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1CassieBash
Wow, it's almost a month past spring and I just realized I'm still posting on my fall/winter thread, which is here, if you're interested.
I'm taking a small break from the Critter, as it's just so busy at work right now. Instead, I'm going to go a bit picture-heavy (fun, fun!) and highlight what spring in northwest Indiana means. Let's start with a few signs of spring that I noticed this past week or two....
Spring means that the magnolia bush buds and blooms...
...only to have the inevitable frost zap it and kill off the flowers.
Frost Advisory for Marshall County, Indiana
From 2:00am EDT, Wed Apr 24 until 8:00am EDT, Wed Apr 24
Action Recommended: Make preparations per the instructions
Issued by: North Webster - IN, US, National Weather Service,
...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ TO 8 AM EDT /7 AM CDT/ WEDNESDAY... The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Frost Advisory...which is in effect from 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ to 8 AM EDT /7 AM CDT/ Wednesday. HAZARDOUS WEATHER... * Areas of frost are expected to develop late tonight into early Wednesday morning as temperatures fall into the mid 30s. IMPACTS... * Tender vegetation may need to be covered or otherwise protected from cold temperatures. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Frost Advisory means that widespread frost is expected. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.
The bats are back and are scolding us every time we go into the top part of the barn, where they live and hang out during the day, even though we're not anywhere near the roof where they are. (Sorry, no pictures yet--but I'm planning on trying to get some stills and videos of them later this year, as they fly in and out of the barn.)
The frog choruses are louder than the bird song every morning and evening (particularly the spring peepers and tree frogs).
And best of all, I've had butterflies and moths emerge from their winter chrysalis/cocoon naps!
I'm taking a small break from the Critter, as it's just so busy at work right now. Instead, I'm going to go a bit picture-heavy (fun, fun!) and highlight what spring in northwest Indiana means. Let's start with a few signs of spring that I noticed this past week or two....
Spring means that the magnolia bush buds and blooms...
...only to have the inevitable frost zap it and kill off the flowers.
Frost Advisory for Marshall County, Indiana
From 2:00am EDT, Wed Apr 24 until 8:00am EDT, Wed Apr 24
Action Recommended: Make preparations per the instructions
Issued by: North Webster - IN, US, National Weather Service,
...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ TO 8 AM EDT /7 AM CDT/ WEDNESDAY... The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Frost Advisory...which is in effect from 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ to 8 AM EDT /7 AM CDT/ Wednesday. HAZARDOUS WEATHER... * Areas of frost are expected to develop late tonight into early Wednesday morning as temperatures fall into the mid 30s. IMPACTS... * Tender vegetation may need to be covered or otherwise protected from cold temperatures. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Frost Advisory means that widespread frost is expected. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.
The bats are back and are scolding us every time we go into the top part of the barn, where they live and hang out during the day, even though we're not anywhere near the roof where they are. (Sorry, no pictures yet--but I'm planning on trying to get some stills and videos of them later this year, as they fly in and out of the barn.)
The frog choruses are louder than the bird song every morning and evening (particularly the spring peepers and tree frogs).
And best of all, I've had butterflies and moths emerge from their winter chrysalis/cocoon naps!
3CassieBash
>2 tardis: Thanks. Haven't been home yet to see if our magnolias survived the frost advisory. I leave before the most likely time for frost so I have no idea whether we got any and if so to what degree.
Yesterday's spicebush swallowtail emergence--the third since mid-March:
Spring flowers in northwest Indiana mean daffodils...
...tulips...
...hyacinths...
...and the unrelated grape hyacinths...
...primrose...
...and my personal favorite right now, hellebore.
Spring also means the return of weeds, like this stinging nettle:
But the silver lining to that is that all those weeds feed lots and lots of caterpillars. The return of the stinging nettle means the return of butterfly species like question marks, red admirals, and if I'm really lucky, the uncommon (to this state, anyway) Milbert's tortoiseshell, all of which follow a northward and/or western migration as food for their larvae becomes plentiful. Just as good, the local, year-round residents, the banded woolly bear caterpillars (Isabella tiger moth larvae) that are out of hibernation, can feed on the young nettles, too.
Yesterday's spicebush swallowtail emergence--the third since mid-March:
Spring flowers in northwest Indiana mean daffodils...
...tulips...
...hyacinths...
...and the unrelated grape hyacinths...
...primrose...
...and my personal favorite right now, hellebore.
Spring also means the return of weeds, like this stinging nettle:
But the silver lining to that is that all those weeds feed lots and lots of caterpillars. The return of the stinging nettle means the return of butterfly species like question marks, red admirals, and if I'm really lucky, the uncommon (to this state, anyway) Milbert's tortoiseshell, all of which follow a northward and/or western migration as food for their larvae becomes plentiful. Just as good, the local, year-round residents, the banded woolly bear caterpillars (Isabella tiger moth larvae) that are out of hibernation, can feed on the young nettles, too.
4fuzzi
Oh, oh, oh!!! Pretty butterfly!!
I don't know the tree frog varieties, but your big frog looks like a Green frog.
No more frost for us, it's been in the 80s this week. Our climate is too warm for tulips and hyacinths, and primroses, they tend to die in the summer heat, but I have lots of Grape hyacinths every Spring.
I don't know the tree frog varieties, but your big frog looks like a Green frog.
No more frost for us, it's been in the 80s this week. Our climate is too warm for tulips and hyacinths, and primroses, they tend to die in the summer heat, but I have lots of Grape hyacinths every Spring.
5CassieBash
>4 fuzzi: The one sitting on the pig statue may actually be a spring peeper. Peepers are identifiable by a faint X on their back; sometimes it's hard to make it out. Their coloration is highly variable (like the larger green tree frog in the 2nd picture). The third frog is indeed a green frog.
Aren't you glad I share pictures of these flowers, then? :) I'll probably have more primrose pics later.
Aren't you glad I share pictures of these flowers, then? :) I'll probably have more primrose pics later.
6mnleona
Nice. Always so fun to see Spring.
I am in Minnesota and my chives are starting to grow. They always survive the Minnesota winters.
I am in Minnesota and my chives are starting to grow. They always survive the Minnesota winters.
7CassieBash
More spring pics!
For >2 tardis:, more magnolia--alas, it's pretty much bloomed out, so this will be it until next spring:
For >4 fuzzi:, more tulips and primrose:
Yeah, we have grape hyacinth like crazy, too.
Kerri's hellebore is still pretty.
Her trillium is also nice.
Mom's ferns love the recent rain.
Spring also means the morel mushrooms start showing up in random parts of the yard. (This one is right in front of my tire planter in my butterfly garden.)
Of course, the dandelions are happy....
...as are the violets.
Spring also means baby animals; this young filly lives down the road.
And, of course, April showers.
(That's a dogwood tree, by the way.) I can't wait to see what May flowers look like.
This is our finals week, so this may be the only post I get to do until next week. Take care and take time to smell the flowers (whatever ones may be blooming in your part of the world)!
For >2 tardis:, more magnolia--alas, it's pretty much bloomed out, so this will be it until next spring:
For >4 fuzzi:, more tulips and primrose:
Yeah, we have grape hyacinth like crazy, too.
Kerri's hellebore is still pretty.
Her trillium is also nice.
Mom's ferns love the recent rain.
Spring also means the morel mushrooms start showing up in random parts of the yard. (This one is right in front of my tire planter in my butterfly garden.)
Of course, the dandelions are happy....
...as are the violets.
Spring also means baby animals; this young filly lives down the road.
And, of course, April showers.
(That's a dogwood tree, by the way.) I can't wait to see what May flowers look like.
This is our finals week, so this may be the only post I get to do until next week. Take care and take time to smell the flowers (whatever ones may be blooming in your part of the world)!
82wonderY
>7 CassieBash: That is certainly a happy dandelion. Look at that triumphant rosette of leaves - TA DA!
9tardis
Thank you! My grape hyacinths all faded out but I have an expanding galaxy of little blue scilla sibirica. They self seed prolifically, but I don't care :)
10fuzzi
>7 CassieBash: ooh, thanks for the primrose and tulip pics.
We're already getting upper 80s temps here, so most of my Spring blooms are just about finished.
No Gardenia blossoms yet.
One of my water lilies has already put forth a bloom, but it was closed by the time I got home from work. :sad:
Pretty filly! Coloring reminds me of California Chrome.
We're already getting upper 80s temps here, so most of my Spring blooms are just about finished.
No Gardenia blossoms yet.
One of my water lilies has already put forth a bloom, but it was closed by the time I got home from work. :sad:
Pretty filly! Coloring reminds me of California Chrome.
11CassieBash
<10 Looks just like her mom; dad was a brown and white paint, but apparently he has a tendency to produce chestnut offspring. Genetics, huh?
12fuzzi
>11 CassieBash: genetics fascinate me.
As the Kentucky Derby is tomorrow (Saturday), I've been following the entrants and their pedigrees. There's a relatively unknown called Maximum Security who appears to have come out of nowhere, but his great grandsire was AP Indy. I don't bet, but I love underdog stories and would bet on him if I did gamble. There's a grandson of Sunday Silence, too, Win Win Win. And I like Long Range Toddy, who is a grandson of AP Indy.
Back in 2009 a 50-1 shot won the Derby, named Mine That Bird. At first glance one would think that he just came out of nowhere, with a $2000 dam and a sire with a paltry $7500 stud fee, but looking back in his pedigree one can see a lot of talented ancestors such as Unbridled, Mr Prospector, Storm Bird, Native Dancer, and Northern Dancer.
As the Kentucky Derby is tomorrow (Saturday), I've been following the entrants and their pedigrees. There's a relatively unknown called Maximum Security who appears to have come out of nowhere, but his great grandsire was AP Indy. I don't bet, but I love underdog stories and would bet on him if I did gamble. There's a grandson of Sunday Silence, too, Win Win Win. And I like Long Range Toddy, who is a grandson of AP Indy.
Back in 2009 a 50-1 shot won the Derby, named Mine That Bird. At first glance one would think that he just came out of nowhere, with a $2000 dam and a sire with a paltry $7500 stud fee, but looking back in his pedigree one can see a lot of talented ancestors such as Unbridled, Mr Prospector, Storm Bird, Native Dancer, and Northern Dancer.
13CassieBash
>12 fuzzi: I no longer watch the Derby, mostly because I'm helping with our graduation stuff every Derby weekend. This is also the weekend that our local humane society does one of its major fundraisers tonight--Catsino. Since I'm usually exhausted from graduation, I annually skip going to that, too.
14CassieBash
My mom has been diagnosed with cancer; we'll find out the extent of it today. I'm calling a temporary hiatus on Critter of the Week, since I don't know how often I'll be on LT to update. Apologies.
16Lyndatrue
>14 CassieBash: You have all our hearts at your side.
17fuzzi
>14 CassieBash: praying for your mom!
18CassieBash
Thanks all for prayers. Still not going to do Critter of the Week, as I'm researching other things, but some updates and (huzzah!) pictures.
I have been releasing swallowtail butterflies from last fall's caterpillars left and right; almost every day sees two or more of these beauties emerge to take flight. There were 5 yesterday; my top day some time ago was 11! A few black swallowtails have also emerged, as have some moths, including an Isabella tiger moth, a Virginia tiger moth, and a coveted silkworm, a Polyphemus, whose cocoon was found this spring. (I sadly had no silkworms to rear last year.) I'm currently raising a horde of red admiral caterpillars and one solitary unknown inchworm. To keep things as simple and easy as possible this year, I'm not going to go overboard with caterpillars; the only reason I have a "horde" is because I found so many just along our fence row by the side of the road. The county hasn't mowed yet, so I thought I'd spare as many from the blades of the mower as possible. I always console myself thinking that despite the total destruction of the mowers--they're bush hogs and literally chop and dice everything into tiny pieces--there are always some that the blades miss. Still, I've gathered most along our immediate stretch, so I feel better about it. But I won't be doing the tracking and comparisons that I've done in the past.
The solitary, unknown inchworm:
One of the black swallowtails from this spring:
One of the dozens of spicebush swallowtails that emerged this month:
We've also escorted, my sisters and I, three painted turtles across roadways so far this year. Remember, if you stop to help a turtle or tortoise across a road, always put them on the side that they were headed towards, or they'll just turn around and try to cross it again.
The grosbeaks are back.
This year, we also have a pair of Baltimore orioles hanging around. We have seen the male in particular regularly, though I've not been in the right place at the right time yet for a picture. Still, we now have an official feeder (the orange one at the back), with a place to impale half an orange and a place to put jelly. We use all fruit, no added sugar preserves. The new suet cake feeder is also a big hit not just with woodpeckers but with nuthatches, too.
We have had rain, and although we haven't had the multiple-day rounds of severe weather (we did have an EF3 tornado in Fulton County on Memorial Day), the Yellow River was certainly up. This seldom-traveled bridge across the river was a great vantage point to take pictures, since I was the only one on it at the time and stopping didn't obstruct anyone's way. Though it's certainly over its banks in places, there have been no huge flooding issues in our county this year, except for some short-lived road closures. Nothing like Iowa or Missouri, but still impressive for our area.
This is just on the other side of the bridge.
Earlier this year, I found a bumblebee in the basement, not looking too good. I used a paper towel to move him outside, where the fresh warm air seemed to perk him up almost immediately.
His first meal in who knew how long was the dandelion I put him on.
I found this fellow on the north entrance to Ancilla College, where I work. I use an app I downloaded onto my smartphone, called iNaturalist, to help me now identify animals and plants that I don't quite know what they are. Take a picture through the app, have it look for the closest match it can, and voila--an identification (most of the time). My unknown inchworm remains unknown because it couldn't find an exact match, and I'm waiting for the iNaturalist community to weigh in with options. This guy, however, is definitely a white-dotted prominent moth, according to the app.
While I'll still use my guides, it's yet another resource I can use, and it's even more portable than the guides. I moved him from the door into the grass, hoping he'll be less likely to be hurt there.
I have been drawing pictures of monster plants, sort of personifying them. Some are happy, pleasant-looking things (the aloe vera are cute) and some are rather sinister (hemlock, for instance). I've found that reading in the waiting room is a lot easier when it's your general checkup appointment rather than that of a loved one who you're worried about, so I keep my hands busy with drawing and doodling. My fiance thinks I should create a website that showcases my monster plants, and if you're interested, I'll post the link to it once it's up and running.
I have been releasing swallowtail butterflies from last fall's caterpillars left and right; almost every day sees two or more of these beauties emerge to take flight. There were 5 yesterday; my top day some time ago was 11! A few black swallowtails have also emerged, as have some moths, including an Isabella tiger moth, a Virginia tiger moth, and a coveted silkworm, a Polyphemus, whose cocoon was found this spring. (I sadly had no silkworms to rear last year.) I'm currently raising a horde of red admiral caterpillars and one solitary unknown inchworm. To keep things as simple and easy as possible this year, I'm not going to go overboard with caterpillars; the only reason I have a "horde" is because I found so many just along our fence row by the side of the road. The county hasn't mowed yet, so I thought I'd spare as many from the blades of the mower as possible. I always console myself thinking that despite the total destruction of the mowers--they're bush hogs and literally chop and dice everything into tiny pieces--there are always some that the blades miss. Still, I've gathered most along our immediate stretch, so I feel better about it. But I won't be doing the tracking and comparisons that I've done in the past.
The solitary, unknown inchworm:
One of the black swallowtails from this spring:
One of the dozens of spicebush swallowtails that emerged this month:
We've also escorted, my sisters and I, three painted turtles across roadways so far this year. Remember, if you stop to help a turtle or tortoise across a road, always put them on the side that they were headed towards, or they'll just turn around and try to cross it again.
The grosbeaks are back.
This year, we also have a pair of Baltimore orioles hanging around. We have seen the male in particular regularly, though I've not been in the right place at the right time yet for a picture. Still, we now have an official feeder (the orange one at the back), with a place to impale half an orange and a place to put jelly. We use all fruit, no added sugar preserves. The new suet cake feeder is also a big hit not just with woodpeckers but with nuthatches, too.
We have had rain, and although we haven't had the multiple-day rounds of severe weather (we did have an EF3 tornado in Fulton County on Memorial Day), the Yellow River was certainly up. This seldom-traveled bridge across the river was a great vantage point to take pictures, since I was the only one on it at the time and stopping didn't obstruct anyone's way. Though it's certainly over its banks in places, there have been no huge flooding issues in our county this year, except for some short-lived road closures. Nothing like Iowa or Missouri, but still impressive for our area.
This is just on the other side of the bridge.
Earlier this year, I found a bumblebee in the basement, not looking too good. I used a paper towel to move him outside, where the fresh warm air seemed to perk him up almost immediately.
His first meal in who knew how long was the dandelion I put him on.
I found this fellow on the north entrance to Ancilla College, where I work. I use an app I downloaded onto my smartphone, called iNaturalist, to help me now identify animals and plants that I don't quite know what they are. Take a picture through the app, have it look for the closest match it can, and voila--an identification (most of the time). My unknown inchworm remains unknown because it couldn't find an exact match, and I'm waiting for the iNaturalist community to weigh in with options. This guy, however, is definitely a white-dotted prominent moth, according to the app.
While I'll still use my guides, it's yet another resource I can use, and it's even more portable than the guides. I moved him from the door into the grass, hoping he'll be less likely to be hurt there.
I have been drawing pictures of monster plants, sort of personifying them. Some are happy, pleasant-looking things (the aloe vera are cute) and some are rather sinister (hemlock, for instance). I've found that reading in the waiting room is a lot easier when it's your general checkup appointment rather than that of a loved one who you're worried about, so I keep my hands busy with drawing and doodling. My fiance thinks I should create a website that showcases my monster plants, and if you're interested, I'll post the link to it once it's up and running.
19fuzzi
>18 CassieBash: thanks for checking in, and for posting the pictures. Your Rose-breasted grosbeak could be the same one that was at my feeders a month ago.
20CassieBash
>19 fuzzi: Very possibly. It's been awhile since I've seen him or the orioles, but then I'm not home during their most active times. Even time off has been spent going to places, mostly medical places. I've been to the dentist (47 years and still never had a cavity!), the optometrist (need a slightly stronger astigmatism correction), and next Tuesday, I have my GP appointment in the afternoon (and Mom's oncologist/radiologist appointment in the morning). So bird watching hasn't been much of a thing with me recently--though I did see a great blue heron this morning on my way to work (pictures below!).
I have had more swallowtails, both spicebush and black, emerge. The red admiral caterpillars are pupating left and right, and we already have monarch adults and caterpillars. It's hard not to go overboard with admirals, since whenever I gather food for them--stinging nettles along the roadside--I end up collecting more. I'm not seeking out monarchs actively at this point in time, nor am I seeking swallowtail cats yet, but I do have, just from ones I've come across randomly, about two dozen monarch larvae. That'll be enough for a bit; once this generation of admirals are done, I'll seek out some swallowtails. Again, not planning on going overboard this year, but I'm sure I'll have a decent number. As a year-round native (red admirals migrate up from southern states and don't winter over; their last generation up here either goes south or dies off), the swallowtails almost always do well.
Spicebush swallowtail
Spicebush or black swallowtail; always harder to ID without seeing their wings spread:
That bleeping raccoon; he keeps trying to raid the bird feeders, dig plants out of pots, and he makes a general nuisance of himself. We're pretty sure they're overpopulated again in our area.
The iNaturalist community have verified my original ID (which I did with the app since I had no clue what this guy was) as a yellow-shouldered slug moth. Now that I have verification, I'm going to add him to a few projects--the Indiana Species Record, Moths and Butterflies, and the Northwest Indiana Ecology Project. They use verified identifications to document where a species has been found. There aren't many observers, sadly, in the Northwest Indiana project, but I'm one (of 5) and I've been contributing on a regular basis.
A side view of the slug moth; I really like this shot.
No, I did not forget that I promised you all heron pictures. Here's the first shot, right before he got nervous about the stopped car and flew.
I caught him as he took off....
...and just as he was starting to land again.
As you can see, he was nervous, but not terrified. He didn't go far.
I have had more swallowtails, both spicebush and black, emerge. The red admiral caterpillars are pupating left and right, and we already have monarch adults and caterpillars. It's hard not to go overboard with admirals, since whenever I gather food for them--stinging nettles along the roadside--I end up collecting more. I'm not seeking out monarchs actively at this point in time, nor am I seeking swallowtail cats yet, but I do have, just from ones I've come across randomly, about two dozen monarch larvae. That'll be enough for a bit; once this generation of admirals are done, I'll seek out some swallowtails. Again, not planning on going overboard this year, but I'm sure I'll have a decent number. As a year-round native (red admirals migrate up from southern states and don't winter over; their last generation up here either goes south or dies off), the swallowtails almost always do well.
Spicebush swallowtail
Spicebush or black swallowtail; always harder to ID without seeing their wings spread:
That bleeping raccoon; he keeps trying to raid the bird feeders, dig plants out of pots, and he makes a general nuisance of himself. We're pretty sure they're overpopulated again in our area.
The iNaturalist community have verified my original ID (which I did with the app since I had no clue what this guy was) as a yellow-shouldered slug moth. Now that I have verification, I'm going to add him to a few projects--the Indiana Species Record, Moths and Butterflies, and the Northwest Indiana Ecology Project. They use verified identifications to document where a species has been found. There aren't many observers, sadly, in the Northwest Indiana project, but I'm one (of 5) and I've been contributing on a regular basis.
A side view of the slug moth; I really like this shot.
No, I did not forget that I promised you all heron pictures. Here's the first shot, right before he got nervous about the stopped car and flew.
I caught him as he took off....
...and just as he was starting to land again.
As you can see, he was nervous, but not terrified. He didn't go far.
22CassieBash
>21 fuzzi: Phone cameras, at least mine, seem good at taking pictures in quick succession, allowing for these sorts of opportunities. My Nikon isn't quite as quick on the draw, but the quality is better, especially with video.
More garden pics, starting with my rather overgrown garden:
One of my sister's pots attracted a tiger swallowtail:
...while some of the yet-to-be-planted flowers attracted a spicebush swallowtail, who almost seems to disappear inside the flower:
Mom likes pigs; can you tell?
Pigs are not limited to pots or to that specific garden area. You never know when you'll come across one at our place; they'll even lie on their backs on the hillside, staring up at the clouds. :)
The cottonwood trees are dropping their cotton everywhere, covering all the plants with a thin, fuzzy blanket.
Finally, one of the monarch caterpillars from this year:
More garden pics, starting with my rather overgrown garden:
One of my sister's pots attracted a tiger swallowtail:
...while some of the yet-to-be-planted flowers attracted a spicebush swallowtail, who almost seems to disappear inside the flower:
Mom likes pigs; can you tell?
Pigs are not limited to pots or to that specific garden area. You never know when you'll come across one at our place; they'll even lie on their backs on the hillside, staring up at the clouds. :)
The cottonwood trees are dropping their cotton everywhere, covering all the plants with a thin, fuzzy blanket.
Finally, one of the monarch caterpillars from this year:
24CassieBash
>23 fuzzi: Mom likes to collect all the different color varieties, and they are perennials here. This area is shady, being under a hickory tree, and the new well, complete with pump access, is maybe 15 feet away, within easy reach of a garden hose. As if we need that right now; it's raining--again. You know it's a slow news day when the headline on the front page of the large local newspaper (South Bend Tribune) publishes an article about how we're having perfect weather for mosquito breeding. :D
My younger sister got me a prickly-ash tree for my birthday, because it's a host plant for the giant swallowtail--a species that is not entirely unknown up this way. Because giant swallowtails love the citrus family, there are only a few options that will do well this far north, prickly-ash being one of them. Now we're trying to figure out where to plant it. Wherever we do, I don't want it to be somewhere too sunny. If we should get
More pics of gardens:
Spicebush swallowtail (on fingers) and black swallowtail (on thumb):
Spicebush (above) and black (below) swallowtails, again:
Never fear; should I find a giant swallowtail in the area and it lays eggs on my prickly-ash, I'll be sure to capture the experience with photos to share.
My younger sister got me a prickly-ash tree for my birthday, because it's a host plant for the giant swallowtail--a species that is not entirely unknown up this way. Because giant swallowtails love the citrus family, there are only a few options that will do well this far north, prickly-ash being one of them. Now we're trying to figure out where to plant it. Wherever we do, I don't want it to be somewhere too sunny. If we should get
More pics of gardens:
Spicebush swallowtail (on fingers) and black swallowtail (on thumb):
Spicebush (above) and black (below) swallowtails, again:
Never fear; should I find a giant swallowtail in the area and it lays eggs on my prickly-ash, I'll be sure to capture the experience with photos to share.
26CassieBash
More pictures, mostly Lepidoptera this round (like anyone's going to complain, right?):
Bilobed looper moth, caterpillar raised or found cocoon:
Large lace-border moth, wild:
Iris:
As of yet unidentified moth, most likely from the family Herpetogramma, caterpillar collected accidentally with red admirals on stinging nettle:
Red admirals. Lots of red admirals. If I were counting them, I'd be doing so by the dozens:
Some time ago, I found a caseworm or bagworm (I'm not sure; I'm not as familiar with those, but I suspect bagworm) that made its cocoon on the barn door. Here it is, freshly emerged. You can see the bag/case, too.
Bilobed looper moth, caterpillar raised or found cocoon:
Large lace-border moth, wild:
Iris:
As of yet unidentified moth, most likely from the family Herpetogramma, caterpillar collected accidentally with red admirals on stinging nettle:
Red admirals. Lots of red admirals. If I were counting them, I'd be doing so by the dozens:
Some time ago, I found a caseworm or bagworm (I'm not sure; I'm not as familiar with those, but I suspect bagworm) that made its cocoon on the barn door. Here it is, freshly emerged. You can see the bag/case, too.
27fuzzi
Nice photos!
While filling my bird feeders I noticed a funny-looking bee. it turned out to be a Clearwing moth! I was excited, of course.
While filling my bird feeders I noticed a funny-looking bee. it turned out to be a Clearwing moth! I was excited, of course.
28CassieBash
>27 fuzzi: There are a few species of clearwing moths, but at least one species' caterpillars eat honeysuckle. Have any of that nearby? :)
29fuzzi
>28 CassieBash: honeysuckle is all over the place, trying to take over my yard!!
30CassieBash
>29 fuzzi: My advice, then, if you like the clearwing moths, is to leave at least a little of it somewhere. Ours is actually slowly in decline, because of the huge pine that's overshadowing it. It doesn't get much sun anymore.
31CassieBash
Lepidoptera pictures. Are all the red admiral pictures beginning to look the same and are boring you yet?
Possibly bilobed looper caterpillars:
Young question mark caterpillar:
Monarch caterpillars:
Monarch in J stage, just prior to last molt (when they make their chrysalis):
Monarch chrysalises:
Very young tiger swallowtail caterpillar:
Possibly bilobed looper caterpillars:
Young question mark caterpillar:
Monarch caterpillars:
Monarch in J stage, just prior to last molt (when they make their chrysalis):
Monarch chrysalises:
Very young tiger swallowtail caterpillar:
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