I got a few pictures this morning while walking around the yard. This male Spicebush was hanging around my Pentas. It's getting a little late for Swallowtails.



Of course, the Tiger Swallowtail that flew by me and into the neighbor's yard didn't seem to care that it's almost November.

This Gulf Fritillary was basking. I almost missed it. After I took the pic, I tried to walk carefully so as not to disturb it, but no luck. I walk like a bull in a china shop.



Lest any of you are intimidated by all of our awesome photos, let me show you the one photo I managed to get of some little orange skipper. Couldn't find the darn thing again!



And that's why I like caterpillars. They sit still. I found three more Sulphur cats. Look how yellow! I love this time of year when the Senna blooms and the caterpillars are easy to find on the flowers and buds.

Well if everything goes okay, we will find out what type of cat this is. I found another one so I put them in the netting together. How long does it usually take for them to morph or whatever?

Well, we don't know what it is so we don't know how much bigger it will grow. But it seems fairly grown. Moths have their own timetable as to emerging out of their cocoon, though. Some spend all winter underground.

Goat, if you want me to submit it to BAMONA for identification, let me know where you found it: address, what county and state, and confirm the date and general time you found it. You already said what plant it was on. I think that's all the info they need. You can treemail me since I'm sure you don't want your address public.

Mellie,~Cheryl's a zombie until tomorrow morning sometime been working the 4am shift and a bit out of sorts. But I'll look into Goat's cat then if I remember, I'm curious. Your Sulphur cats are amazing as always. The one reminds me of the texture and color of Picadoos(a Thinkmaker toy from Mattel back in the '60s) I always think of you when I see the adults flitting around. Super warm here today and tomorrow and they were out!!
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Mika,~ I wholeheartedly agree with Mellie about the planting of loads of host plants for "BF retention" if that's we can call it. Keeping them on your property as much as possible is the best insurance... I always like to compare it to "owning" your butterflies vs. "renting" them.
There's plenty of plants that are great for hosting. Think along the lines of native shrubs, trees, and vines for your area. I'll do some research later on. I grow American native hops vines for caterpillars, you probably have them there I'm guessing, don't ya'll drink a lot of beer? ale? Whatever you call those pints of something?
It's not just about the leaves and nectar either, allowing some fruit from your trees to lie on the ground feeds some types of butterflies as well as having areas of bare ground or gravel that gets wet. The males need the amino acids, minerals, and salts to reproduce- it's called "puddling" This is gross but I've even seen some BFs feeding on scat- that's animal poop- so if you're brave enough !! Where is that gross, disgusting yucky emoji when I need it? Keep your area for them as close to nature as possible too- rocks and piles of wood and bark, and unkempt vegetation for hidey holes etc.

Skippers and moths on chrysanthemums, Dew Drop, dahlia and Rudbeckia

Rare open-wing shot of gray hairstreak.

Beautiful Char!!!

Lovely!

JM - what is that gorgeous critter in the second row of your pics? Looks like it's wearing a cape sprinkled with gold dust, and those antennae are wow!

nativeplantlover said: ~~~
Mika,~ I wholeheartedly agree with Mellie about the planting of loads of host plants for "BF retention" if that's we can call it. Keeping them on your property as much as possible is the best insurance... I always like to compare it to "owning" your butterflies vs. "renting" them.
There's plenty of plants that are great for hosting. Think along the lines of native shrubs, trees, and vines for your area. I'll do some research later on. I grow American native hops vines for caterpillars, you probably have them there I'm guessing, don't ya'll drink a lot of beer? ale? Whatever you call those pints of something?
It's not just about the leaves and nectar either, allowing some fruit from your trees to lie on the ground feeds some types of butterflies as well as having areas of bare ground or gravel that gets wet. The males need the amino acids, minerals, and salts to reproduce- it's called "puddling" This is gross but I've even seen some BFs feeding on scat- that's animal poop- so if you're brave enough !! Where is that gross, disgusting yucky emoji when I need it? Keep your area for them as close to nature as possible too- rocks and piles of wood and bark, and unkempt vegetation for hidey holes etc.

Thanks, Cheryl - I used to grow hops in Cambridge, loved the look but they completely took over and were impossible to get rid of, even started invading the neighbours' gardens... so I'll probably give them a miss (as well as the scat!) But we have lots of apple, pear, plum and other fruit trees, and we leave the windfalls on our compost heaps, so that should help - I did notice in France that the butterflies seemed to like the grapes.
And we have log piles - good for hedgehogs, too!

Melanie, on your post # 1308548, you have a picture with the orange skipper- what is the name of that plant? I have some pictures I want to post and I would like to know identify the plants with the butterflies. thanks

Anole

@cliftoncat
The moth in question is the Yellow Collared Scape Moth.
and thanks for the acorn!

Thanks, JM - it's a very handsome moth.

Before I found out said moth's real name I called it 'the Reverend Mr. Black' due to it's black cloak-wings...

82 degrees today -Woohoo!!


1.) Green Sweat bee 2.) forget the name of this spider 3.)Chrysogaster Syrphid fly 4.)Hover fly 5.) Carpenter Bee
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And a few small miracles:


1.) Beat up Monarch 2.) and 3.) Buckeyes! yes!
OOOOOPSIE! I'm tired forgive me I put these all on the BF thread

Goat's little caterpillar perhaps?
Parallelia bistriaris
https://www.google.com/search?...

John, that's porterweed. I usually try to ID my plants when posting but sometimes I get tired of typing Porterweed over and over. The butterflies (and the bees and the hummingbirds) really like it. To those who want some, make sure you get the native. There is an invasive species, as well. Here's a good PDF about it from UF. http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/G... By the way, I'm pretty sure I have the hybrid. I tried the invasive one back when I was young and naive and that stuff springs up everywhere. The one I have now reseeds itself, but not so much I can't just pull it out.

Jamaican Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) is the native.

Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta cayennensis) is listed as invasive here in Florida but it never seemed to be a pest in my garden; stayed where planted and did not spread. I thought perhaps it was the native variety but it grew to about 3 feet in height and the native variety stays much shorter.

nativeplantlover said:Goat's little caterpillar perhaps?
Parallelia bistriaris
https://www.google.com/search?...

I think up to the Family Erebidae is correct......
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Erebidae

But I have no birch, maple, or walnut trees around here...and these cats are eating the rose bush that they are on.

Still seeing the occasional Monarch...