https://mastodon.social/@backyardecology/112310213293843461 backyardecology@mastodon.social - A male black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes) in the backyard prairie garden this morning. #butterflies #Lepidoptera #Illinois #nature #photography
At Myakka River State Park (FL) before heading South to the Everglades. A calm day today with a little time to sift through the phone and even a card or two from camera. The good stuff will likely be via YouTube (sorry, but ad-free at least) and on Flickr.
(I can't post lots more big images 'here' without deleting many things I submitted to groups, contests, etc.... just a hassle, though I tried, so....)
"Making lemonade when you have lemons" mode has been challenging and fun (creatively). Fewer wading birds all around South Florida this spring, but OK, I would like something new: Crocodiles! No. I found bugs. (Or they found me.) Some were photogenic,
Some were scary.
I tried various abstract things with the light and shape and colors around me. Hope to eke some of that out soon.
Today was butterfly day!
I'd heard from a handful of folks as I took a walk which was recommended - very close to me, in a bird sanctuary. A unique butterfly which only grows on a rare shrub which grows here; interesting color and pattern (luminous blue/purple).
Today many caterpillars were on those bushes. Springtime for them too.
And then after a long time there I found a Butterfly House in the Wilderness, pretty cool...
So butterflies and abstract 'impressions' to come, well into when I return to NYC in time to avoid hurricanes, Love Bugs, and a trillion cicadas in June.
My camera and my feet are soooo dead!
#Fenfotos #MyVideo #RoseateSpoonbill #Birds #Butterflies #Atala #Nature More/mas @ fenfotos.com/nature
🦋 Dieser bildhübsche C-Falter hat heute unsere Weidenstecklinge im Hof besucht. Wer #Schmetterlinge haben will, muss Raupen füttern! Weiden sind als Raupenfutter sehr beliebt, aber auch ihre Blüten locken im Frühjahr viele Insekten an. 🌱 #NaturePhotography #CFalter #butterflies
https://ohai.social/@pogomcl/112107555583505275 pogomcl@ohai.social - Amanda's Blue, Polyommatus amandus Canon 400D EF 100 2.8 f/ 5 1/250 iso: 400 Milovice, Czech Republic 6/8/2010 @SaveButterflies #Lycaenidae #Butterflies #lepidoptera #Insects #invertebrates #Macro #grasslands
They're always one of the first butters out for spring. Another would be the Cabbage White.
♲ DanH - 2024-03-15 22:24:52 GMT
It's not all #birds on the #RoadTrip...we've seen some #butterflies too, including this Goatweed Leafwing seen just off the visitor center trail at the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site near Cheyenne, Oklahoma.
#NaturePhotography #butterfly #CheyenneOK
https://mastodon.green/@plazi_species/112059998547671324 plazi_species@mastodon.green - #NewSpecies
New many-plumed moth from #cameroon just landed:
Alucita sokolovi
Treatment: http://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D9F4858-D646-4A23-9620-E3C883642BD0
Publication: http://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1193.111544
#ZooKeys
#FAIRdata
#science #OA #openaccess #biology #taxonomy #ecology #biodiversity #nature #wildlife #conservation #animals #invertebrates #entomology #insects #lepidoptera #butterflies #moths #mothsmatter #savebutterflies
An unexpected benefit.
Februar 2024
Zeichnungen
#Krita #Gmic #Schmetterlinge #Zeichnung #drawing #myWork #digital #sketch #butterflies
Every winter, when monarchs are huddled together in Mexico to ride out the winter, a density assessment is made in an attempt to determine a head count of the Monarchs roosting there. The trend has been downward with just a couple of years showing a moderate increase, and the trajectory of decline has been steep.
Nonetheless, this one guy from the U. of Georgia waves around his doctorate degree in front of the USDA to proclaim that Monarchs aren't endangered. Mainstream press still takes this pinhead seriously, too. As if Monarchs haven't suffered enough from habitat loss, this particular un-named pinhead is on the war path to eradicate a particular milkweed because, he claims, it isn't native even though it has been in the Americas longer than Europeans have.
While home-rearing Monarchs won't put the brakes on such a steep decline, home rearing makes a difference between dying by predator and parasite early or living another day to lay more eggs. If you decide to make that kind of difference to your local Monarchs, don't let any Georgian pinhead or his army stop you.
#Monarchs #MonarchButterflies #endangered #nature #butterflies
An almost-Monarch. When you watch a Monarch egg at this stage, you can see the little one moving his black head around, flexing that egg shell, then you can see mandibles poking out, and then he comes out.
#MonarchMonday #MyPhoto #MyWork #nature #butterflies
(alt text = a nearly transparent Monarch egg with a black dot at its tip, which is the baby caterpillar's head)
When a caterpillar has eaten its last leaf, he puts a lot of work into prepping for That Big Change. They do an extensive walk-about first, but they're on a timer. If they haven't found the exact right spot they have to lay down a silk mat where ever they find themselves, build a silk button (some will lay down two buttons) then after about a day's worth of loosening that outside skin, pull themselves out of their prolegs (which then lose their grip on the silk) and they drop down into a J form.
#MonarchMonday #MyPhoto #MyWork #nature #butterflies
(Alt text = a large Monarch caterpillar hangs by just his two hind pro-legs grasping a silk button built on the underside of a Butterflyweed leaf)
Chinese Privet isn't native but Monarchs don't care because it's nectar rich. Also true of Dandelions and Henbit, so you'd be rendering vital assistance to remigrating Monarchs of last summer a vital service if you avoid mowing your lawns early in this year's season.
#MonarchMonday #MyPhoto #MyWork #nature #butterflies
(Alt text = a Monarch female flying near Chinese Privet blossoms looking for a meal)
#WingedWednesday #MyPhoto #MyWork #nature #butterflies
Red Admiral peers down from a blooming apricot twig.
#MonarchMonday #MyPhoto #MyWork #butterflies
If you suspected as much, your suspicions are now confirmed that I take Monarch butterflies seriously. With their populations dropping like a rock, I think you should too, even though you might not be inclined to be a citizen scientist. Just plant nectar rich wild flowers and milkweeds and you're good.
(Alt text = 2 photos of posted signage indicating that the yard is a National Wildlife Federation Habitat, a Monarch Larva Monitoring Project site, and a Monarch Watch Waystation)
#MonarchMonday #MilkweedMonday
#MyPhoto #MyWork #nature #butterflies
Unfortunately too many people mistake young Honeyvine for Bindweed and pull it up, and claim it's invasive when it isn't. If you care for it, it will reward you with beauty, Monarchs, and lots of other butterflies.
(alt text = a cattle panel fencerow adorned with blooming Honeyvine being inspected by a Monarch couple)
#MilkweedMonday #Pollinators #MyPhoto #MyWork #nature #butterflies
The flowers are from an unrecognized milkweed: Honeyvine (Cynanchum laeve) but it's not just Monarch butterflies that are attracted to it--it's called HONEYvine for a reason.
(alt text = a Common Buckeye butterfly sips from Honeyvine flowers)
#Pollenators #MyPhoto #MyWork #nature #butterflies
There's no way people can say that Bordered Patch butterflies don't know how to party.
(Alt text = 3Bordered Patch butterflies closely schmooze on a single leaf of a blooming Agastache, aka Anise Hyssop)
#MonarchMonday
#MyPhoto #MyWork #nature #butterflies
They'll remigrate in about a month! Be ready!
(Alt text = a tiny monarch hatchling making its way out of its eggshell)
