Contrary to the evidence, there are other butterflies besides Gulf Frits in my yard. And the neighbors' yards. But mostly my yard.
Check out the pollen this Zebra Longwing has gathered on its proboscis. Remember, they secrete an enzyme that liquefies the pollen, allowing them to slurp it up and eat it. Due to this added nutrition, they can live 6-9 months!
I missed a few Zebra Longwing cats yesterday. Always recheck your host plants because you will miss some. Don't ask me where they were yesterday, but here they are. I brought them inside with the other hostages.
Dainty Sulphur
I saw something odd and I realized this bug had caught a Dainty Sulphur! Janet identified it as a Robber Fly over on the Bug ID forum. It robbed me of my butterfly!
Back to happy stuff...Frogfruit is a host plant for the Phaon Crescent and the White Peacock. It's also a good nectar plant for the little guys like this Cassius Blue.
But like everyone else, they like Spanish Needles, too.
Same with this Skipper. Look at its proboscis in mid-curl!
Duskywings love Spanish Needles, but they also like Tassel Flower, which can usually be found growing nearby.
You can't see it, but this is one of the Underwing Moths. I saw it fly and the reddish-orange underneath was really clear.
I was bemoaning the lack of Swallowtails when...Spicebush! This is a male so no hope of eggs today.
I just like this angle.
The Jatropha is a big attractor, too. Zebra Longwings kind of love it.
Skipper basking on the hose.
Here's my caterpillar haul for the day. I got an egg in there, too.
The problem with removing the caterpillars is you get egg bombed almost immediately.
Not sure which Skipper this is. Going to test those BAMONA guys again.
Monarch, you're a little heavy for Tassel Flower.
My Salvias don't get as much action as I'd like, but today I did see a Gulf Frit on 'Amistad' which I just planted a few weeks ago. Then, I saw this Skipper on 'Mystic Spires'. That one attracts all kinds of bees so I leave it, but it was nice to see a butterfly on it.
I saw the Giant Swallowtail go by a few times and walked around trying to get a picture. I told Dad that I think butterflies are God's way of getting me to exercise. He said it was working. Well, Giant ST finally came back for a few seconds to hit up our plumbago and I got some pics. Because the rule of the internet says, "Pics or it didn't happen!"
