Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) and Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
The Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) and Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) can both be found in the Northeast in meadows and fields. The Variegated is much less common in Connecticut, being as it is mostly a southern species. Right now in the Northeast more and more butterflies are being seen migrating on emerging from new habitats. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Connecticut while on assignment for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
Read MoreLightning Strike
There has been a lot of inclement weather lately! One good thing about all of the heavy rain and thunderstorms is that our waterways will be filled for reptiles, amphibians, odonates, and many other creatures. It may not make our work easier – for example, the Spiny Softshell Turtles are going to be a tough study for now – but it is certainly a far better fate than the droughts of places like California. Thankfully for them we have signs of a strengthening El Niño, the periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean’s surface temperatures, that may already be giving them slight...
Read MoreNortheastern Skippers
Sean calls them the sparrows of the butterfly world, and those little brown skippers can be quite a difficult group of butterflies to identify. He plans on spending some time this year trying to photograph as many species of skippers as possible for identification keys. It’s also a good exercise for him to sharpen his own ID skills with them. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Connecticut and New Jersey for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
Read MoreInternational Day for Biological Diversity
Sean saw a lot of great posts today about International Day for Biological Diversity and couldn’t help but put something together. He has been missing the tropics a lot lately, but can’t wait to see the biodiversity start to pick up in our area in the Northeast – and it’s happening now! Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Costa Rica and Panama for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
Read MoreAndrena sp
This is an Andrena sp., most likely Andrena cornelli, a species associated with Azalea (Rhododendron) host plants. It is one of the many native pollinators that can be found in the Northeast right now. The diversity of native pollinators just in your own backyard is something incredible to see. We’re going to be showcasing some native pollinators that we have been finding out and about during our work. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Connecticut for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural...
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