The Skippers look so much alike. I try to guess when I submit them to BAMONA but I think they're just getting frustrated that I never seem to learn.

So we're preparing for tomorrow and I ask Dad if he can get the big flashlight out. He gives me a look that says "Why?" I explain that I'll have to feed the caterpillars again before we leave and I need the flashlight to see the plants - and so I don't pick any creepie crawlies! He just laughed at me. But they're my pets! It's not like I can just leave them. Dad could feed them; he knows the plants they're eating, but it's easier to do it myself.

I just went out and picked food for them which I'm sure they will demolish by morning. While I had the cuties out, I took a picture of my largest Tersa Sphinx Moth. Like the other "Hornworms", you can see they get really big!

Whoa! That's a big, green, eating machine!!!

Saw my first monarch of the year yesterday and it was an egg-laying female! She didn't stick around long, she just did a egg drop and run. I was in the middle of mowing, so didn't get a chance to follow her around. I just saw her oviposit on the one milkweed. When I was done mowing I searched around a bit and found 11 eggs spread around the various milkweed patches. I found some on asclepias incarnata, speciosa, and syriaca. None on the a.tuberosa as usual. I think the only time they laid on that was before I had any other kind growing. Hopefully she didn't lay on any of the tiny seedlings of the other varieties, I'd better check though. They've done that before....flown past 2 foot high milkweed to lay on 2 inch seedlings. I may find more eggs later, it was a little hot and sunny to be bending over egg hunting for too long yesterday.

I think my two red admiral eggs hatched too... I think I see little nests. They are so tiny though it is hard to tell. Two red admirals and eleven monarchs is a nice manageable amount to raise for now.

Congratulations!!! Molanic, that is a very good plan you have. I am raising 8 Pipevine Swallowtails right now,

Something new caught my eye today, fluttering down amongst the Spanish Needles. This little guy is smaller than my baby fingernail. With wings spread, probably only 1/2in. across. Any idea? If he hadn't been such bright colors I probably would never have seen him. He did sit still nicely for me.

It's a moth but my brain is too overheated to think about it. Butterfly thread- get to work! Your fearless moderator has to sleep now. And probably for a while. With the help of some good drugs.

Yes, cute little pink moth looks familiar...

Nighty-night, Melanie.

It sure is a cute little thing Elaine. I have spent the last hour looking to ID it & zero, zip, zilch, nada. Bummer.

Found it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@dyzzypyxxy
Little Butterflt - Pyrausta tyralis
http://www.butterfliesandmoths...
http://bugguide.net/node/view/...
http://wildflowers.jdcc.edu/Co...

You have wild coffee down there & that's it's host plant.

OH, BTW, this is where I originally found it. GREAT RESOURCE for FL I think.
http://wildflowers.jdcc.edu/Bu...

Wonderful, Ann. Way to go!

This is one of it's host plants:
Wild Coffee (Psychotria nervosa)
This is another:
Swamp Beggar-Ticks (Bidens connata)

Great job finding the name of the cute moth, Ann! I looked for awhile to but then got sidetracked. The story of my life.

wildflowers said:Great job finding the name of the cute moth, Ann! I looked for awhile to but then got sidetracked. The story of my life.

Thanks Christine.
It was one of those times when it made me crazy enough to be determined enough to find it no matter what.

Good job, team! If anyone is still awake, I'm going to go get a beverage and then start posting some photos from today. Ooh, it's almost tomorrow. So some of you will get a nice treat when you wake up.

Just about to check out, Melanie. Will enjoy your pictures in the morning, I'm nearly cross-eyed with fatigue now.

Pictures from the trip are here: The thread "Melanie's Merry Adventure to Christmas, Florida" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

This caterpillar was crawling across the driveway. I tried to bend down to get a better look but here come the dogs, getting their noses all in the way trying to see what I'm looking at! So I scooped it up with a shovel before it got stepped on.

It looks like I scared the poop out of it! I don't know what it's name is. Took a couple of pics and put it on the ground...

It's pretty large. I'm not sure but thinking it could be some kind of army cat? ?

Yeah, I was thinking Armyworm as soon as I saw it.