Caught a side view too.
DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 48
Also found a Sulfur nectaring in their bf garden.
And one last shot as we left of a Queen on their Mist Flower.
It was a nice walk out in the fresh air on a beautiful day.
Any idea what this caterpillar is? I got it narrowed down to sphinx...but which one? Not sure but am leaning towards Pink Spotted Hawkmoth - but I've only seen the green morphs - this is the first brown one I've seen.
~ Cat
Yep! You nailed it Cat..
http://bugguide.net/node/view/3084
:-D
This Two-tailed Tiger cat is acting kind of strange. Ever since the instar that turned it green, it has been on the side of the container of water that I stick the plant stems into. I never see it anywhere else. I know it eats, because the leaves are eaten fairly often, but I just can't catch that cat moving. It must wait until I turn the lights out and go to bed to eat.
And this is the only VF cat I've found so far. It moved to the Maypop when I put some in there and even tried the Sweet Violet leaves. I've got Agalinis blooming, but no Buckeye cats. I haven't even seen a Buckeye butterfly yet!
A GST cat...this is mainly what I'm raising now. Lots of these!
Thanks for the confirmation Deb :o)
Linda...that caterpillar is acting like the Pink Spotted Hawkmoth caterpillar I brought in to raise. He doesn't move a fraction during the day but by morning all the morning glory leaves are eaten to the stem. Guess that's their way of not catching the attention of a day time predator.
Also photographed a Lassaux Sphinx (Erinnyis lassauxii) moth a couple of days ago. Wasn't able to get a good open wing shot but a moth man identified it for and said it is a male and they are supposed to be somewhat rare ere.
I only photographed it because I'd not seen one like this before. Frankly, I think he's a drab looking fellow but am glad I got some photos :o)
~ Cat
ps...now where is a colorful Sunset Moth (Urania) when I want one?
cold and windy today, so just this fall form eastern comma this morning trying to warm up.
Love all those pictures. I need a new pentax... with that good lens.
Does anyone have an idea on these eggs. They are on my Giant Milkweed.
Thanks,
Elaine
they look like aphids to me. eggs with legs. LOL
oh,, no. bet they are/were. Thanks
:o) Yep, aphids...aka yellow eggs with black leggs :o) Kill 'em!
Love that Comma! We don't get those here :o(
~ Cat
We can't all be colorful Cat, lol! Like your Sphinx moth!
Linda...you getting a lot of different guys going at once, way to go! I haven't had a buckeye this year either.
Elaine....hehe yep were is more like it.
Mrs. Ed....It is about time that you had one with the wings open for you.
I had gone to have lunch with a friend and release one (fe)Monarch when I returned, then saw a male later, hopefully I will have some eggs tomorrow. I also got to see a Painted Lady that was hanging out on the deck when I got home. DH had taken lots of pics, so I will share one later. My GST had made it's chrysalis yesterday so all is well with him. My last two Monarchs (for now) are in their chrysalis and so far I have only lost two to parasites due to not bringing them in early enough. I have five that are turning dark in prep for emerging tomorrow morning. Oh and I almost forgot!....two of my BSTs emerged yesterday morning from chrysalis I have had for months!! I had started spritzing them weekly and put them out in the morning sun. All in all I had a super enjoyable day with the bfs. Too tired to post pics tonight but will tomorrow.
Have fun in the sun tomorrow everyone!
Linda, I'm glad you showed your Green Lynx spider photo, I've got to go look it up, I think it's the same spider I've been finding so much in my garden. I've noticed many times it is on a strange looking brown thing, I don't know if it's an egg case or something? Have you noticed it? It's very light in weight, feels like the same kind of stuff a hornet's nest is made of.
And I've got a VERY strange chrysalid in my GF cage, I wish I had your camera and expertise, Mrs. Ed, to take a photo! My little camera could never take a good enough closeup. This thing has gold shiny spikes on it, about a half inch long, it looks like a jewel. I had nothing in there but GF's and a couple of VF's, this looks like a pretty mutant. I'm going to TRY to get a photo.
Okay, just looked up the Green Lynx info, that funny brown thing I've found them sitting on is an egg sac, full of future little green lynxes. One mystery solved!!
Just have to figure out my weird chrysalid now!!
Thea I think it is a VF chrysalid. They are very beautiful
Does it look kinda like this?
http://www.pbase.com/image/67921904
Lucky you if it is :-)
Thanks Thea. It helps to have a macro mode. Even my Kodak point and shoot has that and takes good close ups, but I have to actually BE close too!
That's my problem. I have to get close to the butterfly for my camera to get a good one....and they are usually a bit skittish about large creatures such as humans being that close.
Yup. Now this new one I have to be at least a few feet away! So i can do a better job.
Cold and windy here today though, Probably not much for pictures. boo hoo. I am soooo going to miss them when winter is here.
I bet from your description it is what Debnes said, a VF!!! I haven't been lucky enough for one of those yet!
Thea...your description sounds like a VF chrysalis. They are beautiful - thar's gold in them thar hills!!!
Lynx spiders abound. I find numerous ones at the ranch and there's always a butterfly in their clutches. Needless to say...they and their egg sac go underfoot!
Does your camera have a 'macro' mode? Look for something that looks like a "tulip" icon. Most digitals nowadays do...it works good even in the less expensive cameras.
~ Cat
This message was edited Oct 1, 2008 1:27 PM
I looked up Thea's camera and did not see a macro mode. Oddly there is a "foliage" setting.
When I had that couple a few weeks ago at the museum quizzing me about all things butterfly, I thought they were through when the wife came back. She said, "What do Monarch eggs look like?" The husband added, "Do they move?" I laughed and said, "No, those are aphids." Elaine just reminded me of that. We all have to learn these things sometime.
Two of my Zebra ST eggs hatched today! That makes six of the caterpillars. My Viceroy eggs look like they're changing color so I'm keeping an eye on them.
Melanie
Keep us posted on the eggs Melanie!!
Well Mrs. Ed, it's really insulting that you know more about my camera than I do.
Yup, I just came across the foliage setting, as I spun the little dial thingy around. Haven't got the foggiest when to use that.... But I do notice the little tulip on the other dial thingy. One of these days I'll learn how to USE this camera.
And yes, I think you're right everyone, it DOES look like the VF chrysalis in debnes' link. It IS beautiful!!!! I so hope I didn't do damage to it when I held it to look at it under a magnifying lens. I didn't know they looked so different from the more homely GF chrysalis!? How can that gold be so GOLD, it actually shines, it's the most beautiful and strange little thing!!!!
Thanks for the info, all you great butterfliers. I learn something new just about every day, on this forum!!!
I'm psychic.
Woohoo, it is a VF!! You are blessed to have that baby!!
Todays pic.
Thea...that tulip on the dial thingy is to set your camera on the macro mode. I pretty much leave my camera macro setting on all the time. It doesn't affect distance photos and makes taking those close up quickie shots so much faster and easier. ~ Cat
Yay Frit!!
Thea, here's what I looked up on your camera: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona510/. In there what I missed was this info on the Macro :
• 5cm macro mode (Wide), 30cm (Tele)
So rock and roll!!!
My DH had a visitor while I was gone to have lunch with a friend the other day and she/he is still here!! We have two long planters of tiny zinnias on the deck and for two days a Painted Lady has been flitting from one to another and running the bees and skippers off.
I can almost hear "...their mine..all mine!". lol!
Then we caught a pic of this little Red Banded Hairstreak; first in my yard, or for my camera.
I released 6 Monarchs yesterday and they were all female!!!
So look out boys! I have about 7 maybe 8 to release today. Guess I need to get dressed and go to the shop and check on them. Have fun in the sun today everyone!!
We are getting rather long on this thread...
What great pics Sheila. I do love the people in this thread. Such a big help to have for each other right here and handy.
Here is your new link to page 49!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/909073/
This message was edited Oct 2, 2008 1:40 PM