2007 7:03 PM

Ventral view of the Banded Orange Heliconian (Dryadula phaetusa) .

~ Cat

Oh my, Cat. What a beautiful butterfly. : )
~Lucy

Oh my gosh, Cat! That is gorgeous! Dang! Wished we got them here! Thanks for sharing the photos! :-)

...also saw a Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius) but couldn't get close enough for a clear shot. I was about seven feet away when I took this photo. It was very flighty! Also saw a Cyna Blue (Zizula cyna) but that one was even more flighty. We all kept waiting for it to tire itself out but it never did. Just keep zipping around and never stayed put for more than a second. None of us were able to get photos of that one. :o)

~ Cat

Look at this sight and see one getting salty secretions off a crocodiles nose.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryadula_phaetusa

~Lucy

Lucy - LOL! That is too funny! What a neat photo!!!

Mellie...your little Blue looks like a Cassius Blue (don't think it's a Marine Blue - but don't hold me to that - I'm not sure what butterflies ya'll have there).

The Ceraunus Blue has black spots. I raised some Ceraunuses? Cerauni? (heh heh) last year. They were sooooooo cute and sooo tiny!!!

Here's a photo of a Ceraunus Blue...see all the little black spots :o) They are soooo cute!

~ Cat

ps...got so carried away with the Banded Orange Heliconian I missed seeing that huge swallowtail. Is that a Zebra or Tiger? It sure is lovely!!!

Same goes for the Giant Swallowtail. Got love those big black and yellow beauties too!

...and boyd!!! I'm not up on my birds at all...that that one looks like a predator/raptor? I purchased a book and lots of the butterfliers here were birders...I just can't keep up! Must say I did see some mockingbirds and another, not sure what it was, eating the bugs that got stuck in the butterfly bait at the park :o) Am sure any butterfly that gets too drunk to fly will end up as a meal too.

psssssss....TOO FUNNY! Loved that photo of a Banded Orange Heliconian perched on that caiman's nose!!! Talk about beauty and the beast! David and Goliath! That butterfly sure has some you know what to be perched there :o)


This message was edited Dec 8, 2007 7:48 PM

Here's another photo of a Cassius Blue.

~ Cat

..and one of a Marine Blue. Heck, after a day of butterflying out in the south Texas sun they all start looking the same to me!!!

~ Cat

The Banded Orange Heli is so perfect! Wow!! I can imagine how excited everyone was to photograph that beauty! The wee one is adorable too.

Just learning to use the camera here Martha. No spoofing. LOL!

Wow! All those beauties blown away!!! Thanks all for sharing such wonderful pictures.
Kim

The blues all look the same to me. I assume most of them are Cassius because of the plumbagos, but this one looked a little different. Dad (the mailman) was remarking today how he sees them all the time, "And they're just so darn cute". Mom and I stopped by a local nursery today and saw several Monarchs (we were identifying their gender since we learned how at a lecture). I also spotted a tiny caterpillar on the milkweed. There were also tons of White Peacocks flying around, and we saw another one of the blue guys. Mom was all, "What's this little one!?" She's like a kid.

Cat, that swallowtail is one of my Zebras. I've still got a few more in chrysalis waiting to be butterflies. No more caterpillars for now. : (

So true about the butterlies liking the natives and the "not perfectly manicured" yards. Across the street my neighbor's yard is mostly weeds (the house had poor owners before he moved in there), but he has tons of frogfruit and Spanish Needles so the butterflies are always around. The neighbor behind me owns 9.5 acres and most of it is just open land with a scattering of oak and pine trees. Nearly everyday I see sulphurs flying through his yard, as well as a lot of Gulf Frits. And now I know that the Zebra Longwings live at the other end of the street! I got into native plants first and that's how I was drawn into butterfly gardening. Really, planting a native garden or a butterfly garden are about the same thing!

Here's a pic of where I left my zebra swallowtail before he flew away. I had to go rinse off my hand where he squirted me anyway.

Love that Heliconian!!

Everyone, I've a bicapsularis senna that I've missed out on its bloom last year or so (for in the spring I've seen stray seedlings on the yard and couldn't figure out the source). Today, the weather was unseasonably warm on the 70'ish, and by Jorge! My Senna is putting out buds. What kind of b.f. are these hosts to? I'm excited to see the Senna finally in bloom. (Most year, the winter frost must have niffed off the blooms while I was inside by the fireplace curled up and tried to stay warm).

Wow! All of the butterfly pictures blow me away! My next duty is to find a book with colored pictures and a field guide so I can bone up on leps. Thanks all of you for the exquisite entertainment.

Martha

Kim, your senna is the host for the sulphur butterflies. Mine isn't budding, but it is putting out a lot of new growth. I bought it in October, but left it in the pot until a few weeks ago while I decided where I wanted to put it. It seems happier now that it's in the ground. Glad to know it's hot up in AL, too. It was really warm down here today; I look forward to the time of year I can garden without sweating buckets. I practically water my own lawn!

Martha, the Audubon field guide I have is good, but it's even better if you can find one that focuses on your region. I found a FL Butterfly book at Borders in the "Local Interest" section so that may be somewhere to look. Local bookstores also tend to have books that are specific to their area. It just keeps you from wasting time looking at butterflies that aren't in your region. I mean, eventually that's fun too, but it's usually best to learn the local ones first.

Thank you, Melanie. There is a Borders close by, and I will visit it soon.

Good luck with the Senna.

Martha

Martha -- Sorry it seems your question had been ignored.
I see you asked your question a couple of times....

I would not recommend getting a book at all.
Dave's Garden has THE PERFECT resource.
Here's the direct link to the main butterfly page.
Through it, you can start clicking every butterfly, and see everyone's posting picture of it.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/browse/order.php?bid=161

Also, I've been hitting my little local library every week, and still have not finished reading/looking through all the books available.

Also, here's another valuable internet resource.
It's a list with pics of butterflies specificially found in your state.
that way you don't have to learn them all, just the one's you're likely to see.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/map?_fc=1&x=221&y=168

Enjoy,

Paul

Ooh, magic! Thanks a bunch, Paul. This is going to be fun.

Martha

Thanks Mellie, I've learned so much from DGers' alone since mid season. I'm very graceful. Thank Paul for the additional info. and webpages. Martha, I'm glad to meet you here. I will observe the Senna and see how it does this winter. Sulphers, I've seen alot of them late in the garden. I'm glad now I've gained some new knowledge about these beautiful b.f.
Kim

Martha - On the sticky thread, there is a post about recommended books. I always check them out from the library first and then purchase them on Amazon.com as used because I have always gotten books in great condition for cheap! Just a thought. Here is the link to book thread:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/744904/

Thanks becky, I was about to dig that one up, lol! You are always on time sistah!

Great pics everyone, wowsers Cat the BOHeliconian is gorgeous!! I was picturing everyone scrambling into their cars to go chase butterflies, lol!! (I would have been one of those scrambling too.) "oOO Last one there's a rotten egg!!Ooo"
It really paid off big! Thanks for bring that pic to us gf!! Fine job!


True mel! Native plant garden and butterfly garden seem to be synonymous:-S

Well the cold finally got here... not freezing but rainy and 40 degrees.

We went to a party last night given by the boss at the company where magnes is assigned as a systems consultant*. I heard his wife was big on gardening and flowers, so I made up a few dozen pkgs of seeds with pics and info, and got a TX wldflower book by Geyata Ajilvski. When she opened it she burst into tears!! She said I must have heard her wishing... Now I am invited to go back and help her with how to sow everything. lol! They just moved there from their larger home, and there is a clean slate, except for some shrubs and a nice lawn.
What do y'all think. Candletrees in a wide circle around the pool?? ....(for starters)

...This should be fun!
Guess I am now a consultant* too... (Butterfly Gardening Consultant) I will have to add that to my card now, rofl!

Dear Mellielong and Lily_Love,

According to Butterflies through Binoculars: The West by Jeffrey Glassberg, Cassius Blue are found only in Southern Texas. Does this match with the findings of everyone else? The Marine Blues are found in our county though. According to the book above, the Marine Blues like legumes. Is cassia a legume also? I would like so much to attract those Marine Blue Butterflies.

Also, I have a winter senna that didn't bloom this year also. It was just sown last December 2006. I am not sure that it will attract butterflies in Southwestern Riverside County but I have been told that cassias(sennas) grow wild by the riverbed of the Santa Ana River. Let me know how big and how old your sennas are...

Thanks,

Chuck

Martha...sorry too...I saw where you wrote Deb sent you email so I figured Deb had emailed a list of good books :o)

I ( as well as most every butterflier here in south Texas) carry the Kaufman Focus Guide "Butterflies of North America" by Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman as they have added a section to the back that specifically shows butterflies sighted in south Texas. There are so many good books out there...it's hard to say what would work for you.

I have bought way too many books off book sites that are not what I was expecting them to be!!!

Will pass along some good advice...go to your local library or bookstore...or better yet, if ya'll have NABA park or other butterfly park/conservatory check out their book selections. You'll be able to judge the book by picking it up and flipping through the pages to see if it is what you want - rather than reading a short synopsis on a book website. If you do see a book you want and it is a tad pricey...then go look for it on ebay or Abe Books, Amazon or one of the book seller websites. You can get books that might not be brand new but they are usually in very good condition for a fraction of the price.

Deb...Congrats on being a big hit at the party!!! Candlestick Trees encircling the pool sounds decadent!!! A tropical haven indeed. I've not grown the Candlestick Tree before...how it is at dropping leaves and blooms? Are they messy? I know my Pride of Barbados drops leaves at the slightest cool front - the leaves make good ground mulch though :o)

Yeppers, you should have seen the clouds of dust! The road between the NABA park and the Bentsen Park is part gravel...ooohweee lots of dust flying indeed.

Chuck...am not sure about Cassia - seems I always hear about sulphurs using those. The blues seem to prefer more "beany" type hosts. Although they are supposed to use the Texas Ebony tree (which grows wild out here) I've not seen any on them before. Rattlepod (Crotolaria incana), Milkpea (Galactia), Scarlet Pea (Indigofera miniata), Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Purple bean (Phaseolus atropurpureus), Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) and Plumbago (Plumbago scandens) are what's listed as their larval hosts for the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I've seen them on the Scarlet Pea out here. Have been thinking of planting some beans vine in the hopes of attracting them as well.

I think someone posted a photo of a Cassius Blue from Florida on another post. I looked up BAMONA and saw it is found in lots of northern and central counties of Texas as well as a large part of Florida and the gulf states in between (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia). It is also reported in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, South Carolina and Virginia. Seems those little buggers can really fly :o)

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1582

I still don't know for sure...whatcha'll think? Either way you look at it those tiny butterflies are charming.

~ Cat

Chuck,
In regard to Sennas. There are many varieties/cultivars. The mentioned Cassia/Senna I've is 'Christmas Senna' or Bicaupsularis Cassia. This I've had for several year 3+ in a pot (not a good choice of planting - but it managed to have survive our winters). It died down to the base, and regrows every spring. This is the first time I've noticed buds on them. They're looking half-frost biten due to our hot/cold, hot/cold weather in the reagion.
Then I've a few Cassia Alata (these I understand will go to seed rapidly and that they bloomed much earlier than the 'Christmas Senna'. I've a few cuttings from DGer's friends from RU's plant swaps that I'm nuturing indoor for next year growth. I'm very new too - at learning about butterflies and their host plants. Hopefully with others' generosity in guiding me, next year I'd be a better contributor for newbies. I thanks again all for taken me under your wings.
Kim

Chuck,
The Cassius blue is indeed found in Florida. My Audubon guide says "Resident in S Florida and S Texas, emigrating through Kansas and Missouri; south to South America." Maybe because your book is focused on the west, it doesn't include info east of the Mississippi? Plumbagos are definitely the way to keep them around in these parts. I see one pretty much every day flying in mine. My senna is about as tall as I am; that would be 5'7". I bought it in bloom in October but now it's just got green leaves on it.

Melanie

Edited to say I have Senna ligustrina

This message was edited Dec 9, 2007 1:30 PM

Martha the book Cat just posted is a good one for me... It is listed in the link Becky gave up there. Another one listed there is Butterfly Gardening for the South by Geyata Ajilvski.. The Kaufman Focus Guide "Butterflies of North America" by Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman is a must have.
Geyatas book is no longer being printed, so you have to look at half price amazon or bay, but you will be so glad you did. It is a beautiful book, way beyond helpful.

Her natural pest controls in that book are worth writing an article about. I might have to attempt it.

The one Chuck mentioned is good too, I hear. I know Cat probably has it too.. "Butterflies through Binoculars".

Suppose i need to plant a bunch of Plumbago myself. I haven't ever seen the Cassius Blue here before though. We are a tiny speck on the map on the link at bamona.

Cat I have so many candletree seeds this year! You are definitely getting some. Have you checked your yellow mg's for seed pods lately?? hint hint..

debnes

I have lots of Cassius blues in my yard. I am sure it is my Blue Flowering Plumbago that they use for a host. They are such small butterflies that I often miss them looking for the larger butterflies.

What I seem to have an abundance of is White Peacocks and Skippers. I have a lot of their host plants in my yard. And I am seeing more Monarchs now too. All my milkweed plants are looking kinda scraggly from being eaten up. I think the wasps are getting quite a few of the cats. They seem to beat me to finding the little caterpillars! :-(

I am really wondering what my variety my Cassia bushes are. I am waiting for the seed pods to ripen so that I can see what the seeds look like. Sulphur Butterflies are the only ones that seem to use if for a host plant. The one thing about planting Cassia near water is that when it drops it's blooms and leaves, it makes quite a blanket of color on the ground. If it was planted near a swimming pool, it might make a mess in the pool. Unless it is planted outside of a screened enclosure.

The Cassia alata is an annual here, so I don't wait for it to drop its leaves. I cut all the seed pod branches off and before the leaves fall I cut the branches and place them where i want them on the ground. I've never seen the leaves drop off here. The pool in this yard is huge and there is a lot of space around it on all sides. She has a guy names Juan who does all the cleaning up and hard work.

Becky, The Cassia I have similar to the one yours, (I think it imay be a Lindheimer Senna) does turn yellow and drop leaves for sure.

:-)

Deb - The flowers on my Cassia look different than your Lindheimer Senna. And the pods are long like pea pods. I am curious to see what the seeds look like. I have no idea what cultivar these 2 bushes are.

You know, I rechecked the book I cited and it ends at the North of Mexico as well as the east boundary of Texas. I really wasn't checking for the East Coast in this book, sorry. However, it doesn't show the Cassius Blues in California, Arizona or New Mexico in Glassberg's text if I am reading it right. It shows that a close relative of the cassius blue that is found in Southern California is the Ceraunus Blue. Now I know that this butterfly spreads to East Texas also. Once again, like the Marine Blues these butterflies use larval hosts that are legumes. I have a few Buckwheats that are legumes (or at least nitrogen-fixing). Please correct me if I am wrong, that is how I learn.

Thanks,

Chuck

Paul, Debnes, Cat, Becky, and Melanie. Thank you all for book suggestions. I bought all of them!! At great prices through Amazon. You may think I'm extravagant, but I want to start a butterfly/insect book shelf in my little library. I'm gonna have a ball!

Martha

Martha,

If you're buying books, then you might like this one.
It is from our State's (Arkansas) lepidopterists, who's responsible for ID'ing the records within Arkansas, on the web site I mentioned above.
I'm sure that you may see several of our state's BF around your area too.

Arkansas Butterflies And Moths (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/Arkansas-Butterflies-Moths-Lori-Spencer/dp/0912456256

Good morning and thank you for providing me with the AR Butterflies and Moths book. It sounds like a good addition for me.

Martha

pford...I have that book about Arkansas Butterflies and Moths and I don't live in Arkansas:o) It's a really good one too!!! Many of the same species here.

I have most of Jeff Glassberg's books...but still carry the Kaufman Focus Guide everywhere I go. Have several copies...one for my computer desk at thome, one for the office, one for the car, one for my camera bag and several other copies that I've given away to friends and relatives to help identify butterflies so I don't have to drive 20 to 60 miles each time they call that there's a butterfly in their yard :o)

Jeff's baby is our local NABA IBP (North American Butterfly Association International Butterfly Park) located in Mission, TX. He comes down numerous times a year and spends most of the month of October down here too as that is when this area has their annual butterfly festival. Lots of the authors and photographers come here during the fall season.

Martha as well as anyone else....if you're interested in a book and stiff iffy about the synopsis - d-mail me...chances are I have it and will gladly take photos of various pages for you to see first.

~ Cat

Cat~
Thanks for the sweet generosity of your offer. It's a wet day to play in the dirt. I think I'm heading out to the library for some good reading.
Thanks, bbl.
Kim

This message was edited Dec 10, 2007 5:54 PM

Cat,

Thanks for the input. What is the Kaufman Focus Guide exactly? Is it something I could use here in So California? All this talk about books, I am going to the local library today to see if there are any others for our area that I don't have. I am sure there are.

I respect you, Cat, very much for increasing everyone's knowledge about butterflies and moths.

Thanks again,

Chuck

You definitely can Chuck!
The title is Kaufman Focus Guides, Butterflies of North America. On each page of bf info it has a map with the range of the particular butterfly.

Its a great and easy guide to use has good pictures, retails for 22.00, but you can probably find it at half price, amazon, or ebay.
ISBN 0-618-15312-8
Hard back is 28.50 at Target.com

Seems there is a new supplement online here Cat:
http://www.bowersphoto.com/Supp1sm.pdf

Chuck...check out Abe Books or Amazon or ebay first. You can get that copy for a few dollars less :o) There's no need to pay retail price for it :o)

I see where Amazon has it cheaper than Abe Books and Alibris...but Abe Books carries the new edition as well for about $12. There are also copies of both printings on ebay. When you do a search look under the ebay stores listings.

I have the most recent publishing as it includes the south Texas rarities...but ya'll in California and up north don't really need that new one unless you're down here with me.

Shop around...I know I bought numerous copies in the beginning of the year for an outrageously indecent price of $1.99 each. It was from an ebay seller I think...but I can't find anything now that matches that wonderful price.

~ Cat

This message was edited Dec 10, 2007 6:35 PM

I purchased Kaufman Focus Guide on Amazon yesterday.

Thanks Cat and Debnes. You are educating me daily. Better than a correspondence course!

Martha