Here's the BAMONA page for the Soldier:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths...
You can see they have those paler spots in a sort of half-circle on the lower wing. They look like Queens on top, just to make it more confusing! And they also host on Milkweed.
I walked around the yard and boy, is it dry out there! Some of my natives are a bit wilty, but I only start to worry when the Spanish Needles wilt. That's when you know it's bad. Plus, we're supposed to have a good chance of rain on Tuesday, most likely because the furniture people are coming back to deliver the slats for my bed.
I still have plenty of Gulf Fritillaries. They're pretty much a year-round butterfly here. And the most common. Not that I'm complaining! I like them.
There were several Zebra Longwings flying around, but they weren't interested in holding still. Got one, though.
I do have plenty of Zebra Longwing caterpillars. And I don't have to chase the caterpillars around the yard which is nice.
As you can see, they start off a pale orange and turn white as they molt. Gulf Frit cats stay orange. But you can generally tell the difference because Zebra Longwings lay eggs in clusters and the cats tend to stay together while they're young. But Gulf Frits lay eggs mostly one at a time and the caterpillars kind of do their own thing.
Remember how I said some books will tell you that butterflies won't lay eggs on a plant that already has eggs or caterpillars? And remember I said that was bunk?! Here are some more Zebra Longwing eggs on that same vine. And the vine isn't that big! In fact, there was a butterfly laying eggs on it while I was out there and I told it to stop but it ignored me.
I'm calling Panasonic tomorrow to check on my camera because it's really taking a while. I miss my superzoom! Because I can't zoom in as well on my little Skipper friends.
I had to squat down and hold real still to get these Cassius Blue pictures. I'm glad they like the new Beach Sunflowers. The Cassius Blues tend to be picky eaters and definitely have their favorites so it was cool to see them using something I hadn't seen them on before.
Also seen today but not pictured: Long-Tailed Skippers, Barred Sulphur, Cloudless Sulphurs.