I went to the USF gardens today to test out my new camera and check out the butterfly action. There was a lot going on! My first sighting was this beautiful Giant Swallowtail enjoying some duranta.
DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 35
It's funny, last night I was showing Mom the difference between the Monarch and the Viceroy. I didn't even notice until I looked at this picture on the computer, but it was a Viceroy I saw today, although there were plenty of Monarchs around as well.
There were plenty of Gulf Frits. This one was ovipositing on passion vine.
I kept trying to get a picture of this Pipevine ST but this was the best I could do. It was laying eggs on this pipevine, but it sure does do it quickly. Most bfs pause for at least a second, but not this one! Of course, a leaf broke off and I felt responsible so you know I had to adopt the eggs!
Some of the eggs were laid on the flower which I thought was neat. I wish a Pipevine ST would come lay eggs on my pipevine flowers...
Another Giant ST came by looking for a snack.
And I found a cat on the pipevine. It's been kind of quiet on this thread lately. C'mon everyone and tell us what's going on in your neck of the woods!
Melanie
I wasn't sure if this guy was coming out today or tomorrow, but here he is! This Gulf Frit was a very patient model while I tried out my new camera.
I've found 3 RSP cats now. Then today I saw an RSP butterfly toward the end of my driveway. As I watched, it went across the street....to a black cherry tree on the other side of the street! Darn...the neighbors don't mind, but it's a large tree and the BF was landing on parts of it I don't think I can possibly reach. Oh well! Maybe it'll come back over and visit smaller trees over here next time.
The Monarch was dead the next time I ventured outside.
I'm sorry Gardenpom. That's just sad. Hopefully, it was old and ready to go. Still beautiful even in death.
I just took this one. I didn't get a photo of the underside of the wing, so I guess it could be any of the black swallowtails. It does have tails. They show up better in another photo, but you can see the whole wing in this one.
Looks like you've got a Spicebush ST there. Nice!
Here's a Cassius Blue with it's head literally in the plumbago.
I hunted around a little and found a Cassius Blue cat in the plumbago. I've never raised one so I decided to bring this one inside and watch it. I circled it for you because these guys are super small. The dark spot at the top of him is his head.
And the pipevine STs are starting to hatch! By the way, the preserve where I like to hike is taking part in the Spring Season Butterfly count for NABA (www.naba.org). Mom and I signed up today. Next week we have to attend the training session and then on the 24th we'll be out surveying butterflies. Sounds like fun!
Melanie
Almost forgot...I have a cat I've named Stripey. I don't usually name them, but I rescued Stripey from being eaten by a larger Zebra ST cat and since then we got attached to each other. I thought he was still a little small, but apparently Stripey thought it was time to make a sling. Except - he didn't do a very good job. You ever get a caterpillar that you think is "differently abled"? I think Stripey must be one of those. He built the sling, but somehow he forgot to put himself IN it. I've had cats before that never made slings or I accidentally knocked them loose, and they still make the chrysalis just fine so I'm not worried about him. But it just makes me wonder what was going through his little caterpillar brain.
Melanie
I'm glad you circled that Cassius Blue b/c I never would have found him! Thanks also for the ID on the black butterfly. It looked like a Spicebush to me too, but I wasn't sure.
Nice shot of the Spicebush E! Haven't had those here.
Melanie....sweet little PVST babies! I haven't had those but hope to this year. Would never have seen the blue!
Your Stripey is nice, what will he be? Could it be a moth? What was he eating when you rescued him?
Here is a Mourning Cloak I caught some pics of this weekend. This shot shows a rough looking almost bark look.
This is the same butterfly but the upper wings look soft and regal with the blue spots.
Those Mourning Cloaks are so pretty - we don't get them here. Sheila, Stripey is a Zebra ST cat. Sorry, I forgot to mention that part. They're the ones I raise the most of so they're kind of my "default" setting and I forget to specify. This morning he was still attached by his butt to the side. He's leaning at an odd angle, but he's ok. When he makes his chrysalis I'll either scotch tape him to the side or just take him down and put him in a separate container. I keep calling him my retarded caterpillar; when Mom saw the picture of his sling (without him in it) she said, "Maybe he is retarded?" Even the sling he did build was kind of messy looking and not as organized as the other ones I've seen. Stripey is the kind of cat that would never have made it in the wild so I'm glad I found him. I hope he turns into a wonderful Zebra ST!
Too funny. Hope you and Mom enjoy your training in prep for the butterfly count you volunteered for.
Well, I got tired of Stripey leaning to the side at that weird angle. It just looked uncomfortable. Since I was going to do it anyway, I took him down from the side and now he's resting comfortably on the cheesecloth. I was touching him a little trying to make sure he was still alive. Then, I touched him some more since he wasn't responding. I know cats will move less when they're making their chrysalis, but they'll still generally wiggle enough to let you know they don't appreciate what you're doing. Finally, I touched his head capsule near his mouth and his tail started wiggling. I thought I imagined it so I did it again and he wiggled again. Stripey is alive! He should make his chrysalis anytime now and I'll be here cheering him on.
Melanie
I meant to post this a while ago, but it was on my camera that got dumped in the bay. Luckily, the SD card was ok and I recovered my photos. I just love the little prolegs on caterpillars and the way they hold things with them, especially the way they hold leaves when they eat. For some reason, my Zebra STs are eating the stems on the pawpaws which they never seem to have done before. It's weird. But I took this picture so you could see how cute caterpillars can be when they cling to things. Who needs a fuzzy pet when you can have something this adorable instead?
Melanie
He IS adorable! Is he laying on his back while he eats? I have two PawPaws growing. I've never seen any Zebra ST in my yard. What are the other butterflies use Paw Paws as a host, Melanie?
I saw a butterfly yesterday that, according to my butterfly book and looking online, looked like a meadow fritillary, but that is not appropriate for my location (south Alabama). It was nectaring on the Gaillardia (blanket flower). I did not get a picture. Any ideas what it could be?
Thanks!
Lucy
I don't think any other butterflies use pawpaw but I did see something in one of my books about a pawpaw moth. I've also seen an unidentified caterpillar on pawpaw while out hiking. I actually found two of those unidentified cats on different occasions so it seems like more than a coincidence. Still, it was likely a moth species.
The cats eat while on their back, on their side, upside down, right side up. They're really not particular. I like when they roll around with the leaf. Or when they've eaten so much of it they have nothing left to hold on to.
Lucy, try looking through this site to compare a side by side picture views of the various Fritillary butterflies. Maybe seeing a picture of the one you saw might help you id it.
http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-1species.asp?sp=Achalarus-lyciades
Click on the "all Mass species" then click on the "brush footed" to find all the Fritillaries.
Thanks so much! I'll try that.
Hi all! This thread is getting long so I started a new one. Please join us over here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/848741/