Okay, other things...let's see. I found out that plant I thought might be milkweed at 60 mph but sort of looked like Joe Pye Weed actually is Joe Pye Weed. I looked at some up close and checked the plant database and it's Joe Pye Weed. Oddly enough, the butterflies weren't really on it. I saw two butterflies I couldn't photograph. There was a Pipevine ST also flying about 60 mph and a little sulphur that would not stop. It sort of reminded me of the Barred Sulphurs here in Florida but it was a little different.
The community center is located right by the middle and high schools, but they have this nice little field they mow around that had lots of wildflowers. I'm so easy to amuse. Give me a good field of weeds and just turn me loose! I had to be careful though because some of those plants had big thorns on them! Let's just say I was picking briars out of my arm and I was bleeding. But if you aren't willing to bleed for butterflies, why are you on this forum?
Still, Dad was shaking his head at me. But I'm not the woodturner who had a chainsaw accident and who broke his finger when a piece of wood fell on him! So he has no room to talk. I did go wash up in the ladies' room; I think I'll be fine. My allergies are bothering me way worse than a scratch on my arm.
Okay, so let's get to the pictures. First off, I did find some milkweed, but it's gone to seed! They were stalks with no leaves! Now you may think, "Melanie, how did you know it was milkweed if it was just seed pods?" Well, milkweed seed pods seem to have a particular shape even in different species. These were like, super giant milkweed pods to me. But the real giveaway was the milkweed bugs all over the seed pods. They eat the seeds. I always tell people if they don't want the milkweed bugs, cut off the seed pods. It won't eliminate them totally, but it will help. And in case you're curious, I totally took a bunch of seedpods and put them in my car! What, you thought I would let that opportunity pass me by? Not a chance! In the third picture, I found what I think was a seedling. I pulled a leaf off and you can see the milky residue that came out. Let's just hope this species grows in Florida! I saw at least three different Monarchs today. I pointed them south and told them to get going! I hope they were just fueling up for the trip.
I think this is an Eastern Tailed Blue. But real raggedy.
More of that suspected Great Spangled Fritillary. I'm having butterfly envy. I know I should appreciate the Fritillaries I have, but I like the other ones, too! Technically, Florida gets the Gulf Fritillary, which I see all the time, and the Variegated Fritillary, which I've only seen a few times. FYI, Catmint posted a Variegated Fritillary earlier. Nice! One of the times I saw a Variegated Frit was at Grandma's house in WV. BAMONA even said it was a very early record for that species (it was mid-April). So I see a Great Spangled Frit (love the name) and I'm all, "Oooh. Ahhh."
There were a ton of Skippers but I think I got at least a couple different kinds. I'm going to send all my pics to BAMONA to see what they think. I kind of want to know what host plants these skippers use. Some of the males were clearly harassing the females, but I didn't see any egg laying. But it made me wonder if their host plant was nearby.
I think this is also an Eastern Tailed Blue. I don't think the other Blues have those orange spots at the bottom.
And here's a Monarch all by herself. Looks like something tried to take a couple bites out of her, but she's a fighter. She can make it to Mexico; I know it!
Today I tried to capture 3 of the Cabbage Whites dancing around each other, but they were just too quick for my camera!
Wish they had one like that for Maryland species.
