I knew I forgot something. I always do.

Patti, I Googled your location and I see you're a little over two hours away from Lawrence, KS which is where Monarch Watch is located. They are affiliated with the University of Kansas. They just held their big fall festival and Monarch tagging event, but I wanted to let you know they're there in case you weren't aware. It seems like it would be worth a trip once or twice a year to attend some of their major events. Also, they're just a good source of info about Monarchs and other butterflies, too. They're pretty much the authority on the migration, which is being studied by the Feds for possible listing under the Endangered Species Act. Their website also has a lot of fun info and you can keep tabs on the Monarchs as they head to Mexico to spend the winter. http://www.monarchwatch.org/ They're also on Facebook so you can follow them there, too. I like to see all the pretty pictures!

mellielong said:Whew! I've been reading, but haven't had time to sit and type until now. Margaret, your moth looks like a Polyphemus Moth. Since you're in Canada, I don't know what you've got in your parts. I wonder if it's the same moth and maybe a different common name?

Melanie, it is not an Antheraea polyphemus, Polyphemus Moth, it is a Smerinthus cerisyi, Eyed Sphinx, my book says it is found through out the region. I have also seen on occasion what I believe were the caterpillars under the willow tree.

Sadly, I do not get that moth in my area. But I have plenty of other Sphinx Moths to play with!

mellielong said:I knew I forgot something. I always do.

Patti, I Googled your location and I see you're a little over two hours away from Lawrence, KS which is where Monarch Watch is located. They are affiliated with the University of Kansas. They just held their big fall festival and Monarch tagging event, but I wanted to let you know they're there in case you weren't aware. It seems like it would be worth a trip once or twice a year to attend some of their major events. Also, they're just a good source of info about Monarchs and other butterflies, too. They're pretty much the authority on the migration, which is being studied by the Feds for possible listing under the Endangered Species Act. Their website also has a lot of fun info and you can keep tabs on the Monarchs as they head to Mexico to spend the winter. http://www.monarchwatch.org/ They're also on Facebook so you can follow them there, too. I like to see all the pretty pictures!

I knew KU was involved but did not realize Monarchs are being tagged. I have so much to learn.

I saw a monarch yesterday in my garden and then I saw this thread. Hooray!
Reminds me of a time as a child growing up in Niagara Falls NY my parents and I were in the backyard and noticed a tree with some odd leaves. Then realized it was covered with monarch butterflies, we stood and stared til dark. Amazing.

crittergarden said:YIKES!
Biggest moth I've ever seen !!!!
Can anyone name it?
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/...

In the video they say the moth is a "Mammoth Moth" and to my ears they have an Australian accent.

Here is a follow-up to the video that identifies it as Privet Hawk moth.
http://www.floridanewsgrio.com...

As far as discussion on this thread (or any other thread on All Things Plants), we might follow the same rules as elsewhere in the world. Where you would spell out the name of something such as Black Swallowtail when talking about it but later (in the same post) abbreviate it to BST. It's nice for the reader to see each post able to stand alone and not have to scroll back 40 or 50 messages to find the answer. Just common courtesy in my opinion. Text-speak has a place in this world but since this site encourages sharing information I think it wouldn't kill anyone to type a few extra letters to make their meaning understood.

David, so sorry to hear about the hummingbird moth caterpillar! :-(

Margaret, that is a super cool photo of the Eyed Sphinx! I have not seen that one in my yard-- what a wonderful sighting!

Thanks for your supportive words about my butterfly gardening article, Melanie! Yes, this is a great opportunity for us to think about articles we can do to help educate folks on different host plants! I love that Dave and Trish followed up with their Monarch/milkweed article!!

Great photos as always, J!!

Patti, that is so cool that you are so near the Monarch Watch!

Buttercup, that is an awesome memory--I wish I could see a sight like that someday!!

Thanks, Greene, for the reminder about spelling out acronyms the first time we use them in a post.

I do get tired of typing Swallowtail all the time, though.

Patti, there is much to learn but no need to sigh about it. Because learning is fun, especially when it's about butterflies. And we're all here to help so just let us know when you need it.

Judy, that sounds amazing and what a wonderful memory to have. One day I'm going to have to see this Monarch migration in action. I'm too far south so mine stay put during the winter.

Now, off to look up Privet Hawk Moth...and forget Texas, why is everything bigger in Australia?

mellielong said:...forget Texas, why is everything bigger in Australia?

It really IS!
And if it's not bigger, it's badder!
Or roams in swarms!

That's okay with me, they can have the biggest bugs!

French marigolds busy today --

Pretty Wildflowers , pretty Crescent and Duskywing not much here now .

I had these moths quite a few years ago

cool!

Pearl Crescent today

cool moth picture!

Thanks for naming the butterflies, Jim!

I like that Duskywing with the white border on the edge. Very cool. I wish they all had some major identifying feature. I'm supposed to get both Pearl and Phaon Crescents in my area, but I only ever see the latter. I saw a Pearl Crescent in WV once. I kept thinking maybe I just couldn't tell the difference, but after seeing y'all's pictures, I definitely see that the Phaon has that lighter band on the top wings.

Dad cut down some of my plants today; he called it "trimming". I called it "plant mass murder". I was at the movies with Mom and couldn't intervene. I think the butterflies are mad; I haven't seen many the past few days.

The caterpillars are doing well. The large Black Swallowtails continue to gut purge and are making chrysalises. One kept climbing on one that was in his sling and Mom told me about it. I told her they would have to work it out. I'm not a caterpillar referee. My Polydamas are mostly molting which means when they're done they'll be ready to demolish many, many leaves. For the record, I haven't lost a single Polydamas. I told you it was weird that I lost that whole batch a couple months ago. Usually, Polydamas are super hardy. MOSI was having a problem with them, too. Makes me wonder what was going on?

Melanie , that Duskywing , Errynis Funeralis ,, Funeral dusywing , Something close to that anyway ..It is large compared to most Duskywings

Yes To also wildflowers , it is your photo ..

I thought it was the Funereal Duskywing. I don't get them here, but I think I saw one in WV years and years ago. I get Horace's and Juvenal's Duskywings and I'll be darned if I can ever tell the difference!

Nice photos, Christine and J!

Ronnie, those look like big wings!!

Melanie, that's too bad about the plant mass murder.

I have somewhere between 10 and 14 (my daughter counts 14 but I have never been able to see more than 10) Monarch caterpillars in one habitat, and 6+ Black Swallowtail caterpillars in another. I was given a bunch of milkweed leaves for the Monarchs, but that should be gone tomorrow,so it's back to foraging among my milkweed plants for enough leaves. The fennel for the BSTs is holding up pretty well. I hope everyone makes it safely to chrysalis stage and ecloses during what I hope will be a mild October!

Yes, I believe that's right, Funereal Duskywing. It's the only one I can tell apart from the others of course, because of the white fringe on the border of the wings!

I have similar difficulty with the crescents, they can be really hard to tell apart.