Scarlet Runner Bean Host plant for Skippers!

I haven't posted in a long time. (Y'all know me ... I'm all over the different forums on DG!)

I was out working in my garden bed this morning and saw this skipper ...

laying eggs on the newest tiny leaves of my Scarlet Runner Bean vine. Apparently it is a HOST plant for Skippers!

The butterfly was ALL over that vine!!! Laying eggs everywhere! Just thought I would give y'all a head's up on another host plant in case you didn't already know that they like this vine as well as Cannas for their cats. I have Cannas in my yard too, so this is quite a surprise!

Not a very good photo, but here you can see the egg that the Skipper just left.

This plant does double duty as well ...

It is a nectar plant for Hummingbirds! (Which is why I am growing it in the first place!)

We saw a hummer out nectaring from the blooms in my front yard garden on Friday. My daughter even got a photo of it on her cell phone! It came back several times, so I put the feeders back out in the front and back yard. Haven't seen it since that one day! But now I know they are here during the summer months too! I wasn't expecting to see any until September. So that makes me thrilled!!!!

I think the hummer was a juvenile because it didn't know what to think of the feeder. My other hummers go to the feeders first ... and then the flowers! :-)

Here is a photo of the entire vine! It's really pretty!

It has pretty orange flowers that are smallish, but much be loaded with nectar!

Congrats Becky!!!!

Are those from seeds I sent you? I can't remember who I sent SRB seeds to. I'd planted one last year in a pot hoping to attract any butterfly that uses legumes as a larval host but all I got were hummies checking out the red blossoms. I neglected to keep it watered and it keeled over :o(

Will have to plant more for the fall season seeing how those skippers are using them!!!

~ Cat

Cat - I got the seeds during the 1st Annual Seed Swap here. I can't remember who I got them from.

I was amazed to see the Skippers using it! And I love the vine! It's so attractive climbing along my fence! I will be watching for the little caterpillars now! :-)

Way cool!!! Do keep us posted on that skipper life cycle. I love the red blooms on those SRB vines :o)

~ Cat

Becky, thanks for sharing this discovery. I'm camping out here to see new development on those cats. Thanks for sharing.
Kim

Oh yes, keep us posted. I have Scarlet Runner Beans and they will be blooming soon. Will have to check on skippers. also see if my hummers like it. The hummers here love my Red Cypress Vine.
Elaine