Tattered Lady
The American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) is best identified when nectaring like this by the two large eyespots on the ventral hindwing. The very similar Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) would have four smaller eyespots in the same place. This individual is tattered and torn, experiencing some wear and tear after being busy on the wing for probably only a couple weeks, or a few at most. Adult life spans are short for many of our butterflies, and they have a lot to get done in such a small window, which makes it all the more important to have plentiful, widespread and organic food...
Read MoreSpicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
I took these Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) photos last Friday evening after the opening of Stratford Point’s new water garden while the butterfly was being battered by gusty winds off the water. It was appropriately trying to feed in the garden itself but the seabreeze pushed it around to the other side of the building and some of the other gardens a little more out of the wind. Catching a drink while you’re being tossed about by those big sails is not easy, and it ended up fluttering to keep itself steady in the wind at times. The species is a daily sighting now among...
Read MorePink Tiger
This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) was looking a little tattered and torn, showing the wear of weeks on the wing this summer. It took a long drink from this pink coneflower which was also looking a little past its prime, but that clearly did not matter in making a perfect moment of nature’s beauty and grace.
Read MoreHummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe)
Here we have the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) to kick off National Moth Week (July 23-31), appropriately photographed yesterday in a gratifying yet frustrating experience. I found it feeding on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) while watering in the morning, and because I was watering I did not have my camera (always a great tactic to ensure a good sighting). After running back inside and all the way around…yep, still there. Great. As usual with wildlife I approached it with caution, slowly, shooting while closing in on the moth. The species moves quickly while...
Read MoreSwamp Milkweed
The Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is on the way! These wonderfully helpful pollinator plants, beloved by the Monarch butterfly for feeding and egg laying, will be blooming soon enough. I am looking forward to seeing all sorts of butterflies and other insects enjoying the nectar this summer. Have you planted any beneficial and native pollinator plants in your yard? What are you hoping to spot feeding on them? Go see what you can find this weekend in the great outdoors… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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