Garden butterflies

[Meadowlark]

Check out this Giant Swallowtail dive bombing an unsuspecting Gulf Fritillary!

 

[Anniekay]

The only one I know the name of is the first one you posted. It's a Swallowtsil and they can get very large. I used to try and catch them in a big glass jar when I was a kid. Didn't have much success, though.

 

[Meadowlark]

The only one I know the name of is the first one you posted. It's a Swallowtsil and they can get very large. I used to try and catch them in a big glass jar when I was a kid. Didn't have much success, though.

When I first started this thread, I did not know the name of any of them...only knew the Monarch and haven't seen it yet. I'm really enjoying getting to know them better. They are so beautiful and so critical to our gardens.

By the way, allow me to welcome you to our Forum.

 

[Meadowlark]

Tough Id today. This smallish butterfly is somewhat elusive. The closest I can come on Id is the Fiery Skipper.

Anyone have a better idea ...@Sheal ?

"The fiery skipper, Hylephila phyleus (Drury), is a common butterfly in the family Hesperiidae . Hylephila phyleus is widely established across the southern United States and Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, and lower elevations of South America to Argentina . Adults are often seen flying near flowers. "

 

[Sheal]

Sorry Meadowlark I can't help you with that one. To me it resembles a moth more than a butterfly.

 

[Meadowlark]

Thanks. The wings swayed me to butterfly: "Butterflies tend to fold their wings vertically up over their backs, while moths tend to hold their wings in a tent-like fashion that hides the abdomen."

They were numerous today:

 

[Meadowlark]

The more I learn about them, the more I realize how amazing they are. The Painted Lady I posted here above may have travelled across the entire Atlantic Ocean. That is just remarkable to someone who was involved in sending humans to the Moon.

These Butterflies Flew Non-Stop Across the Atlantic Ocean

MSN

 

[YumYum]

For the ones who grow brassicas, cabbageworm moths have a hand in pollinating my watermelons and cucumbers. Not as pretty though.

I was at the VA hospital today and saw a Monarch in 3 pieces. Two tail pieces and a head peice with two wings. I bet a bird caught it and ate the body portion.

 

[Meadowlark]

Yes, I wouldn't think the wings had any food value to a bird.

 

[Meadowlark]

The Tiger Swallowtail is certainly one of my favorites since I picked up the butterfly bug. They are spectacular and frequent visitors especially to the Phlox blooms.

 

[Tetters]

We're beginning to feel very worried. We have plenty of plants out that appeal to our butterflies, but have seen hardly any, and the ones we have seen are gone in the twinkling of an eye, before we can point a camera

 

[Tetters]

Today the sun came out - briefly, and I saw one butterfly. I didn't have my camera with me, and so asked a camper nearby if they could photograph it with their phone. By the time they got the phone out it had gone. It was a red admiral. I also saw one bee on the lavender.
Zigs looked on the beekeepers forums this morning, and it seems that although the hives are managing, there are hardly any wasps or hornets either. They are blaming the fact that we haven't really had any summer yet, and it won't be that long before Autumn sets in. The weather has certainly affected the veggies growing as well.

 

[Zigs]

Bit warmer today and we both saw some butterflies, 3 Cabbage Whites, a few Meadow Browns, a Red Admiral and this...



A Small Tortoiseshell

Like Tetters, I've been getting really worried about the lack of butterflies, we have several Buddleia which are normally covered in them (known as the butterfly bush)

 

[Meadowlark]

Interesting article on UK butterflies

MSN

As British butterflies head north, scientists ask public to help track migration​

 

[Zigs]

Interesting article on UK butterflies

MSN

As British butterflies head north, scientists ask public to help track migration​

Hmm, be interesting to see what effect this year's abysmal weather has had on the results Mr Lark. I've never known so few butterflies, ever, not ever ever

 

[Zigs]

I disturbed this moth's chrisalid when I was moving some stuff a few weeks ago so I put him somewhere safe till he hatched out.



Turned out to be a Black Arches moth.

 

[Tetters]

To me, this makes no sense at all. Butterflies and bees wouldn't suddenly migrate anywhere - surely they have noticed that there doesn't appear to be very much ''warming'' around here this summer. Maybe they are reading the wrong papers.

 

[Zigs]

First Comma of the year today

 

[Meadowlark]

I have seen those here also but haven't got one in a photo...yet.

 

[Zigs]

You might not see this Meadow Brown straight away...