big black moth?
Hi Bugman,
I am wondering if you can identify a bug for me? It is in a photo that a friend sent me from their trip to somewhere near Puerta Vallerta, Mexico. It looks like a large black luna moth (in shape). It has white markings on it’s forwings, and long trailing hindwings. I am attatching a photo, but it isn’t the graeatest. I’ve searched on line for the name of this insect, which I am assuming is a moth, and I can’t come up with anything. I’d be ecstatic if you could identify it for me!!
Thank you,
Lonna Stauffer
Hi Lonna,
This isn’t a moth, but a Longtailed Skipper, a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae that is sometimes referred to as an evolutionary group between butterflies and moths since they possess characteristics of both moths and butterflies. They are not large, despite the appearance in the photo. Longtail Skippers generally have a wingspan under two inches.
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Posted 30 January 2006
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Butterfly photo
This photo was taken in Glacier National Park, Montana, in August 2005. What type of butterfly is it? Is it a really common butterfly that is all over the US or is it more common in a certain area? (I’m from Florida). I compared it to the photos on your website and it looks like the photo of a painted lady…is that right? Anything interesting you can tell me about it?
Jaime
Hi Jaime,
You are absolutely correct. This is a Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui. It is sometimes called the Cosmopolitan as it is the butterfly with the most worldwide distribution. This is also a migratory species, though not as well known as the Monarch. It yearly migrates from northern Mexico in huge impressive swarms to repopulate the western U.S.
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Posted 27 January 2006
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Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail
I really enjoyed looking at your site. I have these photos I thought you might like to see of the Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail. I think it’s just so awesome! The first photo is one I raised that eclosed out of season (due to warm winter weather). The second is the final stage of the caterpillar. In Texas they really like to use the Hop Tree as a larval host plant.
Linda
Hi Linda,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos with our readers.
ID butterflie
Hi, I’ve seen this Butterflie in Mexico….. What is?
Thank you!
Alessio
Hi Alessio,
This is one of the Swallowtail Butterflies in the subfamily Papilioninae. Many members from this group have tailed hind wings. Your image is not a species we recognize, but the markings are remarkably similar to a tailed species known as the Pipevine Swallowtial, Battus philenor. That butterfly ranges in Mexico and we do not want to rule out the possibility that your butterfly is a Pipevine Swallowtail that has lost its tails. The fragility of the wings often results in those appendages being easily damaged and lost.
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Posted 25 December 2005
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western tiger swallowtail
Dear bugman,
Thanks for identifying my cricket hunter. I’m pretty sure this is a western tiger swallowtail, and I noticed you didn’t have a picture of one with its wings spread out – it’s so pretty! Thanks for your website!
Erika
Hi Erika,
What a lovely addition to our site.
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Posted 12 December 2005
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Painted Lady
It’s not often you see a photo of a painted lady with it’s wings splayed out. The resolution on this photo is high and the colours are stunning. I had to do a little chasing to finally get this picture, but it was worth it.
Nadjia
Hi again Nadjia,
We were only going to post a couple of your images, but there are some very nice ones. We applaud your diligence in capturing this Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui. In California, we have West Coast Ladies that often migrate in huge numbers in the spring. This year’s desert bloom brought out millions of them. It was very impressive to see.
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Posted 19 November 2005
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Mating butterflies – Tampa
First, I’d like to say I’m SO jealous of the people who can get pictures of the mating Cecropia Moth! I believe this is a Monarch, but I really couldn’t tell you for sure. I just got some rather keen pictures and thought I’d share them! I live in Tampa, FL. First set from a few months ago: Mating butterflies, one more comes over to check it out…
Then a couple MORE come over! The next set is clearer, and was taken today: Thanks for the website! Very interesting!
Jen in Tampa
Hi Jen,
These are not Monarchs. They are Gulf Fritillaries. We just love the curiosity.
Thanks so much! It’s the passion flower plant I have that makes them crazy, isn’t it? 
I have one grown wild out back and ever since I planted it I’ve seen them around. I’m catching catterpillars(sp) out there too.
Jen
Hi again Jen,
Passion Flower is the food plant, so those are Gulf Fritillary Caterpillars you are collecting.
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Posted 18 November 2005
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Tagged: bug love
hi bugman,
here’s an old Owl Butterfly
Ben
Hi Ben,
Thank you for the photo and also thanks for including the scientific name, Caligo memnon, on your Owl Butterfly file. This genus is often used as a textbook example of protective marking, as a predator will often be startled by the eyespots. When the butterfly hangs up-side-down from a branch, it really does resemble the face of an owl.
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Posted 26 October 2005
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Photos for your site
I have some photos of butterflies for your website. I see you don’t have these species.
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| Polydamus Swallowtail |
Longtailed Skipper |
Thank you so much. The image you have labeled Spicebush Swallowtail is actually a Polydamus Swallowtail, Battus polydamas. The Longtailed Skipper is Urbanus proteus..
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Posted 09 October 2005
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Common Buckeye
After viewing the butterflies in your site, this appears to be a Common Buckeye. I like the coloring on this one, I found interesting reading on how the eye on the butterfly is a light lavendar when fresh, and changes eventually. Some appear quite different in color. This butterfly landed on my friends young daughter in Bella Vista Arkansas. I was fortunate to see the Butterfly migration this year in southern california. The sky was filled with them for a few days going over the house.
Steph Hart
Hi Steph,
We just had someone write in with a caterpillar ID and it was a Common Buckeye. Next day he sent in the new Chrysalis and now you have completed the metamorphosis for us.
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Posted 04 October 2005
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Monarch or Viceroy?
Can you tell me what kind of butterfly this is? It looks like it might be a Monarch or Viceroy. Picture taken in New Jersey.
Steve
Hi Steve,
This is a Monarch. The wings are shaped differently and there is no black bar on the hind wings.
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Posted 17 September 2005
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Close up image of a Tiger Swallowtail
Hello, I’ve seen mentioned more than once in this site that your local Swallowtails are camera shy. This one certainly wasn’t. The image was taken in (northern)Illinois on a plant called Tithonia, aka "Mexican Sunflower" (though it is not a helianthus), an excellent beacon for butterflies, hummingbirds and the like. This image has been cropped, but the full-size image makes a wonderful background for a computer screen. Thank you for providing an informative site.
Regards,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Thank you for the wonderful photo of an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus.
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Posted 15 September 2005
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