It is a new month already? I'm still in a travel time warp. Jack that is an awesome set of photos! I'm so envious! But I'm also generous so you get an acorn!
Name: Catmint/Robin PNW WA half hour south of Olym (Zone 8a)
Great photos, Jack! Just read something interesting about butterflies using UV light as a signal in mating. Here's a paragraph from Wiki on cabbage whites, in case others have not seen it:
"Drawings of the White Cabbage Butterfly representing the butterfly under UV light and the visible region of light.
White Cabbage Butterflies, Pieris rapae crucivora, use their private ultraviolet communication system to initiate mating behavior. In this species, ultraviolet reflection is sexually dimorphic with females exhibiting the ability to reflect ultraviolet light of 380 nm to 400 nm and males being less able to reflect UV. Males who perceive an ultraviolet reflection from a female initiate a courtship behavior that involves approaching the female and attempting to copulate. Females communicate their receptivity to males using their ultraviolet communication system. The ultraviolet reflection is thought to be concentrated to the ventral side of a female’s hind wing."
So maybe the lady Cabbage White was flashing him some UV rays when she lifted her wings?
"One of the pleasures of being a gardener comes from the enjoyment you get looking at other people's yards”
― Thalassa Cruso
Unbelievable capturing the entire ritual Jack. You must be gifted with superb timing. I enjoyed the photos!
Catmint, very interesting.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Sulphurs do not like to open their wings. Like, ever. I can't even recall seeing them basking like other butterflies. I mean, skippers, Hairstreaks, and Blues don't like to open their wings but I've seen them basking at one time or another. Not often, but I have seen it. But not Sulphurs. They're stubborn.
Each butterfly species has its own personality. If you want to catch butterflies (on camera or in nets) you must learn to "be the butterfly", I say. It really does help to learn their particular behaviors. That's how I know where to find eggs, caterpillars, and how to successfully stalk my prey for pictures.
FYI, everyone - I'm currently uploading my KY and WV pictures to BAMONA so I can get some solid IDs on a few that I'm not sure of. They usually get back to me pretty quick from those areas because I don't think a lot of people are submitting pictures from the middle of nowhere, WV. I figure I'm adding lots of good data to their research, though!
Oh, I was also just researching my Sweetbay Magnolia and found out there's a moth that uses it called a Sweetbay Moth. Google it because it is gorgeous! When, oh when, will I get caterpillars on my tree?
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
I know, right? My brother just cleared some plants from around my Sweetbay and he and Dad still have to take out that Shampoo Ginger nearby. So maybe the butterflies and moths can find it easier, now!
The BAMONA guys got back to me on all of my pictures because apparently, like me, they have nothing else better to do on a Friday night. I watched college football, if that counts as something. I'm going to update my thread so everyone can know the proper names of the butterflies I saw. I did pretty good at identifying them myself!
Okay folks, I updated my other thread so if you want to see how accurate I was, go check it out! (Spoiler alert: I'm pretty good.)
Wonder of wonders! Monarchs in October up here. There were 2 flirting around the asters yesterday afternoon. I was able to capture this one by camera -
Name: josephine Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a) Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
We have been seeing some Monarchs around here too, but nothing like we used to.
I think that spraying for mosquitos by the city, because of west nile fever, has killed a lot of our pollinators.
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
I'm totally still here but recovering from my vacation. I didn't even make it to the museum on Sunday because I think I was having some kind of weird fibromyalgia flare-up. My abs even hurt and I think we all know I'm not the type to be doing crunches. Things are definitely slowing down around here, though. Well, maybe it's just that I've been hibernating. I did see a Giant ST checking out Mom's Meyer Lemon the other day. And this is still peak time for Sulphurs. But I think the Swallowtails are getting the message that it's time to get into their chrysalises and stay there. I do have a new batch of Monarch cats, though. I'd have taken pictures but they're really tiny. So on to the pictures I have!
I hired a crew of Polydamas caterpillars to trim my pipevine.
Those are all different caterpillars, by the way. I told you that would happen if I went on vacation and left the pipevine undefended. Here's a Duskywing I spotted. I told you they were my trusty butterfly friends. Always around when everyone else abandons me. That sounded kind of depressing, didn't it. Didn't mean it that way.
But I do still have a number of Long-Tailed Skippers. I wonder how many of them are because of the butterfly pea I planted?
I just went outside to pick food and as I was about go back in, a Polydamas showed up on my pentas!
And here's one of the Spicebush cats I was feeding. They should turn green next time they molt.
What kind of pipevine is that Melanie? And what conditions is it growing in?
I'm glad you posted. I was starting to get worried about you & was going to send out a @mellielong query.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
I think it's a just a plan Dutchman's pipevine. Maybe Aristolochia gigantea? I can't be sure of the species because it didn't come with a tag. If you grow it, you have to take responsibility for the Pipevine cats that lay on it so I don't generally recommend it. Mine is growing kind of weird. It's technically planted in a raised bed with a trellis on one side that is located next to my fence. So it has found the fence and grown up and through it. I think it gets hit by the sprinklers once or twice a week depending on the law at the time. It's in partial shade with mostly morning sun exposure. We grow this same species at MOSI in full sun, poor sandy soil and regular irrigation. I think it must be pretty adaptable, especially once you get it settled in.
No need to call out the search party. I'm too tired for partying, anyway.
Okay, you are so full of information that I can't remember all that you teach us but I'm catching some of it. Tell me what the deal is with the cats on it. Don't they use that as their host?
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown