You have stunning butterflies Molamola.
Today, there were lots of little ones that joined me for lunch like this Checkered Skipper.
DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 53
I can't figure out what this orange one was. When it flew around it was very orange.
This Snout photo is kind of blurry. It was so small and there was nothing big around it, so the camera wouldn't focus. I keep thinking that I should learn how to do manual focus but then I remember that I can't see very well! That would never work!
Thanks, Elph! Not very many, but proving to be worthy of paintings. Your's are just as nice!
Ha, manual focusing? I remember my girlfriend spending SO long trying to focus. My butterflies don't hold still!
A huge bright yellow butterfly zoomed through the yard earlier, but it was on a mission and didn't hang around for even a tour of the flowers. Hope I see that one again, thru my camera lense!
I think this must be a leafwing on this old fruit! At last my fruit have summoned some takers...the leafwing, Red Admiral and some ladies today.
And here the Red Admiral has its wings open a bit.
And this is a Common Checkered Skipper...I believe.
Linda, what a haul! The big one in the first photo looks like a Question Mark.
Enjoying the sunlight, which doesn't last nearly as long as it did last week, is a VF and American Lady. The VF's were the butterfly of the day...almost as many of them as sulfurs! Only got to 35° last night, but still too cold for my BF's.
Oh...thank you, Elphaba! I think you're right....from what I can see of that top wing, it does look like a Question Mark!
All my Polydamas keep coming out at night - they're very confused, LOL! Mom let two go this morning after we kept them in a cage all night. I also had a Zebra ST come out yesterday and I put him on the porterweed as usual. I even set him in the sun so he could warm up. I don't remember what time it was, but I know there was still a few hours of daylight left. Anyway, when I left for work this morning he was still in the same spot. Just for kicks, I touched him in a few different spots and didn't move at all - I guess butterflies do sleep in a way. Mom saw him fly off after it warmed up which made me happy; I was afraid a bird might get him while he was still cold and sleepy!
It's cold here and they say colder tomorrow. Fortunately, we have plenty of solar power to keep the butterflies powered up. Also, I was noticing how many flowers are still blooming. In fact, the parks department had an article in the paper telling everyone how the preserves are at their peak right now because a lot of native Florida wildflowers bloom in November - including the endangered Florida goldenaster. I've been trying to avoid the preserves lately because I'm afraid I'll pick up more caterpillars! I must take a break!
Melanie
I'm afraid the BST cat I brought in from the cold is going to eclose so that I'll have to release him in freezing temps.
Since my BFs appear to have gone for the season, here is a pic of a Red-spotted Purple taken earlier this summer.
Martha
Love those RSP's! The BST can overwinter, so it needs to be in an unheated area...some use unheated sheds, etc.. I don't have any unheated enclosed area. So mine have to be kept in cages that can't be accessed easily by ants and critters outside on a covered deck. Nature equips the chrysallis to go through natural freezes and such...no biggie! What I hate is when my area has prolonged out-of-season very warm weather in winter...sometimes they eclose early because it seems like spring.
This message was edited Nov 18, 2008 10:04 AM
Is this a Peacock.?..Got his picture last week...when it was WARM...very chilly today in central Florida...and windy...
Yes. I just love those White Peacocks! And rarely see any. We've had 3 nights in the 30's...including one freeze the first of those nights. But it was nice and warm yesterday during the afternoon. And we should start leave those chilly 30's behind tonight. I'm happy for the butterflies sakes.
Sneaking a peek over the porter's weed...
ah, you think that is bad, it was 19º today when I was filling my bird feeders! I have all my BST pupae in a plastic container still sitting on the patio. I suppose I will move them in to the garage, but that's unheated too.
Mrs_Ed,
I can relate - temps in the 30's today with 25mph winds. Last flutterby
sighting a couple weeks ago - one of the little white dudes. I now have to
content myself with the antics of the squirrels & blue jays over peanuts!
Looking forward to next year's BFs & hummers.
Happy Holidays everyone!
haha. Well, That is SOME entertainment!!
I think this is a Clouded Sulfer...last week...haven't gotten any photos this week...too chilly and windy.
Beautiful! What plant is that?
ok...another one I'm looking for...back to the www.naba.org!!
Elphaba, that looks like some kind of salvia. mjsponies, that orange one is a Gulf Fritillary.
It's a purple salvia of some sort...LOL...I used to have a tag for it. I've got them all over the place. Started w/ two plants and just take cuttings and stick them in a bucket of water. The butterflys love them...They do well in lots of sun or deep shade. Here in Florida in the middle of summer they like a break from the sun in the middle of the day but the ones that are well established ok. Otherwise...carefree.
Mellie...Thanks for the id...I've got pics of BFs but haven't gotten around to id'ing them. Getting it done here pretty quick!!!
Hubby says this site has created a monster....more like I just finally have a little time to devote to something I've always liked!!
Grrrrr....I've been working late most days this week and have to go out of town. Finally got the computer up and running last week and have been trying to read up on what's happening on our local butterfly list server.
Found out I've missed so many butterflies!!! Wahhhhhhhhhhh!!!
A 1st US Record Glaucous Cracker was photo was seen in Starr County!!!
Lacey's Scrub-Hairstreak, West Coast Lady, Blue-Eyed Sailor, White-tailed Longtail (Urbanus doryssus), Strophius Hairstreak, Yohoa Scrub-hairstreak, Ruby-Spotted Swallowtail, Isabella's Heliconian, Greenback Ruby-eyed Skipper, Tailed Aguna and a Many Banded Daggerwing were all seen from 11/08/08 through 11/17/08.
I've seen a couple of those over the years but the majority of the ones I've missed out seeing would have been lifers for me. GRRRRR!!! I need to win the lottery so I can spend my days butterflying!!!
~ Cat
ps...next year I'm going to put in for vacation during the fall season!
This message was edited Nov 19, 2008 6:53 AM
Yeah Cat, ....you will have family coming down from all over the country! You will need to take off to show us the best bf spots!! LOL!
That was a lot of missed opps for sure, hate that you missed them.
That plant looks like it could be Mealy Cup Sage maybe.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2871/
Another buckeye was here today...just wish the buckeyes had come earlier to use their host plants!
Love the Buckeye. I have yet to see one. I have lots of these though -- Gulf Frit on what else, the pentas!
I think this one is a Painted Lady. No Queens or Monarchs today...sulfurs, ladies, Red Admirals, Buckeye and Variegated Fritillaries, etc.
A lady, I think it's an American Lady. Still waiting for our low temps to get to 40 or above...it almost did last night, but not quite.
Can we show pictures that were taken earlier in the year? I think I'll just go ahead and do that since I have a couple pictures of species that I haven't seen posted here. You seem to have a lot more species than I do, and I would expect that since I am in a dry climate, but I do have a few that you probably don't have in the Gulf region.
This is a western tiger swallowtail taken with my old camera which did not have the best zoom or image stabilizer.
Sure Kelli.. Post any butterflies you have. What a lovely Western TS!
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