We came from here: The thread "May 2015 Butterflies, Moths & Larva" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

I forgot it was June 1 until I saw the new bird thread! So I guess I'd better start a new butterfly thread! Since we have moths in our title, but don't often feature them, I'm making the thumbnail my Tersa Sphinx Moth who is preparing to molt (again).




And honestly, I don't have any other pictures! I went to my psychiatrist today and his willow trees look much better (Cottonwood beetles were a real problem last time) but I still didn't see any Viceroys. I could only check part of the tree since the water is getting kind of high and I was wearing my good sneakers.

Here's a few more shots of the Tersa. You can really see those eyespots. Also, notice how the head capsule has separated; that's how I know he's going to molt. I think these guys are almost as cute as Spicebush cats, although the finished product isn't quite as pretty.

I have never seen a butterfly in my yard this early in Minnesota...was walking behind my house Sunday afternoon and saw a Red Admiral sunning itself next to a dripline (that is not yet turned on since we have had lots of rain).

I don't know how you Northerners can take it. When I was in college in Philadelphia that was bad enough. If I didn't see a butterfly until June, I think I would go nuts. Red Admirals tend to be an early spring species around here due to their host plant's growth habit, but by "early spring" I mean late February through April. Good photo! Those things can be fast when they want to, although butterflies are definitely easier to capture (on camera or in the net) when it's cooler outside. Try to have sympathy for this Floridian as she endures 90 degree temperatures with super high humidity for the next four months. Did I mention hurricane season starts today?

We see the Red Admiral early in spring too.

Today was one of those lucky days where the butterflies sat still long enough for a photo or two.

This little Eastern tailed-blue even opened its wings!





American Lady

Man, I should have let you guys pick the thumbnail photo! Although, I still think my Tersa Sphinx cat is devastatingly cute. Christine, I can't believe that Blue opened its wings! My Cassius Blues have been flying all over the front. I hardly ever bother to take pictures because it's so frustrating. Also, that's an American Lady you've got there. They have the two big eyespots on the underside whereas the Painted Lady has four. What's the red flower the Blue is on?

Christine, phenomonal pictures!

Oh, thank you for the correction on American Lady, Melanie. I'll change the name on the posted pictures.

The red flower is Crimson clover, although it is smaller than normal growing in a very heavy clay area.

Gorgeous blue Christine!!! Great photos!

I'm pretty sure I actually got a photo of one of those here just after we first moved in. I recall everyone was excited that I had gotten it & said it would be rare here. They ID'd it as I had no clue at the time.

Thanks for the new thread Melanie!

I'm going to start going through the photos & posting them. I will take a break though to watch the new Mike & Molly episode.

I love all the pics from everyone! Makes Monday easier. I'm always cranky at work on Mondays. Although I can look forward to our naba chapter's field trip this Saturday.

Zebra Swallowtail ****************************** Face & tongue shot


Buckeye


Gulf Fritillary - I took at least 25 shots trying to get the silver to show in the photos b/c it sure was flashing at me but it just doesn't convey in the photos.


For the life of me I'm having a brain freeze & can't remember the name of this one


Zebra ST again


This one had a deformed wing


Skippers



Tiger Swallowtail




Female Black Form Tiger Swallowtail

Very nice, Ann! The one you can't remember looks like it is also a Buckeye. They look really different on the underside. Love the Zebra Swallowtail pics! The Tiger Swallowtails aren't too shabby, either!

It's been rainy all day here and it was discount day at the movies so I spent the day indoors. I'm taking a new medicine and I think I'm already having side effects. There's a big warning about staying out of the heat and becoming dehydrated on it so I'm going to be super careful until I see how it affects me. In good news, Dell shipped my computer today and FedEx estimates it will be here on Friday. So hooray!

In caterpillar news, I missed the Tersa molting because I totally conked out. I also have a male Orange-Barred Sulphur that's ready to emerge from the chrysalis. He'll probably do it in the middle of the night because that's the way things have been going around here.

My boss at MOSI was having a bad day and posted on Facebook that she was poking caterpillars for fun because "they look so darn goofy with their osmeterium out." I prefer petting them, but caterpillars are good therapy all around. Oh, and I saw "Tomorrowland" with Mom and when George Clooney was talking about all the ways the world is going wrong, he mentions butterflies and bees disappearing. And I won't spoil anything, but let's just say gardeners are appreciated in Tomorrowland, as well. It's not all engineers and chemist people.

First:
for the computer coming on Friday!!!

Good plan on taking it easy till you find out how the new meds are going to make you react.

Thanks for the ID on that Buckeye with the deformed wing. He/she just never would turn around & give me a shot of the other side. I tried like heck to get super stellar photos of the ZST for you Melanie but it was TOO flitty & wouldn't hold still for a nano second. The tiger swallowtails were far more cooperative.

Hummm, well it's nice to know we'll be appreciated.

ANN - I love those pics! Hope everyone is having a good week. Here is the first bloom of the passiflora type that I will send. Your gulf frit will approve!

And I approve too! I see gulf frits a lot here so there will many happy campers.

Thank you for the compliment on the pics.

Great photos everyone!!

@mellielong

Melanie, I found a - at least I'm 99.9% positive - common buckeye cat on my butterfly bush (sterile one) as I was deadheading it. I deadhead b/c I take no chances. This is the 2nd one I've found on there but the first one a day or two ago fell off before I could collect it & I never could find it again. Anywho, I collected this one & have it in a jar with a piece of butterfly bush but it's crawled up the side of the jar & has a single web string coming down from higher in the jar. I've read that it's not supposed to host on BF bush. I have some plaintain so I can try that. My big question is - do I need to put a stick in there or what? Do these cats make a J or how do they pupate?

I went out to get some plaintain & couldn't find any when I stepped in a fire ant bed & that ended the search QUICK. I cut some BF bush & have it in there for now - it's eating it. I'm tempted to just keep using that & see if BF bush is indeed a host plant as some places claim -- other sources vehemently deny BF bush is a host for ANYTHING.

I just looked in the jar again & see a teeny tiny cat hitched a ride in on the piece I cut. It's so tiny it's hard to tell but it sure looks like a young buckeye cat. No doubt about it, the bigger cat is eating it!

Have to run prep lunch now & tend further to my fire ant bites.

I wish I could find Buckeye cats! They eat Ruellia, too and I was checking my Carolina Petunias because something is eating them. That's good that you have plantain, but they also eat Mexican Petunias if you need any more food ideas. I hate those invasives, but at least they're good for something. I would definitely put a stick in there. Buckeyes do make a J and they tend to be one of those that don't silk a lot. I always hated pinning them at MOSI. Not as bad as some of the others, but not the easiest, to be sure. It's best if you can get him on a stick or leaf or something like that.

Ann, we cross posted! Fire ants are the worst! Tend to those bites quick! I've never heard of anything hosting on butterfly bush, but Buckeyes eat a lot of things in a lot of different families. Can you take a picture of the caterpillar so we can be sure it's a Buckeye?

Yep, chicken is cooking & have to go turn it. Will get photos later & have to up the jar size too.