So on Tuesday morning we set out for a unit that hosts a special friend. Plus my other goal beside the special friend was to find bumblebees (Bombus).
This is the special home, the Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia sphaerocarpa) for my one of special friends.
Here was the special friend, the Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus) caterpillar! A few weeks I ago I showed you the adult. The adults have now all died leaving their legacy with the new generation.
This little Frosted Elfin was pretending to be a flower bud. Almost fooled me. 🙂
First bumblebee! She was an American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus). This queen was the only one I caught. Additionally I chased one more but well they did not cooperate. So now I believe I will wait for the more numerous workers to show up later in the season. Here I offered her a bit of orange juice. However she had no interest. Next time I will bring some sugar water.
So not to let my carrying a net and equipment go to waste and I took all opportunities. This time for a bee.
Another important native pollinator that I tentatively ID’d as Longhorn Bee (Melissodes).
Another catch, a Schinia moth. (I think.)
A two-fer! The Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) and the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)!
Front facing view of the Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)!
No matter the butterfly and moth (Lepidoptera), they all have scales! A close up of the scales on the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)!
Calling it a day, we ended on a high note from one of the many Dickcissels that sang.
Lots of great moments with the catches of the day!
Great to see all the neighbors out!
It twas!☺️
I sure miss the dickcissals. Cool pic of the scales on the butterfly.