Okay, I'm awake and I took a Flexeril before I went to bed so I don't hurt too much. I had to help Dad with his computer and he apologizes for taking me away from you guys.
Christine, I'm no expert on Commas and Question Marks, but I did see a lot of them when I was in KY and WV one fall. I think yours is a Comma. The Question Mark looks bigger to me, has more scalloping on the wings, and longer "tails". It's hard to tell though, if you don't see them very often.
Here's a picture I took when I released my Orange-Barred Sulphur in the morning. I love fresh butterflies. And Sulphurs that hold still!
Now for yesterday's pictures. The weather here is absolutely beautiful, although rain is on the way for tomorrow night into Wednesday. That's supposed to drop the temps a bit, too. But you can definitely tell the variety of butterflies is starting to increase.
In the flight cage we had one Polydamas Swallowtail left. I don't think any of them laid eggs and we had plenty of butterflies. It's like they somehow know they're not supposed to be out this time of year.
We had Zebra Longwings in the flight cage and I saw some outside, too. I caught one, but it was totally asking for it.
We have a Kumquat in the flight cage and it's main use is as a host plant for Giant Swallowtails. Right now, though, it's in bloom. I was standing between it and the Sweet Almond Bush, which is also in bloom, and I'm pretty sure I now know what heaven smells like. The butterflies were actually nectaring on the Kumquat blooms which I don't often see since it only blooms once a year.
We still have some Malachites and they are very popular with the guests.
When I catch butterflies outside and then put them in the flight cage, they often go into what I like to call "freak out mode". They flap around the top of the screen like they want out. Eventually, they calm down and go nectar. Here's one of two Gulf Fritillaries I caught yesterday.
I also caught two Cloudless Sulphurs and one of them was laying an egg when I caught her so maybe she'll lay eggs in the flight cage! By the way, this is about the only time of I can catch a Sulphur. They're so fast!
The butterflies were also helping with the signage. Seriously, I think the plastic was warm from the sun.
Here's a Monarch on Cleome (Spider Flower). Remember, Cleome can be used as a host plant for many of the White butterflies.
I was checking the new plant order in the shade house when I saw (and captured) this Spotted Oleander Caterpillar Moth.
Why is it called the Spotted Oleander Caterpillar Moth? Check out the caterpillar! See, there's an Oleander Moth caterpillar that is plain orange with black tufts, so this one had to be named something different. I found four of them, and no, they don't sting. They do, however, move a lot faster than you would think.
Skipper out in the garden. It's on the native Scorpion Tail (Heliotropium angiospermum).
Back in the lab, we have Great Southern White caterpillars! They're lucky they're so pretty because they stink! We're feeding them collard greens so imagine how it smells when you cook cabbage and throw in a little frass. Not quite as bad as Pipevine, but not a fun tank to clean. Anyway, you can see where they all molted together on the back of a leaf. Now, they're back to eating that leaf into oblivion.
This is the most faded Phaon Crescent I've ever seen, but I'm going to send it to BAMONA to be sure.
I caught this Long-Tailed Skipper right after I took pictures. But a lizard caught it in the flight cage! It got loose from the lizard, but the head was so damaged I had to euthanize it.
This Gulf Frit caterpillar is curled up because it's scared. Then again, if a giant hand came out of nowhere and grabbed me, I would probably curl into the fetal position, too.
Here's a Monarch on a geranium!
And here's a Malachite and a Monarch! See how blue the sky was yesterday? And it was in the 70's.
Back home, it started clouding up, but I still found this little Skipper on my Tampa Vervain (Glandularia tampensis). That plant is endangered.
And my well is starting to become a hub of activity again. The moth caterpillar I found pupated, but died. It's pretty gross. But BAMONA says it's a Tolype species, probably Tolype velleda. Yesterday, all I found was a bag worm, but he was sticking his head out a bit which was cool.
