20180914-Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola) nectaring Agastaceae (Blue boa)-0113
The Landing’s Sparrow Field “Pollinator Garden Berm”, in my opinion, is an ideal habitat for locating and photographing many of the 108 butterfly species to be found within Chatham County, Ga.. It is located at the north eastern portion of our inner barrier Skidaway Island. We are bordered on the north and northeast by the Wilmington river and Wassaw Sound; west by the Intercoastal Waterway; and to the south and southeast by the Vernon River and Ossabaw Sound. The Atlantic Ocean is app 3.5 miles due east across Romerly Marsh and Warsaw Island.
Yesterday morning was, in my opinion, idea for nature photography as there was soft light from an overcast sky. I concentrated on the late seasonal grass skipper arrival, the Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola). There were a goodly number of the species present, feeding all along the 152 yard berm from a wide variety of nectar sources. Most of this skipper species appeared to be fresh, recently having migrated (from where?).
They have an average wingspan of 1.3”, and like other long-winged skippers, Ocolas have extended forewings (FW), “almost exaggerated in appearance”. When presented a dorsal view, look for a variable series of off-white to yellowish FW spots, the largest shaped like an arrowhead!
In this series of images note the Ocola Skippers are nectaring Clasping Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) and Agastaceae-(Blue boa); however, they were feeding from many additional blooming plants.
20180914-Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola) nectaring Agastaceae (Blue boa)-0113
The Landing’s Sparrow Field “Pollinator Garden Berm”, in my opinion, is an ideal habitat for locating and photographing many of the 108 butterfly species to be found within Chatham County, Ga.. It is located at the north eastern portion of our inner barrier Skidaway Island. We are bordered on the north and northeast by the Wilmington river and Wassaw Sound; west by the Intercoastal Waterway; and to the south and southeast by the Vernon River and Ossabaw Sound. The Atlantic Ocean is app 3.5 miles due east across Romerly Marsh and Warsaw Island.
Yesterday morning was, in my opinion, idea for nature photography as there was soft light from an overcast sky. I concentrated on the late seasonal grass skipper arrival, the Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola). There were a goodly number of the species present, feeding all along the 152 yard berm from a wide variety of nectar sources. Most of this skipper species appeared to be fresh, recently having migrated (from where?).
They have an average wingspan of 1.3”, and like other long-winged skippers, Ocolas have extended forewings (FW), “almost exaggerated in appearance”. When presented a dorsal view, look for a variable series of off-white to yellowish FW spots, the largest shaped like an arrowhead!
In this series of images note the Ocola Skippers are nectaring Clasping Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) and Agastaceae-(Blue boa); however, they were feeding from many additional blooming plants.