Caterpillars

Recently our friend Ann-Marie emailed inquiring as to the number and variety of caterpillars in our yard (as mentioned in the Wasps post). I replied that I hadn't really spent much time in the yard. We had spent over a month of the summer traveling and when we were home the weather was such that we stayed in the air-conditioned house.

But I told her I'd keep an eye out. And I did.

And here is some of what I found.

One of the first critters I spotted was the poorly named Yellow Bear.

Highly variable in coloration, I believe the above three individuals are all Yellow Bears. With only the last living up to the name.

This rather colorful individual is a Smartweed Caterpillar which turns into the Smeared Dagger Moth.

This Io Moth caterpillar was at the base of one of our side doors onto the deck. I relocated it, carefully as this bristles can be unpleasant, to a more suitable location.

This is the Giant Leopard Moth, in caterpillar form.

I mentioned in the Failure post that we've a number of Monarch Butterflies about the garden. 

We also have the caterpillars munching away on the Milkweed in our gardens.

And finally Black Swallowtail Caterpillars ...

... in multiple instars. 

And there are plenty of butterflies and moths flying in the yard, so I'm sure that are many caterpillars I'm not seeing.

But I'll keep looking.

Yard Butterfly of the Week

Eastern-tailed Blue, a common visitor to garden flowers. And in this case, a garden hose.

It is a small critter.

And as with any insect, I'm surprised it remained still enough for me to approach and get a close up image.

It is the 'tail' which is diagnostic, that little bit sticking out at the bottom of the wing.

The caterpillars of this species feed on legumes including vetches and clover. And clover we have, if rabbits don't eat it all.

🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋

You can find all of the Yard Critter posts listed here.

Sometimes ...

The critters are not cooperative.

As with this Falcate Orangetip butterfly.

Two of them were flying about as I was doing yard work (yanking out invasive shrubs).

I had only may phone as a camera, and it blended in quite well with the leaves.

Perhaps you can see the orange wingtip now?

This was the best image I managed. Not very good, but enough to document the species in our yard.

Although perhaps not quite blog worthy.

🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋

You can find all of the Yard Critter posts listed here.

Sometimes ...

They are.

As with this Spring Azure. I'm not sure why it landed on my glove. I don't think there are any salts to be had there. But maybe.

And cool.

Spring Azure is actually a complex of species and subspecies all across the United States. As this comment from the link above notes, "All it takes for a spirited argument are 2 taxonomists and 1 azure."

So even when the butterfly lands on me there are still questions to exactly what species it is.

🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋

You can find all of the Yard Critter posts listed here.

Around the Yard

While wandering about finding all those caterpillars I came upon other things as well. Here are some I hope you find interesting.

How many slugs fit in a tree hole? I count at least ten.

All those Monarchs had to come from somewhere.

Slugs aren't the only yard mollusk.

There were plenty of these little snails.

The resident (in the fish pond filter box) Northern Water Snake. It may be a time share with a Bull Frog.

And the resident Black Rat Snake, which lives in the crawl space and the attic.

Some bird nest fungi.

Some bird feathers.

An Io Moth Caterpillar in Ninebark.

More fungi with ...

... and without slugs.

And fungi on fungi.

I wonder who lives here?

More butterfly shrapnel.

A mummified caterpillar. Species unknown.

Indirect evidence of insects.

Direct evidence of insects. In this case a Great Blue Skimmer.

Hamster, an Eastern Painted Turtle, is still hanging in our back pond. If you zoom in you can see my reflection in his/her eye.

It is migration time and we've had some interesting birds pass through.

The Great Blue Heron made another visit, perching in our dying willow tree. Of course I had only my phone.

Plenty of heron food, such as these Green Frogs, in our ponds.

Barklice are back.

With other insects on the way.

And when they show up, I'll be there. Camera in hand.

Yard Critter - Red-banded Hairstreak

Calycopis cecrops.

A southern species with New Jersey at the northernmost part of its range, although that range has been expanding in recent years.

One of the so called "groundstreaks" this critter can most often be found down in the leaf litter. In fact the larval 'host plant' is rotting leaves. Another reason to leave the leaves.

This particular individual was hanging out on the screen outside my office. I spotted it while grilling steak for dinner.  A welcome companion.

🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋

You can find all of the Yard Critter posts listed here.

Aftermath

Butterfly bits.

I know not what led to this.

Monarchs

It is migration time for Monarchs. And we are clearly on the flight path. Add the ones that are emerging from chrysalises and you've got a yard full of butterflies.

Our yard is a flowery oasis in the middle of the woods.

I wonder how they find it?

This was the view from inside our living room. I count nine Monarchs. And there were others flitting about and alit on flowers just out of view. And more elsewhere in the back and side gardens.

They seem to especially like the Tithonia rotundifolia, commonly known as 'Mexican Sunflower', which Patty grew from seed. She already has planting plans for next year.

Fueling up for the next leg of their journey to Mexico they put on quite a show.

Farewell.