butterfly news

I joined NABA a little while back and just received my first newsletter. With the horrid cold spell passing through, and me back to hibernation status, it was a welcome gift. It's the Fall 2007 newsletter, so it's quite dated, but I didn't join just for the newsletter, so I won't complain too loudly.

Seriously though... Fall??? I know the past issue of any publication goes out to new members, but how in the past should a publication be before you decide it's too past? I only feel this way in part because it's unsettling to be reminded of last Fall since I'm so onto Spring right now. To think about last Fall means there is a whole winter ahead. I'm so over it and ready to move on. Pretty much any reference to 2007 is unsettling for me, so really, it's not them, it's me... pbbbttttt...

In other Spring related news, since I have this self-imposed-house-bound status going on, I began working on my Spring line of wreaths. I don't have a single one left over from last year, therefore no inventory to get me started. Time to go be productive.

*I lost lots of posting options on blogger? hmmmm.

butterfleyecandy

So there are not many butterflies around so much these days. I tried to photograph one yesterday, but he was just way too active and busy to slow down. He was a teeny thing, had bluish tint to him and I couldn't get a good enough look to know more. In the meantime, I made one instead. He looks nothing like the one I spotted on my thyme, but he was something I was playing with probably two years ago when I had intended on creating this site. He was supposed to be some kind of butterfly logo, however, he didn't reduce so well, and I don't think I could have stood looking at those colors all the time on a web site.

Odd Sightings for 2007

This past week I've seen a few Variegated Fritillary, which I've never seen before. According to my big book o' butterflies, PA is in the scarce/regional range for these guys. In mid to late summer, during strong flight years, they can be seen as far north as the New England states. I'm guessing it's been a strong flight year, and that those out butterflying in the upper northeast might be catching sight of some butterflies they don't normally get to see.

Another one I don't see all that often is the Common Buckeye, although it's not supposed to be uncommon in this area and there is plenty of host plant material for the females to lay eggs. This is another one I've seen for the first time this year and I see them often.

Then there is the Red-Spotted Purple that are quite active right now. I've seen these before but I've never taken any photos. I tried yesterday and I thought they'd be easy. They love to hover around me and play when I'm mowing, and then they just sit, with wings wide open on the mulch right outside the back door. Yesterday when I wanted to capture one and post it here, all of a sudden, the butterfly decided he did not want to sit still any more... so, no photo yesterday. Today is overcast and misty, so I can't take the camera outside. I'll have to wait for another day to get him on film. They are SO very pretty.

Last week I found a Red-Spotted Purple in perfect condition, except for the fact that he was no longer alive, but when I dropped him without knowing it because I was trying to be gentle, I stepped on him and crushed a wing.

Butterfly Image of the Day

Isn't she one of the most gorgeous of all? The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is quite abundant here and there isn't any time of day you can't go outside to watch them. They get started early morning, drinking nectar and playing until sundown. The Butterfly Bush beside the garage in the front yard is more like the butterflies local pub and on really humid days it's a hopping club. You'd think some big name band was in there playing away.

It's not hard to attract these with a few nectar sources, but if you want an abundance of them, you can plant the hosts that the caterpillars will feed off of. Known hosts along the East Coast include Tulip tree, Wild Cherries, and Wafer Ash. There are a lot of Wild Cherry trees in the areas surrounding my house, so I don't have to do anything for these guys. Very low maintenance for looking so good don't you think?