again not sure what bee this is

One can never have too many monarchs in their garden. Yesterday there were eight hanging about with others coming and going. In addition there are several cloudless and orange barred sulfurs coming and going. Other butterflies are flitting about as well but usually just one or two of the following, goldrim, pipevine, giant and black swallowtails a zebra longwing and a gulf fritillary. Soon the yard will look like a butterfly conservatory.

Have a lovely day and happy snapping.

These beauties known as the zebra longwing / zebra heliconian butterfly, are Florida's state butterfly. Hurricane Irma decreased their numbers greatly but I'm happy to say they are certainly making a comeback this year.

The host plants in my yard are the Corky stem passion flower (Passiflora suberosa) and the Passiflora biflora passion vine. Both of those vines also host the gulf fritillary butterfly and the passiflora biflora is a host for the Julia as well. I have seen the Julia in the yard but it's been a long, long time since I have seen one.

Have a magnificent Monday and happy snapping.

We still have temperatures reaching the upper 80's however, butterfly season is slowing down now as usual.

This is Florida's state butterfly, Heliconius charithonia, the zebra longwing or zebra heliconian. When they are flying around the host plants (corky stem or passiflora biflora) it almost looks like they are floating. This one was enjoying a bit of nectar from the Heather blooms in the backyard when I noticed it in the spotlight of the sunshine.

Enjoy your day and happy snapping.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The pond lilies are doing very well in the pond. Since they were added I have seen several butterflies go near and not stop to nectar on them. This female decided to stop and nectar.

At first I was like cool, I was hoping a monarch or other butterfly would nectar on the lilies, after all several other insects seem to enjoy them and that was a picture I did not have :) However, as I watched this lovely lady, it seemed the longer she stayed the more intoxicated she became. As she stumbled around, at times she looked as if she would fall in the pond, I thought a rescue would be in order.

But alas, she stopped slurping the nectar, crawled to the edge and sat a while. Her first flight away from the lily was quite awkward, but in the end she was doing well and managed to find a husband to boot.

cute little bee in flight

The malachite butterfly is one of my favorites. Although, it is really difficult for me to name a true favorite. I love them all.

I purchased twenty pupae from a butterfly farmer in Plant City Florida. She gave me a few caterpillars as well. This malachite is one that I raised from caterpillar to adult.

I can't say that they are getting a great start in the yard. They are as difficult as Rhonda (butterfly farmer) said they would be when it comes to getting them started.

The first twenty left about a hundred eggs for me and I thought I was going to be very busy taking care of little malachite caterpillars. That was not the case, only five of those eggs hatched. Those five are currently in the pupae stage. Hopefully they will eclose properly and I will get four girls and a boy :)

Have a wonderful day and happy snapping.

How many monarchs do you see?

There are four in this image. One female at the top and two suiters trying to pick up another female that was at the nectar bar.

You never know what you will see around here. Butterfly season gets kind of crazy during July and August around here.

Have a beautiful day and happy snapping.

Hovering while feasting on the Buddliea

That's what it looks like to me lol

This beauty is catching some morning rays from the sun. Butterflies love sunshine. Giant swallowtails are among the easiest to raise in protective custody (screened lanai or disposable roasting pans with lids). The tiny cats (larva) don't eat a lot in comparison to others. In my yard wild lime is the main food source but they do occasionally use the tiny orange tree.

I find that the caterpillars that eat the wild lime grow a bit faster and larger than those eating leaves from the orange tree (personal observation, not scientific). When I find them on the tree I take them to protective custody and switch their diet to wild lime.

LOL, when I make changes to my diet it's usually to try and lose weight, not gain it :) I should probably look into doing that right about now.

Have a terrific day, happy snapping and thanks for stopping by.

When a tiger or other rare visitors to the yard appear it is difficult to resist chasing them to get a photo. Truly I am guilty of doing just that, especially during the earlier days of each new butterfly season. However, after years of butterfly gardening, my advice to me and others is to resist the chase, if possible. One is more likely to get a decent photo if the butterfly is calm. Instead of chasing them, slowly approach the area where they are enjoying the nectar and try to get a few shots. Sure, they may leave upon approach but they are likely to return to that spot if they have not yet had their fill and you are simply standing around.

I find it’s rather difficult to resist chasing tigers, Palamedes, zebra swallowtails, red-spotted purples, and viceroys. They are the rarest visitors to my garden. Once I spotted this tiger from the window, I grabbed the camera and quickly went outside. However, my approach was slow and steady. She flew to another area but came back within a few seconds to the penta’s that she found to be the most delicious. Wish me luck following my own advice to resist chasing butterflies if one of the other above mentioned shows up.

Have a wonderful Wednesday and happy snapping.

Two skipper butterflies at the top of a garden gnomes hat.

Can I help it if this is my most favorite butterfly to visit the lantana growing in my garden? They visit many times each day year round.

Gatekeepers or Hedge Browns are so called because of their tendency to congregate near gates and hedges. Males and females are similar, the main difference is that the male has dark smudges on it's wings. Their main food plants are ragwort and brambles.

This gorgeous giant swallowtail was hanging out on the firebush soaking up some rays when I spotted him through the window. I took a couple of snaps and went out to see if I could get a shot from outside but alas he was already gone.

I hope your day is filled with incredible opportunities and you are able to take full advantage of them. Happy snapping.

When there are not too many birds around, one turns to insects. They are fun and a challenge to focus on with a bigger lens. Got this one eating something. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, Philadelphia PA.

Taken five years ago and only just edited

The spring brood Male butterflies of this species lack any spots.

This beautiful boy was sipping nectar from the firebush by the window. Therefore, I had to snap an image through the window of his lovely self. That firebush gets a lot of morning sun and is rather popular with butterflies and bees each morning while it's blooming.

Have a glorious day and happy snapping.

Giant Swallowtail

The giants are playing in the yard on and off now and they left some eggs on the wild lime for me to care for. Currently, there are three in the pupal stage, four munching away on wild lime in protective custody and six eggs that should hatch tomorrow.

Yesterday there were three in the yard at one time. Two males were courting the same female. They were going back and forth between my yard and my surrounding neighbors yards. I watched for a while, hoping they would allow a photo or even a video to be taken. Then there was only one. He was frantically fluttering through the yard. My guess is that the female decided to get married to the other male and off the went on a honeymoon. I have a good feeling that she will be back in a day or two to deposit more eggs.

Note: The red spot just below the butterfly body in this image is a flower. The wings were slightly open in that area and the flowering maple flower was showing through. The two spots below that are part of the butterfly though.

I hope you have a sensational Sunday. Happy snapping.

A painted lady butterfly, Erdek, Turkey

I am starting the day off with a quote from the movie Field of Dreams "If you build it, they will come." Of course, in the movie, they were talking about a baseball field. I on the other hand am talking about a butterfly habitat.

I have been out counting birds this weekend for the GBBC (Great backyard bird count). I know that there wouldn't be near as many varieties of birds in the yard if it were not for all of the butterflies. I will talk about the birds in another post after I tally the official count.

In the meantime, butterflies are on my mind. There were nine monarchs, two orange barred sulfurs, one spicebush, one goldrim, one gulf fritillary, two zebra longwings, two tiger swallowtails, and a giant in the yard yesterday. The monarchs were the only ones cooperating for photos. The others didn't stop even for a second.

I have started raising monarchs already this year. I have several in the chrysalis stage and a few in protective custody munching away on milkweed. Also, in protective custody, there are several goldrims and a few pipevine chrysalides that overwintered. I expect they will emerge any day now.

I hope you have a magical day, happy snapping everyone.

Not sure what this hovering dude is called

It's time for me to turn up some dance music and get a jump start on spring cleaning. That way when spring arrives I will be ready to start raising these beauties in protective custody once more.

This image is from last fall. At this time there are only a few butterflies flitting about the yard during the warmest times of the day. Yet, they are still here and it's nice to see them.

Pentas and milkweed flowers are providing most of the nectar at this time. Many of the other sources of nectar, including the cassia this monarch is on, are not in bloom during this season.

Whatever you get into today, I hope there is a little spring in your heart and dance in your step. Happy snapping.

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So far so good when it comes to raising and releasing these beauties. Over forty have been released and there are 64 in the pupal stage and I have several munching away in protective custody. Still, I am crossing my fingers in hopes that they will all eclose (hatch) in a timely manor and none of them will decide to overwinter.

I have no plans collect anymore of these to raise for the year, since they are so unpredictable regarding when they eclose. As I have learned, they can be in the pupal stage for 10 days or 10 months. I do believe I have given them a great start for 2020. Butterflies, now there's something that's wonderful about this year.

Have a beautiful day and happy snapping.

Like the monarch, this butterfly is at risk of becoming endangered.

If it is possible for them to live in your area and you would like to see them in your yard, plant some Aristolochia Fimbriata, that is the ideal host plant for their caterpillars and of course some nectar plants. The adults need nectar the caterpillars need to eat the host plant.

I hope you have a splendid day, happy snapping.