This Daily Bucket continues with the recent retrospectives (hat tip to funningforrest) as we say goodbye to summer and hello to fall, with a focus on butterflies.
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THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, SOIL, PLANTS, WATERS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS.
WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU IN YOUR OWN PART OF THE WORLD, AND TO SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
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I’ll start with two common butterflies that look similar. This New Jersey Audubon article explains how the Viceroy mimics the Monarch to increase its chances of survival.
Monarch at Pointe Mouillee
Viceroys are smaller (although I’ve seen some late season Monarchs that are the same size) and have a black band across the lower wings.
I’m a fan of punctuation, so next up are the Question Mark and Commas. I was fortunate to get ventral (underside with wings folded) views, showing the distinguishing marks.
Question Mark. Look for the tiny silver question mark in the middle of the lower wing. Zoomed.
Commas have the silver crescent but lack the point of the question mark. Zoomed.
I think this is a fairly rare Hoary Comma, but it may be the more common Eastern Comma.
Another view with wings open (dorsal view) and showing the silver gray (hoary) edging. Zoomed.
For comparison, I’m pretty sure this is an Eastern Comma, with darker lower wings and no silver gray edging. Zoomed.
Keeping in the orange and black theme, this is a Pearl Crescent with a Spotted Cucumber Beetle. My insect field guide says the beetle is a pest that also transmits plant disease. I’m glad this one wasn’t in my garden.
Clouded Sulphur. Very abundant in my area.
Another frequent visitor is the Azure. I unsuccessfully chased this one around the garden trying to get the dorsal view to see the beautiful blue inside. I’m not sure whether it’s a Spring or Summer Azure.
Silver-spotted Skipper at Oak Openings Metropark outside Toledo.
Silver-spotted Skipper showing the silver spot.
Another fairly common butterfly — the Red Admiral. Dorsal view.
Red Admiral ventral view showing the bark-like pattern. Zoomed.
Spicebush Swallowtail on a Spicebush, Oak Openings Metropark outside Toledo.
Spicebush Swallowtail.
Last but not least is the Black Swallowtail, nectaring at Monarda in the backyard.
Black Swallowtail.
Now it’s your turn. What ethereal beauties flitted your way this summer?
