I'm so behind on posting my photos! I've been really busy lately. I was telling my therapist on Tuesday (just one of the many things I did this week) and he asked, "Isn't that a good thing?" I told him mentally it was, but physically, I was tired. I just need a couple days to chill out.
Speaking of chilling out, our first real cold front has come through and it rained pretty good. But the exciting part is that we're going to get down to 48 degrees tonight! I may have to turn down my ceiling fan.
So the other day Mom walks in the door and tells me there's a "really big Spicebush" outside. I go get my camera and tell her that it's not a Spicebush. It's a dark form female Tiger Swallowtail! I had seen a male the week before which is weird because it is November and even in Florida the Swallowtails are usually overwintering now. I checked all my Sweetbays but found no eggs. I did get a few pictures for you guys, though.
There are so many White Peacocks this year. I've never seen so many at one time. And it's all over, not just my yard, or MOSI, but everywhere I go.
I've got some torn up Gulf Fritillaries, but they're still flying.
There are also a lot of Long-Tailed Skippers. They're pretty common, but like the White Peacocks, I'm not used to seeing this many at the same time.
I couldn't get the best picture of this Skipper, but I need to send it to BAMONA. The number and placement of spots just doesn't look quite right to me.
Found a Gulf Frit cat on the Corkystem Passion Vine.
All right, it's time for another episode of "Caterpillar Hunting With Melanie!" First, let's look for the leaf-shelter building Long-Tailed Skipper!
Next up is the mystery moth on my Pokeweed. I sent a very good pic of the adult moth to BAMONA and they couldn't ID it.
This one builds leaf shelters that remind me of the Spicebush Swallowtail.
Now, these caterpillars use a common defense tactic known as "fall off the plant". As in, if you disturb them, they will drop to the ground. I was collecting Spotted Oleander Moth cats at MOSI today and they do the same thing. It's pretty convenient if you have a container ready to catch them, but annoying if they fall in the dirt and then you have to try to find them. I picked one back up and that's why he's covered in sand. The other caterpillar pictured on the Pokeweed seemed to be paler in color and look at all the silk! I think it might have been getting ready to pupate.
There are tons of Barred Sulphurs on the edge of my neighbor's property.
And here are a few more pics of a White Peacock. So pretty!
