Hey folks, I heard today was "Hate Florida Day" because we're the only ones above 60 degrees. Sucks to be you, I guess?
Anyway, I took a few shots on Tuesday and today so let's go!
This Zebra Longwing looks a little rough but it was still floating around just fine.
I counted five Long-Tailed Skippers flying around the porterweed. They tend to lose their tails a lot.
This Gulf Frit looks like it had a bite taken out of it, too! I'm going to have to teach my yard that I am the top of the food chain around here. Today, I went on a wasp killing spree. But I really need to go after the Cuban tree frogs. That tends to get a little messier, though.
Today I saw a Cloudless Sulphur and I only managed to get one pic before it flew away. So try to enjoy my bad picture.
This Long-Tailed Skipper also lost its tails. In the first picture, it's resting on a bromeliad. In the second, that's the tassel flower that I'm always making fun of because Select Seeds sells it in its catalog. As you can see, it's a small flower. The Phaeon Crescents and the skippers seem to like it, but to me it's just a weed. It never gets too out of hand, though. Not like the Spanish Needles whom I have a love/hate relationship with.
I was actually outside to get more food for the Polydamas. And I found more eggs which is ridiculous because this is November! I'm not seeing any other Swallowtails! And Polydamas are tropical; they're generally the last to emerge in the spring. It sort of makes me wonder what kind of winter we're going to have or can butterflies even predict that? Anyway, it was enjoying the plumbago. But...I had several bunches of pipevine in my hand and this must have been a female because she kept flying around and checking it out! I tried to hold really still to see if she'd lay eggs, but I can't hold still for that long. Oh, and there are definitely two Polydamas in the area - eggs, duh - but also I saw one in my neighbor's yard and then turned my head to see one in my yard.
In bad news, I was walking out of my orchid house and tripped on a pot and fell on the ground. I landed on my side and scraped my hand a little. My shoulder was hurting so I took some Advil but I think my pride hurt worse than anything. Luckily, no one saw me. I think I need to get some safer shoes to walk around the yard in.
