Eastern Tailed-blue
Our lawns, grasslands and other open areas are increasingly busy with butterfly species like this Eastern Tailed-blue (Cupido comyntas) now found in the grass. Watch where you step and enjoy the show on the ground!
Read MoreBlack Swallowtail
After a long, cold and snowy winter it has taken a bit of time for the first Lepidoptera to start to emerge, but we are off! We will definitely be showing you more of the butterflies and moths we spot over the next several months. Here we have the Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) enjoying those “weeds”, also known as early season sources of nectar and pollen for our insects. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreRed Postman (Heliconius erato) Butterfly
The Red Postman (Heliconius erato) is a heliconians butterfly species that shows wide diversity in color over its range across the tropics. It is mimicked by Heliconius melpomene, the two can be distinguished by the number of red dots on the forewing, as H.erato has four while H.melpomene has three. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Costa Rica while on assignment for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History with The Marvelwood School.
Read MoreAegina numberwing (Callicore lyca)
It feels like it has been years since we have had butterflies on the wing here in the Northeast United States. This is the Aegina numberwing (Callicore lyca), a small and beautiful butterfly photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Panama while on assignment for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
Read MoreGiant Owl Butterfly (Caligo telamonius memnon)
For some reason I do not think you will be finding a butterfly on the wing, or on the tree, if you are living in the Northeast today. This Giant Owl Butterfly (Caligo telamonius memnon) was a yard find for our guys in Costa Rica, as photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser. It certainly has an eye for fashion and survival. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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