The BST crysalis on the Garlic Chives.


The one forming on the Pink Salvia is in exactly the wrong place to get a decent photo.

Hunted for the two that wandered away and can't see them yet. Guess I won't work on weeding this garden bed for a while.

Greene!!!!!

Red Admiral Conference (reminds me of this pic from a decade ago )
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4


5
(2 in the center and another top just left of center)

not only for the red admirals but the beautiful coneflowers!

Thanks Ann

Greene, those look like some nice chrysalises! I especially like the one photo where you can really see the sling that it builds to hold it in place. Nice!

Jack, I know you're trying to make me jealous with your coneflowers and your Red Admirals and it's totally working! I still love that picture you took all those years ago!

Well, I've got three Black ST chrysalises that look like they're going to come out today. I opened one of the containers to look at the chrysalis and also to put a stick in there for it to dry on. As soon as I took the lid off, the smell of dill overpowered me and I had a sudden urge for pickles. And I cleaned that tank out - there's no dill in there anymore! I'm going to have to go go Walmart and buy one of those big jars of whole dill pickles. Man, I love those things.

Well, my sleep schedule is all over the place so I've been up pretty early the last two days. Yesterday, I came home from my Starbucks run and the big bumblebees and even a honeybee were already on the porterweed. I was thinking about how bees are so industrious to be out so early. But they've got the hive to think about whereas butterflies are all on their own. And I was chuckling to myself about lazy butterflies that sleep in when this Skipper showed up! I ran in to get my camera and checked the clock. It was 6:45 in the morning! I'm pretty sure that's the earliest I've ever seen a butterfly.



I submitted that one to BAMONA. I looked in my book and I confused myself thinking it could be two or three things. Anyway, the thing about Florida isn't just that it gets hot, because lots of places get hot. It isn't even the humidity, although we have that in spades. The thing is, it never cools off at night. There are nights in the summer where the low doesn't drop below 80. So when you ask how a butterfly could be out that early in the morning, there you go. It's already plenty warm enough to fly for them.

Slightly later, a bit after 8:00 am, I went back outside and saw this different skipper. I submitted this one to BAMONA and I guessed it was a Clouded Skipper. I have this vision of John at BAMONA (they tell you the name of the person who verifies your photo and John is the butterfly guy) shaking his head and saying, "Will this lady ever learn the Skippers?" No John, I don't think I will. And that's why I rely on the experts!



Now, I decided to do a bit of an experiment yesterday with the Tiger ST cats. As I explained before, I have three Sweetbay Magnolia trees. All bought from the same place, but one is about a year and a half older. And the older one has larger, newer leaves. It's where I found the two caterpillars. I think the two new trees were protected throughout the winter because when I bought them in March, they had all their leaves while mine at home had lost most of its leaves. I'm thinking maybe that's why the newer trees have smaller, thicker leaves on them. I've seen all three bloom and they have the same flowers so I was pretty sure they were all Sweetbay Magnolias as identified. But to be sure, I let the caterpillars decide. I took one leaf off the tree I found them on, and two leaves off one of the new trees. And check out what happened - each caterpillar chose a leaf from the new tree and ignored the leaf from the tree they were hatched on!



Look at how they've been munching and all that frass! I cleaned them up after I took the photo.



And speaking of happy caterpillars, the Io Moths are still eating Wisteria and growing. The other day one of my environmental groups on Facebook posted some folklore about moths and attached some pictures. One was an Io Moth so I mentioned how I had just released a Tersa Sphinx and was raising Io Moths. And a lady replied, "Don't you have to be really careful raising those?" The group responded before I could that the caterpillars do sting. I was at the movies, so when I got home I replied, "As if a few urticating hairs would stop this lepidopterist?" Because when you smack talk on Facebook, it's best if you use scientifically accurate words to confuse your opponent. Okay, here are the Io cats as of this morning.



Okay, a few things happened as I was typing. First, it just started raining. Yesterday it rained at 10:00 am. I'm not complaining, but what happened to our typical afternoon thunderstorm pattern? Maybe I should watch the weather. And Curtis, who is the moth and caterpillar guy at BAMONA, got back to me on one of my moths. He also seems to be the guy who approves most of my stuff when I go to KY and WV. I still haven't figured out the division of labor at BAMONA. Anyway, this moth has a super cool name and it's one I've never submitted before, although I'm pretty sure I've seen them around before. Get this - it's called "The Small Engrailed." Doesn't that sound totally cool? Here's the picture of it again.



Looking at the sightings map (http://www.butterfliesandmoths...), it looks like the only other Florida sighting has been up in Hernando County. That one was also on stucco. They must have a thing for it. In the meantime, I'm going to call dibs on using "The Small Engrailed" as my new band name.

I just checked Facebook and it was Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary that posted the moth folklore. I've never been to Corkscrew but it's on my list of places I want to visit. It's home to the Super Ghost Orchid which is a Ghost Orchid that blooms a LOT. It had four flowers on it the other day. Also, Florida Panthers live there, and like the orchid, are terribly endangered.

Here's their post about moths and associated folklore:

Folklore Friday: Only one insect, the Giant Sphinx Moth, has a proboscis long enough to pollinate the Ghost Orchid. It is believed that the moon lit glow of the white flower and scent of the orchid attracts the moth. Best case scenario is that the moth will travel to more than one ghost orchid and transfer the pollen.

Moths are ancient symbols of change, new directions and revealing hidden thoughts or dreams. If a moth is present in your dreams, it is a warning to pay attention and take care not to overlook things. If you are experiencing sadness or difficult times, seeing a moth in your dreams could mean you need to step back and take time to heal before moving forward and eventually you will see the light. The moth is a symbol of rebirth and rejuvenation. The Silkworm Moth symbolizes fertility. The Luna Moth represents spiritual growth and transformation, as well as wisdom and intuition; perhaps because of its association with the moon and lunar phases. The Polyphemus Moth gets its name from Cyclops of Greek Mythology. Cyclops means one-eyed giant.

Native Americans tell many tales of moths and butterflies. The Goajiro people of Colombia believe that if a white moth is found in the home, it must not be mistreated for it is the spirit of an ancestor who has come to visit. If the moth becomes troublesome, it must be carefully removed or the spirit may take vengeance against you. In Mexico an excavation site named Pottery Mound, revealed a pyramid with beautiful murals covering all of the walls. The most unusual were those depicting “Moth Men”. The creatures are a cross between a man and moth and have a coiled or curved proboscis. Archaeologists believe that the murals represent the relationship between the Datura plant and its pollinator, the Hawk Moth. The Datura plant, also known as devil’s weed or jimsonweed, is a powerful hallucinogen that was used for shamanistic rituals.



Okay, Melanie here again. I actually knew where the Polyphemus got its name because I read "The Odyssey" freshman year in high school. It's kind of hard to forget the part where Odysseus tricks the cyclops only to get back on his boat shouting, "I am Odysseus", which then causes Poseidon to drown his whole crew. And why is it that the crew gets punished for Odysseus being a jerk? I always felt bad for Odysseus' crew. He treats them like cannon fodder. Anyway, I forgot Corkscrew included pictures of the mothman murals so here they are. Do not confuse this mothman with the paranormal mothman of West Virginia (and that terrible movie). For the record, I've been to West Virginia and don't know anyone who has seen the mothman. Maybe you have to drink a lot of moonshine first? Oh, and please don't try any rituals involving Datura or Brugmansia. Teenagers try to do that every now and then and end up killing themselves most of the time. I hear some places won't allow you to even grow the plants.

BAMONA is working fast today which makes me wonder why none of us have anything better to do on a Sunday morning? Although, I suppose this is our fun. I like to imagine them at their computers, a sighting is submitted, they get an email notifying them, and John is like, "Game on!" By the way, I feel like John is proud of me this morning because I got the Clouded Skipper correct! The lighter one that was out so early in the morning is a Eufala Skipper, which honestly, is not one I had on my my short list. But that's why I leave it to the skipper experts!

Good news! I can't work around the plants in the raised bed because I don't want to disturb the chrysalises. Yesterday I kept busy moving plants and pots and I noticed that a potted Gladiola had fallen over (most likely knocked over by the dogs). As I set the pot upright - there was a chrysalis in my face. So 3 of the 4 caterpillars are accounted for; just need to find the fourth one.

This afternoon
Question Mark


Great spangled Fritillary


Great spangled Fritillary


Red Admiral


Question Mark


Red Admiral

American Lady amongst the Lantana

Greene found number three!

Jim, you're making me miss Grandma's in WV. She gets those butterflies, too. Well, not so much the Red Admirals but lots of Fritillaries and the Question Marks.

Dave, that's an American Lady to be specific (and you know I am)!

Well, two of the three Black ST butterflies have emerged. Number three looks like it could be any time but I thought that a few hours ago. I've got a fourth that looks pretty close, too. What's nice is that of the two that came out, I got a male and a female! So I can illustrate the difference for everyone. The male has more yellow and is on the left, the female has more blue and is on the right.



And while I was out there I saw a Long-Tailed Skipper.

millielong , yeas ago a few visits to an aunt and uncle that lived in Florida , if I had only known , (sigh)
I have seen some pearl crescent and a an Azure or Hairstreak , Small with blue on closed wings , gray with light outline on open wings , always forget which is which , so flighty , and difficult to pic ,

Why I get these ,,
Stinging Nettle , I am glad it is their Host and not mine , A not so social garden green and it bites too !!! Bad plant , down plant,






Sunbathing as evening arrives , call that puddling ?
Question Mark that , for further detail ,

I think puddling is like a gathering...(like a bunch of sulphurs in a dry creek bottom)

Jmorth or the garden table and a fruit rind , When you get five or six or more all together , sap drinkers & caterpillar raisers

I have seen butterflies puddling solo. We don't get them puddling much here in Florida. I think it's because there's not much in our soil to collect. But up in WV I've seen bunches of Swallowtails puddling. It's so awesome to watch!

Jim, those nettles are bad! Lucky for me, they use Pellitory down here. Bad news is, Pellitory dries up real fast so I only see Red Admirals in the spring.

Mellielong , I had some cylindrica nettle going , but I lost the few small plants I started last year I threw all the seeds to the side garden and I watch , but no more so far ,
I will give some thought to spending a few years eradicating the Stinging nettle if I get replacements
I like the Tea plants though , decisions , decisions ,,

@mellielong Thanks for the correction. It's good news because I have seen many Painted Lady around the yard but this is my first American Lady. They look very similar.

puddling

In the smokey mountains , spring , along a creek bank



This is the creek and they were everywhere in groups of 50-60
I saw maybe a dozen groups when we were hiking

Gray Hairstreak ? Cinda ?
Wish I had been there ,,Something ate all my Alfalfa down to to stubs today , gee I wonder , except I have not seen any Sulphur lately , or their cats