Very nice, Melanie! I saw some butterflies today also, but didn't have the camera around...Gulf Fritillary (I've released a couple of newly-eclosed ones lately), American Ladies and sulfurs. The warmer temps are encouraging them to fly again, I guess.

A Gulf Fritillary stopped by today.



And the Queen is out doing her thing.



I also saw a Cloudless Sulphur, both in my yard and over in St. Pete (I went to the St. Pete Indie Market to buy an orchid from St. Pete Orchid Farm). I still have the Monarchs flying around, too. I almost had a picture of a female but then the male swooped in and they were off doing their mating dance. And yesterday, the Zebra Longwing showed up. Didn't see the Long-Tailed Skippers, though I'm sure they're still around. I also have LOTS of Monarch caterpillars.

Christmas butterflies?!!!! Wow! I really miss them!

We Southerners (and maybe some Californians or even those in other countries?) will try to keep you guys in the colder climates going until Spring!

Thank you!

Well, I forgot to take my camera to the museum with me but things should be better next week anyhow. My boss has either been trading or ordering butterflies and we got in some Julias, Buckeyes, and Checkered Whites. The Whites surprised me because they are typically very much a spring butterfly since the host plant they use in our area, Virginia Peppergrass, dries out in the early summer. Maybe they use other plants wherever she ordered them from? We're feeding them some kind of cruciferous veggie - I won't swear that it's cabbage, though. I should probably ask.

I had to bring in my orchids (again!) so I was out and about in the yard today and got a couple of pics for everyone. Here's my favorite Monarch friend.



And here's one of my Monarch caterpillar friends. I can't find most of them anymore; I think they got big enough to go make their chrysalises.



There aren't as many Long-Tailed Skippers flying around but I still have caterpillars on the butterfly pea so I'm sure there will be more soon.



I tried to get some pictures of a Cassius Blue that was flying around but he was too small to focus on. It didn't help that he was missing the back third of his wings - something really took a bite out of him! Hope everyone enjoys the pics and have a Merry Christmas!

Thank you for posting the photos Melanie, and a Merry Christmas to you too!

I'm just kind of hanging in there through this holiday season, not very cheerful lately. But I hope everyone else enjoys their holidays. I just saw this story on PBS and they mentioned it was also on their website...glad to see they're trying to keep this matter on the minds of the public!
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb...

Merry Christmas Linda, I know you have a lot on your plate right now, I sure hope 2014 is so much better for you and your family.

Hope 2014 is better for you Linda! I saw that article, too and posted it on my Facebook. I worry about a country where in the future Monarchs are only found in pockets in FL, CA, TX, etc. It would be such a shame to lose something as wonderful as their migration. I'm not much of a traveler, but I do think it would be magical to go to Mexico and see where they spend their winter. Plus, I think it's important to support the Monarch economy so they don't turn to other money-making endeavors like illegal logging! But I like that the article addressed how the Monarchs are helping the economy and people are being paid to reforest their habitat while at the same time maintaining a separate forest they can use to sell wood for energy purposes.

Here's a few more from today.

The Long-Tailed Skippers were out again. This one is kind of blurry because he was pretty far away. These guys jump around a lot! Hence, the name skipper!



I found a Monarch (and his frass) on my Giant Milkweed. The one Monarch I had out front that made its chrysalis turned brown, a sign of OE infection, I think. Upon closer inspection, the ants were already in it so I broke off the leaf and threw it in the yard. I have two other cats on the same plant and I don't want them infected.



Here's the Queen laying an egg, although I have yet to find any Queen cats. And upon seeing this photo on my computer, I noticed you can see a Monarch cat on the extreme right side of the photo! I didn't even notice when I was taking the shot!



Here's a couple more of the Queen just hanging out.



And the Monarch dropped by for a second.

Hello everyone, yes I am still alive. Recently the Dallas Fort Worth area had a ice storm. Prior to the temps dropping to 27 or so, I searched the MWs once more and was surprised to find about six cats and four or so chrysalis. I brought them all in knowing they would die. All except one successfully eclosed and was released.

I tagged some I had released prior to the storm on Dec 3rd. (photo) only found a few nectar blooms. I didn't tag the others because I had to get the document and unused tags in the mail. Those I released on a 60-65 degree day but not sure they could find nectar in my area, but they at least had a chance.

Great news, Sheila. They are beautiful!!!

Good to see you, Sheila!

Well, the bad news is I forgot my camera yesterday when I went to the museum. The good news is, I volunteered an extra day today to help out with holiday coverage and I brought the camera today! Yesterday, the butterflies were pretty active even though it was mist-raining. It was about 75 degrees, though. However, that cold front came through and today it was only 61 so they were all in a holding pattern except for one strange Zebra Longwing that kept flying by me. They're strange little butterflies.

My boss has been buying or trading from other butterfly farmers and got some Buckeyes. Sorry this is blurry; it looked fine on my camera.



We have lots of Julias, too.



The Zebra Longwings were really roosting close together! Maybe because it was cool? Check out the row of them in the background, as well!



And a lone Monarch was hanging out up top.



It's supposed to get in the 40s tonight, but never fear! We have a heat lamp in the flight cage to keep the butterflies warm. The guests tend to cluster under it, too!

I'd be hanging with the butterflies too! Thanks for the beautiful photos-like a breath of lovely colorful painted warm air in a frigid climate!

The clustered Zebras are really cool.

Thanks J (and thanks for the acorns)! From what I've read, Zebra Longwings are one of the few butterflies that roost together like that. I've seen them do it several times before, but this seemed to be the biggest cluster I've seen. We do have a lot of them in the flight cage right now so that's one reason, but I think the cooler weather might have something to do with it, too. The downside of it is, sometimes a lizard or a frog will get in the flight cage and the boss has walked in to find "mass carnage" of Zebra Longwings. They sleep (or whatever it is butterflies do) really deeply. I've read you can pick them up and move them to a different location and they don't even realize it or move (I haven't personally tested this theory yet). So they're kind of like sitting ducks and it doesn't help when they're all together and some predator finds them. Luckily, our screen has been holding up lately, although the boss is looking into getting it replaced.

Lovely pictures ! I really enjoyed them !

Hey everyone, keep enjoying the pictures in the new January thread I started: The thread "January 2014 Butterflies, Moths & Larva" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum