Monarch on Cosmos
I have taken so many photos of Monarch butterflies this year, but this very fresh and bold Monarch nectaring on a cosmos flower was a sensational contrast of colors on a cool September morning. I really am obsessed with them, and I’ll miss them as the last depart the region in several weeks. Here is hoping that winter population counts are strong this year. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreMonarch Butterfly Release
I raised a couple of Monarch caterpillars this August, something I had not done since I was a child. I collected them and ended up feeding them from my own supply of swamp milkweed leaves that went otherwise unused. While many pollinators visited to enjoy the nectar of the flowers, I did not note any Monarchs in the yard or find any eggs. A couple weeks ago I noticed each chrysalis was turning black not far apart from one another, and by late that morning they’d emerged. I released them onto my coneflowers after their wings dried, and one of the two females provided me a chance to...
Read MoreCommon Buckeye Butterfly
Meet the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) butterfly, and while this one is a bit worn here at the end of the season, it has some incredibly good looks nonetheless.
Read MoreMonarch Profile
How much more crisp and gorgeous can a Monarch get? We are still seeing caterpillars but the butterflies are starting to get a move on to the south now…good journey, friends!
Read MoreUnknown Eggs
I found these eggs last month on Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) and Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) leaves. This macro view lets you see they are mostly white, not quite spherical, and feature two gold bands. They are certainly tiny, and they are almost certainly moth eggs…but what species? I have enough of a difficult time sorting through the hundreds and hundreds of adult moths we see, let alone eggs! The closest match that I could find were those of the Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) which would be exceptional. I saw some caterpillars had emerged with broken eggs and some snacked...
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