Counted five Cyna Blues today flitting around the Snake Herb at our local NABA Park. One was laying eggs and I was watching with the binoculars...but alas, you know it goes when you set the binocs down - I lost sight of the egg - UGH!!!
Anyway, did get to photograph a Cyna Blue couple - heh heh.
It's amazing how tiny these butterflies are!
~ Cat
Love was in the air...also photographed these Soldiers :o)
~ Cat
Nice pics of the tiny visitor.
You get some really nice butterflies at the NABA park! Wish we were close by!
I've got Cyna Blues on my sidewalk.
GK....do you have a better focused photo? Those don't look like Cyna Blues. There appears to be orange on the hind wing. Cyna Blues aren't supposed to be that far north. As far as I know Illinois gets only the following blues:
Dusky Azure
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Marine Blue
Reakirt's Blue
Silvery Blye
Spring Azure
Summer Azure
The only ones we get in Texas that are the same as Illinois are the Marine and Reakirt's. Sure wish we'd get some Azures...those are quite pretty.
~ Cat
I guess I don't know what kind they are, cat. Sorry I don't have a better photo. Under magnification I see the orange on the hind wing.
They are attracted to moisture. I'd finished hosing down the sidewalk when a group of 6 to 10 came around. When their wings are spread the topside is a grayish blue. I couldn't find any photos like them in BugFiles.
Gary
Gary...
Lots of blues enjoy puddling. We get them by the dozens back at the ranch after a rain or whenever I re-hydrate scat back at the ranch.
Perhaps you can check out the BAMONA butterflies and moths website.
Here is the link for the Illinois butterlfies. Scroll down and look at the links for the blues - am sure you'll recognize the butterflies on your sidewalk.
Do let us know what species it is you have there. Hope we get to see more photos!!! They are such dainty little butterflies :o)
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/map?ds=14&_dcs=1
~ Cat
It's an Eastern Tailed-Blue, Cupido comyntas. The photo was a reasonable match even to the point of the orange markings. The top sode looked the same as I remember. When they mentioned it was rare to get a pic of them with open wings that pretty well cinched it for me.
Sorry about my mistake. I'm new at this.
Gary
Gary,
We're all here to help each other out. Glad you were able to ID those butterflies.
Best time to get a photo of them with their wings opened is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Most butterflies will try to capture the warmth of sun so they can get to flying - they are cold blooded so need to warm up to get moving :o) and as for the setting sun - some will try to get the last vestiges of the warmth before they turn in for the night.
Of course, catching them puddling always helps. They often times are so pre-occupied they don't even move when you get in close for photos :o)
Hope to see you sharing more butterfly photos. Remember there are lots of butterflies you get up north that I don't get down here in the south :o)
~ Cat
This message was edited Aug 22, 2008 8:59 PM
