jmorth said:To overcome that problem, I used to dress up like a butterfly, this allows one to get within inches of the target.

Yup, the Blues are all pretty similar. I've seen the Eastern Tailed Blues up in WV where there seems to be tons of them, but I live a little too far south for them.

I can't remember if I mentioned this, but three clutches of the Pipevine Swallowtails have hatched! They're happily munching away. If I can get them to about third instar (medium size), I'll probably take some to MOSI since I don't think I have enough food for that many caterpillars.

I slept until 3pm today and I'm still exhausted. I went out to pick caterpillar food and was chasing butterflies when Mom yelled that I had a call. I spent the next hour and a half on the phone trying to straighten out my doctor's office. They can't get a referral right if their life (or mine) depended on it. While I was outside, though, I did see a Gulf Fritillary on my Duranta (common name Golden Dewdrop). The hummingbird likes this plant, too, by the way.



I had cleaned the containers but hadn't picked any food when Mom called me inside. It wasn't until I went to help my brother get dinner ready that I saw my containers sitting by the trash can and realized I hadn't gotten around to feeding them! So back out I went, and lucky I did because I caught the Pipevine Swallowtail laying eggs!



And so I add to my egg collection. I'll have to go out there tomorrow to see if she laid more after I left.



As for those that have already hatched, here are the Pipevine cats that have hatched so far.



And the Red Admiral was in its usual curled-up pose. I took a picture with the regular lighting in the kitchen and then put him under the range so I could get a brighter light.

Interesting day... saw this tattered butterfly first thing as I went outside which reminded me to go back and get my camera! Not sure which one, maybe a Question Mark or a Comma.



Walking along our path with the dogs and spied some wildflowers so tried to take a look but the dogs kept getting right it the way (as usual - trying to photo bomb me)! But as they crunched through the leaves, I could see lots of butterflies moving. I tried to zoom in but they kept moving and it was hard to focus since they are the same color as the leaf litter! Anyway, I finally got ONE picture. I think they're Wood Satyrs.



A dragonfly showed up and posed for a picture.



Then on the way back this lovely Red Spotted Purple landed on the ground.

Oh, I cross posted with you Melanie. Love the Duranta!

And I love your Red-Spotted Purple!

I'm not really sure if this is a caterpillar or maybe a fruit worm... sorry Melanie, please forgive me if I'm wrong.

Found it on an apple tree munching away. So, of course I figured I better go get my camera and take its picture.
It was funny because when I came back with the camera, it had managed to turn the leaf over so he was underneath.



It kept lifting its head up and showing me its teeth. I think it was making its mean face!!





I went out this morning to see if I could find him just to see if he would make more mean faces at me but can't find him? He might have found a better hiding spot, I'll look again later.

Those are great pictures Christine, I don't know what it is either, but it sure is cute.

Okay, I consulted my "Caterpillars of Eastern North America" book. There are a LOT of caterpillars that eat apple. But knowing the host plant still eliminates a lot of other caterpillars. It looks most like the Ashen Pinion (Lithophane antennata) in my book, although it says there is a similar Broad Ashen Pinion (Lithophane laticinerea). Known commonly as Green Fruitworms, it says they rarely eat the actual developing fruits.

Here's a link to an ID book on Google Books. If you read the behavior part, he was making his mad face at you!

https://books.google.com/books...

With that, I am off to get ready for the plant sale at Wilcox Nursery in Largo. I have a list, Dad has a truck, and I finagled some money out of Mom! It is their yard, by the way. And I'm a lot cheaper than paying a landscaping company! I'll be back later with pictures and tell you all what I bought!

Thank you, Melanie. Since we have many hickories and oaks, it makes perfect since that you are correct with your ID of Ashen Pinion. I just knew it was making a mean face. I saw it again yesterday evening stretched along a branch but I can't find him again this morning.

Waiting to hear & see what you scored at the plant sale Melanie.

I bet Melanie is plum tuckered after the sale & probably coming home & planting a lot of her bounty as well.

How did I miss this??? I mistakenly posted this as a "new" thread instead of here where it belongs. I was hoping to see more butterfly photos and here they are!!! Wonderful, and I've put it on my watch list.
Though I have to confess that I find myself spending way too much time on this site. So much to see, so much to learn, so much fun!

Before the flowers started blooming this spring, several butterflies (especially Red Admirals) were moving through the area. Knowing they have a fondness for rotting fruit, I made a 'mash' of black bananas, brown sugar, and dark beer. I let it ferment overnight (uncovered so it doesn't explode). It turned into the local pub! In fact, that one in the back looks like it might be staggering off to an AA meeting...
Now the spring blooms are coming on, and I'd love to see what butterflies are visiting your gardens. Post some photos! Please!

Charlotte, I love that photo, so many butterflies. I wonder if that recipe would work here to attract more butterflies to my garden.

I was setting up the bird baths and fountain yesterday and I was happy to see a butterfly, got a a couple of lousy shots, it was far away and not very good light.
Satyr Anglewing


Melanie, a couple of weeks ago I was cleaning up the flower beds and uncovered this grub/caterpillar when I left it alone it buried itself in the dirt again, any idea as to what it could be, I didn't kill it, I let it be, almost an inch and a half long.

Look at the choppers on that one! I think it might be a cutworm?

That's what I thought Christine, but the ones I normally see are brown.

Margaret, I have never seen a satyr angel wing. Lucky you!
As for caterpillars - I can't usually tell what they are, so I just leave all of them alone. Those look nice and healthy though!

Charlotte what a fantastic set up with the Red Admirals. They sure were digging that mash!

Margaret, I have no idea about the cat. Cats are so hard to ID if you don't already have a general idea of what it's going to turn into. Sure is a fat one!

Nice concentration of Red Admirals, reminds me of a Red Admiral Convention I once attended.

This butterfly looks like a dead leaf which seems to blend in with the less than attractive background.
I'm not sure what kind.. I was looking for a ( ? ) or a ( , ) on the wings but don't see anything.