What's Flying Around

[ButterflyLinda]

These are two kinds of the butterflies that were around today. Common Buckeye, always good to look at! And I think the other one on an old banana might be the Common Wood Nymph. Also, there were the usual suspects...lots of Gulf Fritillaries nectaring and laying eggs and Black Swallowtail...ditto, some Variegated Fritillaries and one Giant Swallowtail.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by bridget1964

Yes, your photos are definitely of a viceroy. Sounds like you had a nice walk!

Thanks, Mary. It was because I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of you that I looked it up. Upon seeing it, I thought of posting that the monarchs had finally arrived here. Glad I double checked.

Yes, it was a great walk. Sometimes I feel it is not the safest road to walk on, but I do like it--last summer, I was looking down the bank at the stream and saw what I think was a mink! That was a first for me.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by Cirsium

I think this is the Spring Azure butterfly. Interestingly the caterpillars are tended by ants.
Species Detail | Butterflies and Moths of North America

Very cool to know!

Originally Posted by MrILoveTheAnts

I was hoping to attract this sort of butterfly to my yard. I actually attempted to plant $35 worth of Lupinus perennis seeds for the endangered one of those. My rough clay soil was to much for it though, none of the plants survived. Toying with the idea of mixing in a patch of sand somewhere and trying again.

I do have a New Jersey tea growing though, that's at least a host for one of those butterflies that does the ant thing. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

I have lupine in the flowerbeds the previous owner(s) planted--I'm guessing it is not the native one-- which I'd love to find. My soil is moist but well drained.

I gotta get me some N J tea!

Originally Posted by ButterflyLinda

These are two kinds of the butterflies that were around today. Common Buckeye, always good to look at! And I think the other one on an old banana might be the Common Wood Nymph. Also, there were the usual suspects...lots of Gulf Fritillaries nectaring and laying eggs and Black Swallowtail...ditto, some Variegated Fritillaries and one Giant Swallowtail.

Great pictures, thank you. ...I might have to start putting out some old bananas.

[ButterflyLinda]

I forgot I had a pic of some Variegated Fritillaries also. Looks like they're having a good year... one of the two is on Maypop, which they have used as a host plant lately.

[jack]

Originally Posted by dapjwy

Very cool to know!



I have lupine in the flowerbeds the previous owner(s) planted--I'm guessing it is not the native one-- which I'd love to find. My soil is moist but well drained.

I gotta get me some N J tea!



Great pictures, thank you. ...I might have to start putting out some old bananas.

If you find a source for the NJ tea, let me know too!

[swamp thing]

I saw this cloudywing skipper on the compost pile today. I guess () it's the Northern Cloudywing, Thorybes pylades.

Species Thorybes pylades - Northern Cloudywing - BugGuide.Net

Species Detail | Butterflies and Moths of North America

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)

[Gloria]

Today was a good sunny day after all the rainy or cloudy windy days we have had. Everything is flying. Here are a few in the garden today.

[jack]

Great pictures from both sources. I'm perpetually jealous. Though there were plenty of bees and wasps here, I didn't see a butterfly!

[amelanchier]

The monarchs arrived here late last week, and I've been seeing more and more of 'em. Makes up for those JB's.

[ButterflyLinda]

There must have been two species flying around here lately that I have NOT seen...just judging by caterpillars. The first pic is probably a Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail cat, found on a Hop Tree. The second (really small caterpillar) is a Red-spotted Purple caterpillar, found on Escarpment Black Cherry Tree.