Tag: Butterfly

Picture of the Day for March 11, 2016

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With the ground covered in white again, but this time from frost instead of snow, the critters and insects are burrowed in again. The cloudless day will allow the sun to warm the temperatures and soon the chipmunks will be running around again and the flies will hang on the siding, but most likely won’t see too any bees or butterflies as there is no nectar for them to find yet. And last year, the Northern Crescent butterfly wasn’t seen in my county until May 9th so have a couple of months to wait for its appearance.

(I did see a butterfly this afternoon but wasn’t close enough to identify want kind it was though but it thinks spring is here – at least for a couple of days. Also saw the first bluebird today too.)

Northern Crescent

Northern Crescent

 

Picture of the Day for January 22, 2016

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This tiny butterfly with a wingspan of only an inch, if flying around during the winter, would be hidden under the huge snowflakes falling this morning. Earlier this week, it would have turned blue from the sub-zero temperatures. But the Spring Azure overwinter as pupas, and the ‘Spring’ Spring Azure emerges in April and May from a long pupal stage that started early summer the prior year. The ‘Summer’ Spring Azure waits until early summer to emerge.

There is a lot of debate on the Spring Azure on whether it is a diverse species with several sub-species or to be many full species. The butterfly I saw is most likely the Summer Spring Azure, as how some of the references would identify it, since its black markings are smaller than the Spring Spring Azure, plus it was spotted in late summer which is when the two batches of summer variety emerge.

Summer Spring Azure

Summer Spring Azure

Picture of the Day for September 10, 2015

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The wings of the Monarch butterfly caught my eye when I was mowing and I had to slow down a few times for it to move out of the way. Monarch butterflies are known for the incredible mass migration in the fall before the cold weather moves in, which could be 3,000 miles, that brings millions of them to California and Mexico each winter.

Monarch butterflies go through four stages during one life cycle (egg, larvae, pupa and adult butterfly) and through four generations in one year. The first three generations in the year have short life span of 2 to 6 weeks, and only the monarchs born in late summer or early fall live six to eight months and make the migration, and they make only one round trip when they return in the spring to lay the eggs before dying. It is the spring migrators’ great grandchildren that make the trip in the fall returning on the same routes and even sometimes to the same tree as their ancestors.

The King of Butterflies

The King of Butterflies

Picture of the Day for January 16, 2015

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During the winter, about the only things you see around here flying in the air are birds, stray oak leaves and snowflakes (not counting leaping squirrels or kittens) and definitely not any butterflies. So any sightings of butterflies and wildflowers will have to wait for several more months. This butterfly may be a Red-spotted Purple which are found in Wisconsin.

Waiting for the Butterflies Return

Waiting for the Butterfly Return

Picture of the Day for December 6, 2014

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This past summer and fall, I didn’t notice as many butterflies in the area and no big gathering of the Monarch butterflies in the fall like some years. There were some individual butterflies around, like this Giant Swallowtail, and no which I haven’t been able to identify yet. And while the sun is out today, if the butterfly hadn’t migrated south, its wings would be rather stiff since below freezing yet and no green grass for it to land on.

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

Picture of the Day for February 6, 2014

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Like some of the birds, this Red Admiral butterfly heads south for the winter, something that I think a lot of people in the north would like to do after another day with wind chill advisories. The Red Admiral spends the winter in southern Texas instead of the frozen states like Wisconsin. And while butterflies are often thought to be simple and carefree, some butterflies like the Red Admiral are very territorial and defend their area with patrolling flights and complex interactions in flight with intruders of their own species. Too bad the butterfly can’t chase winter away!

Not So Carefree Butterfly

Red Admiral

Picture of the Day for September 9, 2013

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The fall blooming flowers are attracting various insects including this Red Admiral butterfly. And although friendly to humans and may perch on your shoulder, the males Red Admirals are very aggressive defending his territory and his mate and will scout out his ‘turf’ up to thirty times per hour to get rid of other males.

When the Red Admiral folds its wings up, the underside almost looks like a moldy leaf and provides excellent camouflage. Its habitat preferences vary widely, from clearings in woods to vacant lots in downtown areas. An avid flower visitor, it is regularly seen in gardens.

Red Admiral

Red Admiral Butterfly

Picture of the Day for November 27, 2012

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Some would today is an ugly day since it is another cloudy, chilly day but maybe tomorrow will develop into a sunny day. You never know what will emerge from something very ugly. The caterpillar of the Giant Swallowtail has one of the ugliest caterpillars around. The caterpillars need extra protection since they grow large and camouflage is their main form of defense but rather than blending in with with the leaves or flowers, they appear unappealing to predators; very unappealing since they look like bird poop! And yet something that looks like bird poop can morph into something so magnificent.

Ugly Bug to Beautiful Butterfly

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