for all the thumbs guys!

I am awesome, aren't I?

I think Jack's awesome for knowing those skippers. I'm still trying to learn all mine. But I did hear back from BAMONA about the skipper in this post: http://garden.org/thread/view_... It's called an Ocola Skipper. You can learn about it here: http://www.butterfliesandmoths...

I also must defer to BAMONA on a picture I sent in a long time ago. They said it was a Cabbage White but I didn't believe them because I don't see Cabbage Whites here and it was too yellow. But now, after seeing Jack's photos I have to say it looked just like that. I shouldn't argue with the experts. But to this day that's the only Cabbage White I've seen in my area. I guess that's a good thing since they are technically invasive (and we know how I feel about invasives).

Wonderful skipper photos, J, and I love the illustration of how cabbage whites can be so varied in their color.

Cabbage whites are not my favourite butterflies. It is so hard for me to grow cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli organically here. Their cats just devastate them. The little monsters are introduced here. Are they native to America or feral there too?

According to Wiki, they were introduced to North America around 1860. Their natural range includes Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

I get tons of them in my backyard.

HBM last night...strange, many of the pics show through moth's wings as illustrated in 2nd photo.
at Sapphire Showers

transparency

Literally a Hummingbird Clearwing?

Awesome shots J! That first one where you have the face shot is priceless. It looks like transparency in #2 AND #3. Fabulous!

Can I just say that the use of the word "feral" in combination with butterflies cracks me up? Like, usually you hear about feral cats or raccoons or even people. So I guess I have this idea of a feral butterfly holed up in a tree with a bottle of nectar with a torn, faded wings and maybe a twisted proboscis. Like some old hermit butterfly that's like, "Get off my property, you carpetbaggers!" Ok, Melanie is going back to imagination land now. No pictures today, went to the movies instead. Will be seeing "Guardians of the Galaxy" tomorrow and enjoying every second of it.

mellielong said:Can I just say that the use of the word "feral" in combination with butterflies cracks me up? Like, usually you hear about feral cats or raccoons or even people. So I guess I have this idea of a feral butterfly holed up in a tree with a bottle of nectar with a torn, faded wings and maybe a twisted proboscis. Like some old hermit butterfly that's like, "Get off my property, you carpetbaggers!" Ok, Melanie is going back to imagination land now. No pictures today, went to the movies instead. Will be seeing "Guardians of the Galaxy" tomorrow and enjoying every second of it.

I had to rescue a butterfly today. It was inside the screened porch, caught it in my hands, had to have hubs open the screen door so I could release it. Bemoaned the fact I couldn't get a photo b/c my hands were tied up cupping it.
Went for a walk after dinner & the same ones were everywhere flitting about. I had the camera in my hand but they did not want to pose. Teasing & taunting me! Then I got back & lo & behold, there's one sitting on the outside of the porch screen. A bad angle to try to get a photo but I knew if I dared touch the screen while trying to get a better angle, it would be bye, bye baby. Can't remember the name.




Caught this grey hairstreak resting the other day. It has a torn wing. It kept rubbing it against the other one. Made me wonder if they feel pain. It was like when we rub an area on us that is hurting or damaged. I had to enlarge the photo.

Looks like a Little Wood-Satyr (Megisto cymela)

It sure does! Thanks J. They are very common here, I see them all the time. After reading about them, I know why. We have the perfect conditions right down to the centipede grass. They're really pretty little things but darn hard to catch on film. Now I know why I can't catch them nectaring either.

I love the little Woody-Satyr! I have never seen one before--it is so pretty. So glad you were able to rescue him! :-)

Poor little hairstreak. I hope he does okay with his wing.

Little Wood-Satyr - common in midwest, they say. I've personally seldom seen it.

Just to make you feel better Ann, I don't know how many Hairstreaks you've seen, but they ALL do that rubbing their wings together thing. Whenever they sit still, the rub their wings back and forth. So it had nothing to do with his wing being torn, it's just a natural behavior for them. I can't remember exactly why they do it, or if I ever read why they do it. But it's super common. I always think it's fun to watch them rub them back and forth. It might be to fool predators. You know, they have those tails and eyespots near their tails so predators get confused as to which end is up. So the rubbing of the wings might make it look like the false eyespots are the head moving around when really their actual head is holding still. Just a thought. But it's totally normal.

And butterflies lose large parts of their wings and still fly around and act normal so I think they get along just fine. Even in the flight cage where we protect them from most of nature, the butterflies still get old and worn out. The color fades, the Swallowtails lose their tails, and some of them parts of their wings. They still fly just fine and I've seen some even in the wild that I couldn't believe were still flying. I kind of like having a few damaged ones at the museum so I can tell people, "This is why we don't touch the butterflies!" If I had a nickel for every time I've said that...

Thanks Melanie, I didn't know the hairstreaks rub their wings together like that. I wonder why I never noticed? You probably hit on why though. Fool the predators.

I put in a request for a bug/butterfly ID forum if anyone wants to go and voice their opinions and ideas

The thread "Bug/butterfly ID forum?" in Site Talk forum

It's been brought up before Ronnie. Probably get shot down. There is a pests & diseases ID forum & every time this is brought up, they point to that.
http://garden.org/forums/view/...