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Gray Hairstreak Butterfly

moth identification
Location:  western north carolina
July 23, 2010 11:55 am
this was a very friendly moth that was so happy with my camera that it hopped right on it. i love the splash of orange and the black and white antennae. what is it?
mike

hairstreak mike 300x266 Gray Hairstreak Butterfly

Gray Hairstreak

Dear Mike,
This is actually a Hairstreak Butterfly in the subfamily Theclinae, but we are reluctant to identify the species as so many look alike.  You can see the many examples on BugGuide.

Species Identified by Eric Eaton
August 11, 2010
Hi, Daniel:
Went through the site and found only a few minor corrections/clarifications, most recent to oldest: …
… Hairstreak Butterfly, western North Carolina:  Gray Hairstreak, Strymon melinus.
Otherwise, either very good or “I can’t help with that:-)”
Is the book out for everybody yet?  If so, I’ll link it to my blog, share on Facebook, etc.  I did get the pre-order e-mail from you.
Eric

Thanks Eric,
Now we can link to the species page on BugGuide for the Gray Hairstreak.  The book will be available in October 2010.

Posted 24 July 2010 § Gossamer Wings ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Location:  Lexington NC
July 23, 2010 5:53 pm
He was a bit leery so I could not get a real good shot, but hope you enjoy this one.
SCWIDVICIOUS

easterntigerswallowtail 300x234 Tiger Swallowtail

Tiger Swallowtail

Dear SCHWIDVICIOUS,
We know first hand how elusive Swallowtail Butterflies can be when there is a camera present, so we are happy to post your image of this Eastern Tiger Swallowtail to acknowledge your accomplishment.  It appears as though he may be puddling, an activity engaged in by many male butterflies that often congregate in great numbers near damp places so they can drink fluids that contain necessary salts and minerals.

Posted 24 July 2010 § swallowtails ‡ Comments (0) °

Tiger Swallowtail: transitional morph

Papilio Glaucus turnus dark form morph
Location:  northern VA
July 21, 2010 9:22 am
Hi, I believe I have just found a rare Papilio Glaucus turnus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail) female dark form morph. In 60 years, I have not seen one save for the two photos on your website, neither of which appear to be the same as mine. I just wanted to share the marvel. Do you have anything to add?
Thanks!
Amateur Lepidopterist

tiger swallowtail dark morph 300x283 Tiger Swallowtail: transitional morph

Tiger Swallowtail: intermediate between light and dark morphs

Dear Amateur Lepidopterist,
Sadly, we were running late for work this morning, and though we opened your letter and saw your lovely mounted specimen images of an individual in a transitional phase between the normal light morph and the dark morph.  The true dark morph of a female Tiger Swallowtail is not as plentiful as the typical light yellow and black striped beauty.  The dark morph has a low contrast between the dark ground and the slightly darker stripes.  In the past several years, we have received two other examples of intermediary phases, and as these transitional morphs may be nearer to each of the extremes, which explains like our older examples are different than yours.  One example from earlier this year is of a living specimen that favors the darker morph.  An earlier example from 2008 is almost halfway between the two variations in coloration, with the black concentrated at the edges of the wings.  Your individual favors the light normal morph with just the centers of the wings being darker.  Thanks again for sending your photos.  We think it is interesting that these color variations, which only occur in female Tiger Swallowtails, exhibit such a wide range of possibilities.  This might make for an revealing genetics study.

P.S.  We do not condone insect collecting for anything but scientific purposes.  You should look up the proper format for labeling mounted specimens, and you should keep very specific records on the time and location and even weather conditions of the capture.

Ed. Note: When we sent a brief offline response to Amateur Lepidopterist this morning, here is what we wrote:  “Only that I am running out of the house to go to work and I wish I had the fifteen minutes it will take to post this right now.  I will post your letter this evening or tomorrow morning.  It is lovely and beautifully mounted.  Daniel“

Posted 21 July 2010 § swallowtails ‡ Comments (1) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Zebra Swallowtail and Black Swallowtail

2 different swallowtail butterflies
July 12, 2010
Hi again Bugman!,
Congrats on the book!
This afternoon near Garnett, Kansas (that’s about an hour and a half South and a little West of Kansas City) I was out looking for interesting photo ops in a field of wildflowers, and saw what I thought was a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. About 15 seconds looking through your butterfly pages, and I’m pretty sure what I’ve got here is a Zebra Swallowtail. It did not seem a bit put out by my presence, which surprised me because it’s wings were a little battered, you know the way they might look if a bird had gotten a taste?, even so, it was a beaut’ and it allowed me to make many attempts at a clear photo. While I was following it around another type of Swallowtail showed up, and I managed to get a reasonable pic of that one also, though it was not nearly as accommodating as the first one.
I can’t find one that matches it on WTB anywhere! I wondered if you could help me out with that? Both butterflies are striking. They are roughly identical in size. The mystery one is mostly black with vivid yellow spots on it’s wings in the shape of a V. Both of them have a small group of red and blue spots on the hind wings, so I gave some thought to the possibility of sexual dimorphism. Did I spell that right?, but now I’m leaning toward two different species.
The coolest thing to me though, is the several rows of yellow dots down the black one’s abdomen.
July/11/10, Temperature in the mid-80s F, though it felt more like upper 90s.
Thanks in advance!
Jeff in T-Town
Eastern Kansas, USA

zebra swallowtail jeff2 300x269 Zebra Swallowtail and Black Swallowtail

Zebra Swallowtail

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for your thoughtful letter and great photos of a Zebra Swallowtail and a male Black Swallowtail.  The Black Swallowtail does exhibit sexual dimorphism.  The difference between male and female Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes, is summed up on BugGuide as:  “Female, with its large blue patches on hindwings, is a mimic of the Pipevine Swallowtail. Some female Black Swallowtails have little yellow on wings above. Males have more extensive broken yellow band.“  You can also see comparison photos on BugGuide’s Info page.

black swallowtail jeff1 300x278 Zebra Swallowtail and Black Swallowtail

Male Black Swallowtail

Posted 12 July 2010 § swallowtails ‡ Comments (1) °

Black Swallowtail Life Cycle

Black swallowtail life cycle
July 9, 2010
I thought you’d enjoy my photographic documentation of the Black Swallowtail life cycle.
Sherry Young
Roe, Monroe County, Arkansas

black swallowtail egg sherry 300x222 Black Swallowtail Life Cycle

Black Swallowtail Egg

Hi Sherry,
Thanks so much for sending us your documentation of the early stages of the life cycle of a Black Swallowtail. Your caterpillar images show two different instars.  Caterpillars molt five times before the chrysalis stage, and each of these instars, in addition to allowing the caterpillar to grow, often demonstrate different coloration and patterns.

INSERT:  July 9, 2010

black swallowtail 2 instar sherry 300x250 Black Swallowtail Life Cycle

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar: 2nd instar

Black swallowtail 2nd instar
July 9, 2010
Of course, after I submit my 6 pics of the black swallowtail life cycle, I FINALLY get a good picture of what I believe is a 2nd instar!
Sherry Young
Roe, Monroe County, Arkansas
Ed. Note: This was inserted from a later email. End Insert

black swallowtail instar sherry 300x231 Black Swallowtail Life Cycle

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar: third instar

A mature caterpillar might have no resemblance to an earlier instar.

black swallowtail cat sherry 300x195 Black Swallowtail Life Cycle

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Black swallowtail life cycle part 2
July 9, 2010
the first email includes egg, early instar (3 I think) and a 5th instar. This one includes 5th getting ready for pupation, chrysalis, and newly emerged butterfly!
Sherry Young
Roe, Monroe County, Arkansas

black swallowtail cat prepares sherry 300x239 Black Swallowtail Life Cycle

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar prepares to pupate

Hi again Sherry,
We are thrilled that you rounded out this Life Cycle of a Black Swallowtail so completely.

black swallowtail chrysalis sherry 232x300 Black Swallowtail Life Cycle

Black Swallowtail Chrysalis

Your adult butterfly is a female as evidenced by the blue markings on the wings.  Can you provide us with the name of the food plant.  It does not appear to be parsley nor carrots (caterpillars are often called Carrot Worms) but it does look like it might be dill.

black swallowtail sherry 300x206 Black Swallowtail Life Cycle

Female Black Swallowtail

Posted 09 July 2010 § swallowtails ‡ Comments (1) °

Viceroy

Imposter! Actually, it was a Viceroy!
July 3, 2010
Hi Bugman,
I sent you a question that you kindly answered back on June 24, about a mystery caterpillar on the curly willow in our yard. We’d determined it was a Red Spotted Purple (and it did look just like that caterpillar). Well, imagine my surprise when I went out into the garden early this morning to find a dozen+ VICEROY butterflies! I am attaching some photos for you icon smile Viceroy
Amy The Bug Girl
Little Rock, AR, USA

viceroy amy 2 300x271 Viceroy

Viceroy: Newly Metamorphosed

Hi Amy,
First, we apologize for our misidentification of your Viceroy Caterpillar last month.  In our defense, the Viceroy, Limenitis archippus, and the Red Spotted Purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax, are in the same genus and their caterpillars look very similar.  We especially like that your one photo shows the Chrysalis below the newly emerged adult butterfly.  It is also wonderful that you provided us with views of both the open and closed wings.

viceroy amy 300x219 Viceroy

Viceroy

Posted 03 July 2010 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Mystery: Unidentified Brush Footed Butterfly: Owl Butterfly perhaps???

A butterfly !
June 28, 2010
Your letter to the bugman    Hi I took this photograph in a butterfly garden located in Quepos, Costa Rica, Pacific Coast.
How you want your letter signed    mmh ? don’t understand the question ?
Geographic Location of Bug     Quepos, Costa Rica, Pacific Coast.

caligo costa rica 270x300 Mystery: Unidentified Brush Footed Butterfly: Owl Butterfly perhaps???

Might this be an Owl Butterfly

Dear mmh ? don’t understand the question ?,
The line on our form that indicates “How you want your letter signed” is the field that allows the writer to use their real name or a pseudonym with the submission of the letter.  The letters that are submitted may be posted to our website and it is generally considered proper etiquette to place a name or identifying mark after writing a letter.  We respect our readership’s desire to maintain anonymity sometimes, so we do not post real names or email addresses unless the person completes the “How you want your letter signed” field with a real name, or unless they request that their email address be posted.  Your photo is very nice.

Ed. Note: mmh ? don’t understand the question ? did not request an identification and we don’t understand what they want us to do with the photograph.  The correct identification of a rarely seen species might take hours, and even then, there might not be a satisfactory result.  Though we don’t believe this is an Owl Butterfly in the genus Caligo, it does share some similarities.  Cirrus IMages has a nice image of an Owl Butterfly.  This specimen might be in the genus Caligo, and it might be a related genus in the family Nymphalidae, the Brush Footed Butterflies.  We suspect that Karl will be able to provide us with more information.

Hi Daniel
Thanks a lot for your answer ! I’m french and sometimes my english is a bit too light !!
Shall I complete the form with my real name then : Sabine Bernert
In fact, now that I have more space to explain my question, I should add that I’m working on two books about Costa Rica wildlife (adult and kids versions).
Many thanks for your help !!
All the best
Sabine

Hi Again Sabine,
Now that you have clarified your confusion, we feel that we owe you an apology for not providing you with an identification.  Also, we would think the butterfly garden might have information on the species represented in the garden.

Posted 28 June 2010 § Brush Footed Butterflies ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged:

Giant Swallowtail in Tennessee!!!

Giant Swallowtail
June 25, 2010
Hi Daniel, This beautiful butterfly was shot about three weeks ago. I was driving down a country road, when I saw it I had to stop and back up a few feet to shoot from the car window. I thought it was an “Eastern Tiger Swallowtail” but it has been bothering me because the marking were different I thought it might be a mutant. Then tonight I followed a link you had to “Butterflies and Moths of North America” lo and behold their it was just as big as life. (Wonderful site also) I was impress with the beauty of this one and with your help,permission and tolerance I would like to share it with everyone. Thank you and have a wonderful day.
Richard
North Middle Tennessee

giant swallowtail richard 300x238 Giant Swallowtail in Tennessee!!!

Giant Swallowtail

Hi again Richard,
We will never forget the first time we saw a Giant Swallowtail in Los Angeles in the first years of the new millennium.  around the time they became more plentiful in Southern California.  They frequently visit our lantana beginning in July.  We have read in numerous places that this is the largest North American butterfly.  the LA Times did a nice story in 2007.

giant swallowtail richard 2 300x226 Giant Swallowtail in Tennessee!!!

Giant Swallowtail

Posted 26 June 2010 § swallowtails ‡ Comments (0) °

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