No complains here on the high temperature today of 76f! Though you might hear me grumbling about the no rain. However a fortunate few got some showers.
Continuing on at the creek. Indeed some great butterflies and moths flittered around at the creek on the 8th!
The Mistflowers (Conoclinium coelestinum) were a popular diner! The Sachem agreed.
The Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) was another happy customer.
Royalty was sipping as evident by this Queen.
More royalty, the Monarch! We saw about twenty Monarchs that day.
This one did not allow for a closeup. My tentative ID is a Bells Roadside-skipper (Amblyscirtes belli). Several sources said it liked areas near creek. This certainly fit the bill even if the creek was kinda dry.
The Three-lined Flower Moth (Schinia trifascia) was just hanging out.
Since this was unfamiliar and new species of Schinia for me several different angles were needed.
A Sleepy Orange finds the Bladderpod (Sesbania vesicaria syn Glottidium vesicarium) tasty.
Last Monarch shot!
I also saw Cloudless Sulphurs, Little Yellows and other unidentifiable skippers but was unable to get photos. Indeed even with the heat that day (8th) or maybe because of the heat it was a wonderful Lep day!
I had collected some Conoclinium coelestenum in the creek at our lease last year to grow. This year I have found it growing in several pots in my nursery. So the seeds must be viable and drifted around. Usually we propagate them by the runners. I’m thrilled to have multiple plants without even trying.
Do you have any more pictures of that skipper? I wonder if it might be a male Zabulon skipper, because of the yellow spot at the base of the forewing, close to the body.
Always exciting in a creek bottom. You found some goodies.
Great article for BRIT and Tiana!
I had collected some Conoclinium coelestenum in the creek at our lease last year to grow. This year I have found it growing in several pots in my nursery. So the seeds must be viable and drifted around. Usually we propagate them by the runners. I’m thrilled to have multiple plants without even trying.
Thanks for sharing that! I bet some of the gardeners will appreciate that info!
Do you have any more pictures of that skipper? I wonder if it might be a male Zabulon skipper, because of the yellow spot at the base of the forewing, close to the body.
I will send you a couple of pics. Thanks!