These are all butterfly species that I have recorded in my yard over the past two years. In 2011 there were more Monarchs and Queens and in 2013 the numbers of all species were down. I am a bit alarmed as are many other individuals who are concerned with conservation and preservation of all things in nature- not just butterflies.
Birds have declined in numbers as well and scientists, naturalists and, conservationists are scrambling about in an effort to determine what needs to be done to stave off the loss of any species. “Frankly” from my little ole perspective- there is not much to do except curb pollution, wide spread use of pesticides, herbicides and, human population. And now speaking “earnestly” I don’t see much hope unless laws are passed for limiting human reproduction to stem the tide of habitat loss. More people equates to more vehicles, more homes and loss of natural resources. Last but not least the use of pesticides and herbicides has probably wrecked the most havoc by killing off bees, butterflies and, birds.
If you are one that must use either one of these killers then do not entice butterflies or bees to your yard. One can learn to garden and grow crops without the use of a herbicide or pesticide. I know, for I’ve been growing all manner of fruits, vegetables and, yes, I have even had a nice lawn when my husband believed a yard was not complete without St Augustine grass. Organic gardening reaps many benefits not only for humans but it proves beneficial for the bees, butterflies and, birds.
Sachem skipper? nectaring on Mexican plum (Photo 3/18/2014)
Sachem skipper? nectaring on Mexican plum (photo 3/18/2014)
Gulf Fritillary, nectaring on Mexican Butterfly Weed, July, 2013
Giant Swalowtail. Mexican Butterfly Weed Spet. 4, 2013
Giant Swallowtail, Skyflower Sept. 4, 2013
Variegated Fritillary, Skyflower Sept. , 2013
Variegated Fritillary, nectaring on zinnia Sept, 4, 2013
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, early migrant- nectaring on Skyflower August 31,2013
Sleepy Orange, nectaring on Skyflower, Oct, 2012
Monarch on Frostweed, Sept. 26, 2011
American Snout, nectaring on Frostweed, October, 2011
Painted Lady, nectaring on Skyflower (duranta)
Pearl Crescent, nectaring on native Aster, late Spring
src=”https://petspeopleandlife.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/372.jpg?w=500″ alt=”American Snout, nectaring on Frostweed, October, 2011″ width=”500″ height=”437″ class=”size-large wp-image-5127″ /> American Snout, nectaring on Frostweed, October, 2011[/caption]
Monarch, nectaring on Frostweed, October, 2011
Monarch, nectaring on Mexican Butterfly Weed, July, 2012
Giant Swallowtail nectaring on Mexican Butterfly Weed, August, 2013
Giant Swallowtail resting on a tomato leaf. A lucky shot for me. Wish that is has been a flower.
Ceraunus Blue nectaring on Lantana, June, 2012
Northern Cloudywing, nectaring on Scabiosa July, 2013
Fiery Skipper, nectaring on lantana June. 2012
src=”https://petspeopleandlife.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/069.jpg?w=500″ alt=”Gulf Fritillary, nectaring on Lantana, July, 2013″ width=”500″ height=”447″ class=”size-large wp-image-5208″ /> Gulf Fritillary, nectaring on Lantana, July, 2013[/caption]
Queen, male- nectaring on Mexican Butterfly Weed, Summer, 2013
Bordered Patch nectaring on Frostweed, Fall, 2012
Texan Crescent resting briefly on some leaves. June, 2012
Eastern Tailed-blue nectaring on fall blooming native Wedalia November 14, 2012
Black Swallowtail caterpillar feeding on dill
Black Swallowtail female laying eggs on diil which is a host plant. The dill comes up “volunteer” in one of the garden areas that I made for the butterflies.
Cloudleess sulphur- not sure of this one Nectaring in Salvia Greggii in March.
Red Admiral obtaining moisture from the rocky soil
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Oak Hairsteak nectaring on African Blue Basil, Summer
Question Mark, sipping water from a mud puddle in the backyard, late spring
Tawny Emperor.I found this one in a pile of leaves one cool morning in October. I almost killed it by accident. I put it on a log to get warm so that it could fly to a nearby nectar source.
Pearl Crescent on native Aster. Summer.
Viceroy, fall.Resting on on the twigs of a tree. Looks similiar to Monarch. A faded butterfly here.
Hackberry Emperor, on the chimney bricks.
Northern Cloudywing down in the leaves in November, 2012
Common Buckeye nectaring on fall blooming Frostweed.
Bordred Patch is quite pretty but like a faded rose this one is bedraggled and faded.
I was going to write and or work on one or more posts but decided to get this long dispaly of butterfly photos out of the way. There are more posts in draft form but I can’t get really motivated although I feel that these will make pretty decent posts. They’ve sat over in the holding pen in a state of torpor. I’m afraid that most are now sick since the poor things have been dormant for so long. I hope to rescue those soon by giving them a bit of oxygen to breathe some life into those torpid and puny posts. 🙂 I’ve been in a state of torpor mysel for months, and I’m just now beginning to have enough energy to see what sort of damage I can do on WP.
The butterfly pictures are decent and some or not. Some of them are not good but again they are part of a record from my little habitat. Some of the butterflies are faded in the fall and are not at their prettiest. One or two I can not positively identify. I simply could not get a good view of all the markings. But I put a name on them and if these are not correct then someone I hope will put the proper name of the “flutterby” in a comment.
Bloggers that I follow who are extremely good nature and landscape photographers :
Andrew Hardacre: http://ajh57.wordpress.com/
Just Rod: http://reflectionsinpuddles.com/or
Steve Gingold: http://sggphoto.wordpress.com/.
Say It With a Camera http://mikehardisty.wordpress.com/
Most of these photos were not easy to come by. I had to do lots of stalking and creeping about and then stand or crouch like a statue. Such unattractive stances for a woman!
I hand hold my 200mm zoom for just about all butterfly photographing. Yes, the pics would be a tad sharper if I had used a tripod but there is no time to set up a tripod. And I can not sit or stand out in the Texas heat waiting for a flutterby (Rod’s name for butterfly.) I’ve debated with my self whether to get a 300mm zoom which would enable me to get some bird pics as well. On the other hand I doubt that I can hand hold the 300mm since it is a heavier lens. But it would be a USM IS Canon and a far better lens than the kit lens that I now use.
Three butterfly photos had been lost in a maze of folders. I wanted to use the best one of the Texan Crescent. I had cut it and then pasted to a new folder. But when I renamed the folder that folder attached itself to some other place.
I emailed Val and she gave me directions http://artyoldbird.com directions on how to find the lost photos and I now have them in a properly named folder. Val is a good friend who is super smart. She is a Word Press and HTML expert who has given me a 100% correct answer to everything that I have asked. Astonishing memory and an incredible artist. Super funny too. At the moment her blog is there but is inactive till sometime in September.
I have not proofed this post as I should. Frankly I am sick of it for I worked hours and hours getting the pics in named folders. I’ve spent way too many hours trying to correct some of the picture insert mistakes. I’ve decided to leave well enough alone. So enough already. 🙂
Post and phoptographs: Original content property of Yvonne Daniel.
Please do not steal any photos from a little ole lady. These are not
excellent but at the same time some of them or not too bad either. 🙂
Please do not reblog my hard work. Thank you.
