Name: Dave Dayton, TN (Zone 7a) Blessed beyond all merit.
Wow! and very pretty painted lady! I haven't seen these here though they are supposed to be quite common. You would think that as many as are raised for release by schools and individuals that they would be all over.
I wonder why the Vanessa's aren't more prevalent ... I rarely see them here in my area and they sure are beautiful! Maybe I need to grow more plants that are hosts for the caterpillars.
The American Ladies like Sweet Everlasting here as far its host plants, and when I have seen Painted Lady caterpillars that were on thistles. There was a Juniper Hairstreak that just lingered a long time on these milkweed vine blooms. Even when I got right up close, it didn't fly off. I wondered if it was okay.
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
Love that Juniper Hairstreak! I went to the museum today and got a few nice photos. We have quite a variety of caterpillars now so I expect to see lots of good butterflies in the next few weeks. We have Atala caterpillars now but they were too small to get a clear picture of; I'll try again next week.
Eastern Black Swallowtail
Monarch and Zebra Longwing
Great Southern White
Zebra Longwing
Finally, I was pinning chrysalises and when I got to the Cloudless Sulphurs I found a neat one. I know they can vary in color from green to pink but this one was almost purple! Very cool!
Linda, That Juniper Hairstreak is one gorgeous butterfly ... great shot! It must not have felt you were a threat ... or maybe it was just too hungry and didn't notice?
Melanie: Great series of photo's! That Swallowtail is awesome and I love the shot of that Cloudless Sulphur chrysalis!
These are a few from this morning:
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, male (I think):
Zebra Longwing:
Still sporadic sightings of Monarch's, this one was visiting the Pentas flowers this morning and I also found four Caterpillar's on the Tropical Milkweed:
And a few minutes ago; The White Peacock which always visits the Lantana. I've never seen it at any other plant, it perched and rested on the grass for a few minutes before heading back to the Lantana flowers:
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!
J, I think you got it right. That's definitely a Blue, not a Hairstreak. I don't get the Eastern-Tailed variety down here although I have seen them while visiting West Virginia.
and an Eastern Tailed Blue (I think, if not, could be a Gray Hairstreak) > 
