Butterflies

[BAKPAKR]

As we were heading down the road this morning, we noticed this stuck down behind the hood of my truck where the wipers are. We pulled over and it crawled onto my hand. It flew off as I tried to transfer him to a branch.

 

[jeff_gibbons]

Mixed thoughts on this thread.
One part is seriously impressed with the pics and thoughts shared.
Another part of my brain “it puts the lotion on or it gets the hose.”

 

[RealMuddyboots]

As we were heading down the road this morning, we noticed this stuck down behind the hood of my truck where the wipers are. We pulled over and it crawled onto my hand. It flew off as I tried to transfer him to a branch.

View attachment 387702

Ah, the butterfly whisperer!

 

[kansasdad]

Cleaning out the SUV, I had my orange on the hood of the Highlander. Female monarch (fatter veins and no black spot near the back edge of the wing)

 

[BAKPAKR]

A warrior I saw this morning:

 

[BenP]

7 year old was excited to see a monarch today on its migration, he also wants to go to Mexico to see the hibernation trees.





Also he spotted a smaller fella that he thought was cool: a common checkered skipper

 

[WildWill]

My wife and I have counted just over 100 monarchs in a hour sitting on our back porch today. They particularly like the pink roses.

 

[Charlie Bob]

Not sure what it is, but it looks medieval.

 

[BenP]

Not sure what it is, but it looks medieval.
View attachment 390895View attachment 390896

That is a Banded Sphinx. A beautiful moth.

2nd child found a relative the other day: a pink spotted hawkmoth

 

[Charlie Bob]

Saw this guy today while mowing

 

[BenP]

Saw this guy today while mowing


View attachment 399938

The fact that you're mowing and seeing butterflies in January is diabolical.

 

[BAKPAKR]

These are from a few years ago.

 

[BenP]

I'm not sure what they were after but quite a few painted ladies out in the middle of the fresh picked wheat field.



Also a lot of butterflies around this year compared to last year. Snapped a picture of this black swallowtail, the zebras were not photogenic.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I saw this moth last weekend. My phone tells me it is a eusarca confusaria.



On the same hike, I saw some kind of skipper.



There is a good crop of milkweed in our neighbor’s field but I suspect they will cut the field before it blooms.

 

[BenP]

This was probably the biggest tiger swallowtail I've ever seen.

 

[Charlie Bob]

Just now

 

[RealMuddyboots]

So last year's first attempt has really blossomed! Yeah, pun intended. The daisies went crazy, will split out and plant new one along field edge where tons of milkweed is growing. But it really looks great and butterflies are finding it.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

The fact that you're mowing and seeing butterflies in January is diabolical.

Yeah, my mowing was

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Little better photo.