Cabbage White
The Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) is a non-native “pest” butterfly species, and here you can see it is feeding on a Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), a non-native weed…but you know what, the ship has sailed on trying to solve that problem. I realize that is easy for me to say because I am not employed in agriculture. However, we are not going to wake up tomorrow and eliminate these species from North America. Even if we were to try it would be terribly harmful, and in the case of the dandelion we would be pumping even more toxic chemicals into our environment – as...
Read MoreAmerican Lady Butterfly
Spring is slowly coming to Stratford Point with birds like the American Kestrel and Palm Warbler showing up in the last couple of days. Here’s an American Lady butterfly seen earlier today. We cannot wait until our gardens are full of birds, butterflies and more! It will be an exciting year.
Read MoreDun Skipper
This is a Dun Skipper photographed in the gardens of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History from a past summer. Have you seen a butterfly yet in 2016? I spotted a moth, but I have not seen a Mourning Cloak or anything else so far during this scorching March week. We hope you take the time to visit RTPI for everything indoors and outdoors this year. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreGreat Spangled Fritillary
Here is an old photo of a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) that I never posted from the gardens of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. Spring is coming, and I am anxious for the extra life in the air and green on the ground, plus all those delicious colors for beautiful creatures like this to nectar on. Have you started getting your garden ready yet? Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreMonarch in Panama
I had to immediately share this little gem by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser photographed yesterday at the Biodiversity Museum of Panama. Yes, this is a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) that was feeding with a number of other butterfly species right outside the Museum in the natural gardens. Sean felt it was a great little reminder of North American biodiversity there in Panama, and it was especially terrific being at a museum that houses some of RTPI President Twan Leenders’ art! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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