We came from here:
The thread "June 2015 Butterflies, Moths & Larva" in
Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum
Well, I released a male Black ST that emerged last night before I went to Starbucks. I kept him in the bathroom where it was dark all night. You know, except when I had to visit about 2:30 this morning and then he was all flapping around. I had another chrysalis in there that looked like it was about to emerge but I guess the darkness kept it from coming out. Which is good because it was out when I got back from Starbucks and it's a female. I've never caught any butterflies mating in my containers before, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. And I prefer to give them a chance to meet someone they're not related to out there in the world. Anyway, here's a male Black ST I released yesterday. So far the male to female ratio seems pretty even.
Meanwhile, it's been the usual suspects around here, mostly fighting over the porterweed. We've got Long-Tailed Skippers.
Zebra Longwings, who also fight over the Firebush.
We had a surprise White Peacock visitor!
Duskywings alternate between Porterweed and Spanish Needles.
And I have more Gulf Frits than I can shake a stick at.
In other sightings, there was a Polydamas that flew in for about half a second while I was taking the Gulf Frit picture. Also, I was getting in the car, looked up, and saw a Red-Spotted Purple laying eggs high up in the Black Cherry. I'll never get to see or pet the caterpillars, but I feel good knowing I provided them with a host plant and habitat.
