So did you hear the rumbles today? Certainly I was hoping for some rain. We only got .01″. I guess every bit helps.
The Prairie Parsley has started to go to seed. The Black Swallowtail cats better munch fast, eh!
Indeed, a pretty face!
This guy heard the memo about the Prairie Parsley. And had attached to a Texas Thistle (Cirsium texanum) for pupation. Most larvae usually don’t pupate on their host plant.
Another face! The Yellow Striped Armyworm larva was munching down on a mushroom. That’s new for me.
A Buckeye had seen some life.
A Hackberry Emperor larva must have fallen from above. In fact, Greenbriar is not its host plant. So like the common name says, Hackberry is the food choice.
While looking at the Hackberry Emperor, I spotted the Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) caterpillar on a nearby ironweed.
In fact as often is the case, additional critters will be found close by. So here it was, a small spider! There were also snails on the Greenbriar.
A Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) has not been photographed by myself or Claire since October 2004. Furthermore, they usually only stray northward in the fall. It was perched on an Illinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis). After a long absence, it seems they are back!
Unbelievably I found a second one next to the house! According to the Kaufman butterfly book they fly mostly in the fall in the northern part of their range. On BugGuide, it has a few sightings in Oklahoma for February, June and July. Texas only has August (Tarrant County), October (Tarrant County), and November. (Mission and Kerr counties). More records were posted in BAMONA. Only two records for Wise County,. And one was historical. The other record was west of Cottondale in July 2016. Apparently, neither Claire or I posted our find in 2004 (19 years ago) on either site. 🤷🏻♀️ Hence, I have corrected this oversight.
I’m not by my books so how is that first yellow not a Southern dogface? I see the dog face. But wing edges look more pointy. So does the Mex Yel have that dog face also? Since it is reported in Kerr County and I’m only 10 minutes from that border, I will need to look more closely.
As always, your photography is incredible and always intriguing. And I look so much deeper into plants now due to your blog. Thank you. Super enjoy 😊
Thanks Christy!
Wow, I love that you were able to contribute to official phenology records! I’m not familiar with that butterfly species.
Now you will want to keep your eyes out for them!
Cool find on the Mexican yellow! All those invert portraits are great – handsome collection!
Thanks!
What more can be said. They are all right. Beautiful cats.
😊
Wow, lucky find with the yellow! Love seeing all of the leps!
Do you see them often in your area?
I’m not by my books so how is that first yellow not a Southern dogface? I see the dog face. But wing edges look more pointy. So does the Mex Yel have that dog face also? Since it is reported in Kerr County and I’m only 10 minutes from that border, I will need to look more closely.
Yes they both have the “face” but the Mexican yellow has that curvy point on the hind wing
If I recall they’re also noticeably smaller in person
Thanks Claire!!