We saw nine different species including one we have never seen before on the transit, a Harvester.
Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius) Wingspan1.1-1.3 inches (2.8-3.3 cm)
The butterfly is in the middle of this photo above the rusty brown curled leaf. It is a tiny bit larger than an Eastern Tailed-blue or a Summer Azure and blends in with the mulch on the path. Both Jackie and I took a half-dozen photos. None of them were in focus. The butterfly constantly flitted from one spot to another. On this photo, as we looked at it on Phil's camera screen, we could see the black spots outlined in white on the ventral (bottom) side of the hind wing.
Ruth spotted the tiny butterfly. She has been looking for it. It has an interesting life cycle. Its larvae (caterpillars) eat Wooly aphids (Family-Aphididae). This makes it North America's only carniverous butterfly. The adult butterflies feed on the honeydew exuded by the aphids. The butterflies are often found along stream corridors and other moist places and on nearby trails where they sip for minerals in damp earth and puddles.
Below are photos of other butterflies we saw.
Eastern Tail-blue (Everes comyntas) Wingspan 0.75-1.00 inches (1.9-2.5 cm)
Northern Pearly Eye (Enodia anthedon) Wingspan 1.75-2.60 inches (4.3-6.6 cm)
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) Wingspan 4.5-5.5 inches (11.4-14.0 cm)
Hackberry Butterfly (asterocampa celtis) Wingspan 2.0-2.6 inches (5.1-6.6 cm)
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) 1.5-2.0 inches (3.8-5.1 cm)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) Wingspan 3.5-5.5 inches (8.9-14.0 cm)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) Wingspan 1.75-2.50 inches (4.4-6.4 cm)
We didn't get a photo of the Peck's skipper.
But, someone spotted this walking stick and we did get photos of it.
Giant Walkingstick (Megaphasma denticrus)
Picture showing length of Giant Walkingstick. Click on to see it better. Red arrow points toward its head.
The butterfly is in the middle of this photo above the rusty brown curled leaf. It is a tiny bit larger than an Eastern Tailed-blue or a Summer Azure and blends in with the mulch on the path. Both Jackie and I took a half-dozen photos. None of them were in focus. The butterfly constantly flitted from one spot to another. On this photo, as we looked at it on Phil's camera screen, we could see the black spots outlined in white on the ventral (bottom) side of the hind wing.
Ruth spotted the tiny butterfly. She has been looking for it. It has an interesting life cycle. Its larvae (caterpillars) eat Wooly aphids (Family-Aphididae). This makes it North America's only carniverous butterfly. The adult butterflies feed on the honeydew exuded by the aphids. The butterflies are often found along stream corridors and other moist places and on nearby trails where they sip for minerals in damp earth and puddles.
Below are photos of other butterflies we saw.
We didn't get a photo of the Peck's skipper.
But, someone spotted this walking stick and we did get photos of it.
Wow you growing big walkingsticks compared to ours! Butterflies are so difficult to photograph! I always enjoy seeing the different kinds you post! :)
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