rss Monarch Butterfly Ovipositing on Mexican Milkweed
Location: Hawthorne, CA
October 11, 2011
Hi Daniel,
Here are my Monarch photos. I’m thinking that I definitely had ovipositing going on in the photos that contain Mexican Milkweed?
Anna
Monarch Butterfly Oviposits on Milkweed
Thanks for sending us more photos of the thriving Monarch Butterfly population in your home garden Anna.
Moth or Butterfly
Location: Delaware, Ohio 43015
September 29, 2011 5:51 pm
Hello! I have seen this creature before but I can not find any info on it anywhere. I think it’s a moth, but I am not sure. This picture was taken 8/4/2011 in Delaware, Ohio. It was about and inch or so long from wingtip to wingtip. She is lovely and I would like to know the genus and species.
Thank you,
Signature: Heidi Lange-Herzog
I have confirmed it’s a butterfly and not a moth. I’m sure you didn’t need me to tell you that though. Thank you. Heidi
Tawny Emperor
Hi Heidi,
Though you indicated you have confirmed that this is a butterfly, you did not indicate if you learned the species. This appears to us to be a Tawny Emperor, Asterocampa clyton, based on this photo posted to BugGuide.
Red Spotted Purple Butterfly
Location: NC
September 27, 2011 10:47 pm
My daughter found the caterpillar of this lovely butterfly. I was surprised what a beautiful butterfly emerged out of the chrysalis.
Signature: Jeanette
Red Spotted Purple
Hi Jeanette,
Many people believe the Red Spotted Purple is the most beautiful North American butterfly, and we will not argue with them. We are not certain we have ever chosen our favorite, but the Red Spotted Purple would surely be a contender. We hope this individual was eventually released because the insect habitat is no place for adult butterflies that should be flying free.
Oh yes, it was released quickly! We usually keep our moths and butterflies for only one or two days to observe and then let them go. The Red Spotted Purple defiantly has my vote for the most beautiful!
Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis)
Location: Naperville, IL
September 25, 2011 11:07 pm
Hi Daniel~
I think this is a winter form question mark butterfly (as opposed to a summer form). I read that they rarely take nectar, but this one couldn’t seem to get enough of this pink delight buddleia. It flew from flower to flower and hung around for nearly 30 minutes while I snapped away.
All the best,
Signature: Dori Eldridge
Questionmark
Hi Dori,
Your photos are really quite lovely. The closed wing view nicely showcases the silvery questionmark on the hind wings. We agree that this is the fall or winter color form of an individual that will most likely pass the winter in hibernation. According to BugGuide: “Adult: underside of hindwing has unique silver “question mark” shape. Upper forewing has extra black dash not in the similar Eastern Comma. (2) Upper hindwing of summer form is mostly black with short tails; winter form is orange/black with longer violet tipped tails. (1) Wing are very angular in outline.” Here is a photo from BugGuideof the darker summer form for comparison.
Questionmark: Winter Form
what’s this butterfly called
Location: South western ontario near michigan border
September 11, 2011 7:07 am
Hello,
I stumbled upon your site just yesterday and spent at least an hour and half browsing the archives. I really should have been cleaning but this was waaaaaaaaaaaay more interesting. Loved the site so now I am writing to learn about three of the specimens that I saw in my yard.
I had rescued two butterfly bushes from the bargain bin last fall at our local nursery. They were a mere five dollars each. This season they grew fabulously. Full and covered with dozens of blooms all summer. Due to these two bushes I have found a new hobby. Trying to capture (on camera) and identify the dozens of butterflies that have been gracing my yard with their presnece. The other day I took this picture on my i phone(not a great shot but will ahve to do). My co-worker informed me it was a fritillary. I looked it up on line and I think it is more likely a question mark butterfly. I did not photograph the underside of the wing but from the top, it looks very much like one and nothing like a fritillary. Perhaps you can clear this up.
Not sure if image two is a painted lady? Image three I think is a species of hummingbird moth.
Thanks
Signature: Shelley
Questionmark or other Anglewing
Hi Shelley,
The butterfly in question is not a Fritillary. Your belief that it is a Questionmark is a strong possibility, though we would not rule out that it might be another one of the Anglewings, including the Comma. The butterfly you believe is a Painted Lady is the closely related Red Admiral.
Red Admiral
Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii
Location: Kampala, Uganda
September 9, 2011 12:07 pm
Hey Bugman
Thought I’d send in this photo of Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii that I found here in Kampala, Uganda. The mantid had just snatched a butterfly and was eating its head. There are probably 20 living on a clump of purple spiny flowers in the back garden.
Cheers
Signature: Brian
Spiny Flower Mantis eats Butterfly
Hi Brian,
We are really excited to post your Food Chain image of an immature Spiny Flower Mantis, Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii, feeding on a Brush Footed Butterfly. The coloration and shape of this Mantis blends beautifully with the flower upon which it has chosen to live. The Keeping Insects website has a marvelous page on the Spiny Flower Mantis. We are still trying to identify the butterfly.
winged umbrella
Location: Jamestown, RI
September 8, 2011 9:50 am
Hello Again – Found these two on a rudbeckia recently. Wondering what kind of moth/butterfly this might be shading what I think is a thread waisted wasp.
Signature: PeeGee
Crescent Butterfly and Thread Waist Wasp
Hi PeeGee,
We really like your photo of a Crescent Butterfly and a Thread Waist Wasp sharing the nectar from the Black Eyed Susan. We believe the wasp is probably in the genus Ammophila, based on these photos from BugGuide. If our identification is correct, the wasps prey upon cutworms to provision a nest for their progeny.
in response to ”What Frittilary?”
Location: Traverse City Michigan
September 4, 2011 5:17 pm
Hi Bugman! The picture if the unknown Frit reminded me of my own unknown frit,later id as an aphrodite. Being new to all this bugstuff I saw the white spots and mistook it for a regal!!LOL!! But because of that experience I probably have the largest collection of birds-foot violets in northern Michigan.
Signature: Brandy
Greater Fritillary
Hi Brandy,
The Aphrodite Fritillary and the Great Spangled Fritillary were our two top choices for the image submitted earlier. Thank you for mentioning that gardeners who want to encourage Fritillaries to reproduce in their yards need to plant violets.
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