I was excited to meet a tiny new yellow butterfly in western Mississippi. Paul B. Johnson State Park was a nice stop. As for Hackberry Emperor Butterflies, dozens of them to be seen.
That pink spot and those to black spots close to the head cause me to identify this sweet yellow as a Little Yellow butterfly. Ken? Curt? Mr. Ward? Mr. Pyle? Phil? Jerry and Rose? Mike R? Mike B? Jeff?
Jeff
Who among you will ID the world record set by this butterfly. Most of you recognize this butterfly. It’s a Painted Lady butterfly, and almost all of us have seen it before. Why is it unique among all of the butterflies that we see in the United States?
Is it the only butterfly that eats this or that? The only butterfly that Glassberg describes as found in “any open areas?” The only one to construct its chrysalis out of Puffs tissues? Discarded birds’ downy feathers? The only butterfly to fly here in the USA and also in Sri Lanka? Or is it the only butterfly to not ‘eat’ as an adult?
You’ll be helped by knowing that this Vanessa cardui was resting on rock alongside the Mediterranean Sea, in Rosh Hanikra, Israel (just miles from the ‘hot’ border with Lebanon).
I see you and some others got it. Painted Ladys are the most widespread of all butterfly species, flying on every continent in the world. Nearly every corner of the world enjoys the beauty and mystery of this handsome butterfly.
Seeing them 7,000 miles from home did bring a certain kind of comfort to me, truth be told.
Jeff
Sharing this photo of an Appalachian Brown butterfly pleases me very much. These butterflies of swamps and wet woods have something special about them. When you spot one, you have got to crack a smile, for these are not butterflies that you can meet at your whim. They appear when they appear, and when they decide to, Poof! they are gone.
This magical butterfly was seen in the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge in central Georgia’s Piedmont region.
Butterflies out of the sun, in the reduced light of the forest’s understory.
Jeff
I asked Virginia where should we go to find butterflies, on her beautiful St. Simons Island? Months later there we were, at Ft. Federica. The British built that fort there in the 1700’s, and it was now a historic site, for visitors.
Of course she was right, for we met many different species of butterflies in the fields and meadows of this fascinating military relic. St. Simons Island has become a playground for the rich, and its butterflies too enjoy this bucolic site.
Here’s a handsome Gray Hairstreak butterfly, fresh and resplendent, especially its orange/reddish spot on it hindwing.
Meeting a Gray? Like greeting a good friend, is how it feels.
Jeff
A sight that makes your eyes smile! Mike and I were at a National Wildlife Refuge near Kathleen, Georgia. We were just 2 miles from Donald’s Frito-Lay plant, the largest chip producing plant in the U.S.A..
The Refuge was lush, free of other folks, and loaded with wildlife.
These Thistles caught my eye. Thistles always do. I have this thing for Thistles, always have. Usually those 10 minutes spent waiting near a Thistle bloom for butterflies to come, ends in frustration.
This time, this gorgeously colored Thistle bloom (Ellen, which Thistle is it?) gave me a jolt! Why? This sizable Giant Swallowtail showed up, and spent good minutes nectaring on the Thistle.
A sight to behold! Giant on Thistle, in unique Wildlife Refuge, guided by Mike, one of Georgia’s most knowledgeable naturalists, and just 2 miles from a Kettle Chip plant par excellence.
Jeff
P.S. I ordered a box of masks online. They were delivered yesterday. Last night I opened the package, and the box reported that the MASKS WERE MANUFACTURED IN WUHAN, CHINA. Nope, I don’t want to open the box or wear them. Wuhan?
Winged Beauty Butterflies 