Glen, everyone loves Spicebush cats. That's why they made a Pokemon that looks like one! Seriously, Google it. He's called Caterpie. Even has the stinkhorns!
Well, I took some pictures yesterday and today so let's dive in!
I was up early yesterday which I guess was good because I got to release this male Orange-Barred Sulphur before he could take off into the stratosphere. I tried to get the lighting where you could see the orange bar across the top wing and the orange at the bottom. But notice he lacks the gray spotting like the female. Also, the females only have the orange at the bottom; they lack the "bar" across the top wings.
And I still have another Orange-Barred Sulphur cat. This morning it looks like the colors might be fading and it might be going to make a chrysalis. We'll see.
Now, some of you may remember that I also had a smaller orange-colored Sulphur cat that I was betting money would also be an Orange-Barred Sulphur. He was big enough to be orange, but not quite big enough to tell. Well, I searched the tank for him yesterday when releasing the butterfly and I can't find him. Not good. But oddly enough, I found a green caterpillar I suspect is a Cloudless Sulphur. I know they're not the same caterpillar because the orange one was much bigger when I found him and should have grown over the several days I had him. The green one is much smaller. So I suppose I lost one cat and gained another? Here's a two-for-one picture deal. The green cat (who I highly suspect is a Cloudless Sulphur) decided to molt next to the other Orange-Barred chrysalis I have. Once green guy molted, I took a good look and I'm pretty certain he's a Cloudless. The only other possibility would be a Sleepy Orange but this guy has the yellow stripe down the side so I'm pretty sure he's Cloudless.
Zebra Longwings still loving the porterweed.
Remember the picture of the Long-Tailed Skipper laying eggs? Well, they hatched! And if this isn't the cutest picture, I don't know what is. As you can see, the little guys are starting to build their homes. If you look at the bottom one on the left, you can see where he has cut into the leaf. He will then fold that part over to make the flap to cover himself.
Now for this morning...speaking of Skippers, I have a few to show you. Here's a Long-Tailed Skipper missing its tails. They love porterweed, too.
I "think" this is a Twin-Spot Skipper but I'm going to send it to BAMONA to be sure. I really am trying to learn some of the skippers. And I have seen this one from time to time but even my book says not much is known about them. Kind of weird. Maybe scientists are biased toward the prettier butterflies?
I know I've been saying all year that there are more Orange-Barred Sulphurs than Cloudless and how that's kind of weird. But that's about to change in my yard because I had a Cloudless go nuts on my Senna! But first, she nectared on some firebush. She's a little on the small side for a Cloudless, but they can vary.
Zebra Longwings also love that Mexican Flame Vine. I'm rather partial to it myself.
The Duskywings are still hanging out down by the road where the Spanish Needles didn't get hacked to pieces.
The Polydamas was out laying eggs (again) but I couldn't get a picture. I kept scaring her off and she'd head for the oak trees. I did gather some eggs, though. And I found this bunch of caterpillars so enjoy that. I think the one on the bottom is pooping. Or should we call it "frassing"? I like the sound of that better.
