Yesterday eight of my indoor (screened lanai) monarchs eclosed. There were seven girls and one boy. Today I am expecting another sixteen to eclose, leaving me with around 57 more that shall eclose throughout the week. They have eaten all of the indoor milkweed that is considered safe from predators so it will be a couple of weeks before I collect more eggs. That milkweed must recover. I would love to save them all but first I must become a milkweed farmer.

Just had a wander in our horse paddock and took a snap of this little fella

Many thanks to you ALL for the views, faves and comments you make on my shots it is very appreciated.

I believe that four photos over you can see the underside of this beauty. This one is larger than a monarch but smaller than a tiger swallowtail.

This was the first spicebush swallowtail in my yard for the season. It was enjoying nectar from milkweed but the monarchs chased it away. He will be back eventually. I have plenty of nectar and of course I have the host plant as well.

Pirridae

Colotis danae danae – Indian Crimson-tip

Crimson Tip (Colotis danae) is a small butterfly of the Family Pieridae, that is, the Yellows and Whites, which is found in Asia and Africa.

The flowers are about gone, just trying to get some shots in before it happens. Love he way the flower colors reflect in his wings

Ready, set, fly! This guy went straight for the firespike when he was released today. The firespike was placed in the garden over the summer to provide year round nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Dragonfly up close, Taken at WWT Slimbridge.

Yellow and black honey bee perched on a green leaf in the garden. Pollen is seen attached to one of its legs.

chalkhill blue, Polyommatus coridon

Explored Sep 23, 2017 #342

I posted a shot of a Tiger Crane Fly (Nephrotoma flavescens) back in June and have been meaning to upload this one taken in July, as the photograph was taken in better lighting conditions and more of the body is in focus.

With a length about 18 mm, this cranefly has a yellow and black thorax and yellow abdomen with a thin and normally broken black stripe down the centre. They are common and widespread in Britain and can be seen from April until August.

Adults take nectar and pollen from flowers such as Hogweed. Their larvae are virtually indistinguishable from small Tipula leather-jacket grubs.

After years of decline in the insect population in Germany, places with motifs for macro photography have become rare, especially outside the urban environment.

Thanks very much for your interest, fav or time to comment !!

I am finally beginning to see female monarchs emerge from the ones I am raising. So far I have released 3 females out of the 21 released to date. Bringing them into my screen lanai to raise has been very interesting. I have over 40 on the lanai in various stages and I have 35 tiny ones in a make shift habitat on my dining room table. It's a pretty good use for the dining room table since it is otherwise only used once about every two years or so when I host a holiday dinner. However, it will be nice when my husband finished building their proper habitat because I do like a neat, clean house and I have out of town company coming in less than two weeks. I am not sure they would appreciate all of the caterpillars on the table :) To be fair, they are contained and I clean the containers daily and it is my table.

I am starting to see the spicebush swallowtails more often now too. Butterfly season is getting off to a fantastic start.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I'm surprised how many different hoverflies there are.

I grew tired of chasing these guys trying to get just the right pose. So while I'm attempting to get the right framing for a shot I wanted, look who dropped in. Close up lens ready, I turned and snapped two quick shots before he joined his elusive brothers and sisters.

bee in flight

I thought dragonfly exuviae not sure which species, It is on the bird hide window frame.

Many thanks to you ALL for the views, faves and comments you make on my shots it is very appreciated

This was finished several times.

The spicebush swallowtail butterfly can usually be seen in early spring through December around here. I am happy that I have three of the bay trees they like to lay eggs on and plenty of nectar for them so they like to hang out in my yard. The bay trees volunteered in my yard, I have to say the birds must have brought them.

Lycaenidae

Pseudozizeeria maha ossa – Dakhan Pale Grass Blue

26-30 mm

My 100th photo on Flickr.

Sunshine with a chance of butterflies :)

In this video, there is one female that just eclosed and the males are all trying to be the lucky one to get to marry her. Zebra longwings and gulf fritillaries often pupate on their host vine. When they do that they look like a dead leaf until they emerge as a beautiful butterfly. This host vine is passiflora bi-flora, they also host on the corky stem, which is another passion vine.

Have a wonderful day and happy snapping.

The monarchs are continuing to do well in the garden. I have planted a ridiculous amount of milkweed for them. My original plans to collect and raise them the entire summer did not work out. During the three weeks when I had company I decided not to try and keep up with the demands of raising them inside so I could fully enjoy my company. Once everyone left, I did begin to bring in the caterpillars again. Some are eating, some have formed their J and will change to their chrysalis stage soon. Today the first three collected have eclosed and shall be released by noon. It looks like I will be able to release three to five monarchs daily for a while. I also have spicebush swallowtails, pipevine swallowtails, giants and gold rims inside at this time too. I hope you are all having a wonderful summer, happy snapping.

When a lovely lady flies into the yard, the boys start to gather. Monarchs are usually the first on scene, but they were busy with their own ladies.

The goldrim in this image seemed very confident in asking the lady giant for a date. Then a zebra longwing flew in to check her out as well. She ignored both of them as she continued to nectar. Low and behold, it did not take long for a male giant swallowtail to notice her. She noticed him as well. She stopped sipping the nectar and started flitting about in slow motion as the male giant followed.

The courting giants flitted and danced all over the yard and into the neighbors yards and back again. She agreed to be his wife and just as I was about to snap a honeymoon shot, a Carolina wren nearly snapped them up for dinner.

Fortunately for the giants, the lady chose her husband well. He whisked his new bride off before the wrens beak could clamp down on them. They finished their honeymoon on the screen lanai cover of my neighbors pool. It's not a butterfly paradise but it is pretty safe over there.

That particular neighbor is afraid of snakes and other than grass, they have one oak tree in the backyard. They are always telling me to keep my snakes in my own yard. As if I control the snakes that visit the yard:)

Have a beautiful day and happy snapping.

Lycaenidae

Caleta elna noliteia – Indo-Chinese Elbowed Pierrot

&

Caleta decidia – Angled Pierrot _ in front

Two different butterflies about to share the same flower

Telicota bambusae, the dark palm dart, is a grass skipper butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in Sri Lanka and on Peninsular Malaysia.

Bläuling in beim Erwachen

Papilionidae

Papilio demoleus demoleus – Northern Lime Swallowtail

Wing span 80-100 mm

Papilionidae

Papilio demoleus demoleus – Northern Lime Swallowtail

Wing span 80-100 mm