All Spring and Summer I have been trying to get some photos of butterflies ....you all know the one .....beautiful flower with the butterfly perfectly perched on it!!!
Well I guess I don't have the patients or the luck.... well your going to see how it really is for me!!
A coupe of weeks back I noticed this ugly caterpillar on the railing on the side deck and it remained there and did not seem to change much ...just took on a weird look!!
Out of curiosity I left it the because it took on the look of a chrysalis and figured well I'll wait and see....a couple of times I thought I should take a picture of it but never did!!!
This morning I dashed to the mailbox to make sure I got that check in the mail before the mailman came and as I came up on the deck I saw something move right on top of that ugly thing!!
Oh my gosh ...run get the camera....its still there and I'm all excited....oh my goodness it is a"" Monarch"" ....he is pretty but why on this darn rail....I want the perfect picture !!
I came inside felling well at least I got the pictures....and how great he had been inside that ugly thing and I got to see what it was before it flew away!!!
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Now wait a minute here..... I recall Monarch... beautiful striped caterpillar ....beautiful green chrysalis ...somthing is not right!!!
On the web I go .....looks like it...but then I see similars...the "Viceroy"!!
On closer inspection I could see the marking that is the tell all and of course.....the Monarch has a double row of white dots on the wing edges and does not have the dark bar that crosses the lower wing ..."the ugly thing" ...the chrysalis described as having brown markings and can be mistaking as bird droppings to a predator...yup! thats it
This is the ugly thing after... but it looked the same only dark brown before the hatch!!
I sure wish I had seen the whole process but I got to see the beautiful outcome even if it wasn't on some nice plant!!
See what I mean ..side of weathered shingles...
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A old rug at the back basement door ...
Do you know the identity of this one ??
Let me know please!!
Where will one be next?????
Beauty for ashes ... or was that bird poop?! Glad you got to see the end result ... and get some good captures.
ReplyDeleteHey Cicero...You make me laugh...I love your wittiness!!! : } Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Grammie.....your second butterfly is a red admiral I believe.
ReplyDeleteIt does not matter that the butterflies are not on a flower.....just to know that they are in your garden is an honour and a privilege.
Beautiful captures, and your wonderful writing always give me a smile. A perfect way to start my Sunday morning, tku.
Great pictures. The Viceroy is less common than the Monarch, so you're really lucky to see one up close like that.
ReplyDeleteSome butterflies, like the Red Admiral, don't spend much time on flowers. Instead, you're more likely to see them on a tree or the side of the house or on animal droppings or the driveway.
Very pretty - excellent images. :) Yes, how many times we have wished we could go back in time and get an image we missed! What is so great now with digital images, we can shoot and shoot without spending a fortune on film, then sort it all out later. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat shots GG, the second looks like our Red Admiral, I guess its the same for you over there unless the name has been changed a bit.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cheryl... your words are great for my moral...perfectionism is not always achievable....nor is it necessary...but the mind is a hard on to convince!!!
ReplyDeleteRed Admiral...I looked at alot of butterflies but could not come to a answer!! I beleive your right!!!
You made me smile too...happy to be a blogger friend!!! : }
Hi Steve...well now I am really felling a boost...I.. have a picture of a ...."Viceroy " Thanks for the Red Admiral info ....now I know why he likes my old rug..: }
Hi Lois...yes it is great to just keep clicking away and not worry and wait to get the pictures back to see what you have ...technology is great...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments!!!
Hey Roy.. Thanks...is I'm not so unlucky after all...: }
Steve said in his comment that it is a Red Admiral and he is in Ohio so I'm guessing it is the same as you!!!
I thought I might have seen one on a post you did ??
So how cool is that...caterpillar to larvae to a VICEROY. Lucky you.
ReplyDeleteI don't need to ID the Red Admiral..already done. FAB.
Beautiful Viceroy! Glad that you got to see it hatched out. Yep...Red Admiral. I think they are so pretty. We saw a lot of them early in the spring and I haven't seen any since. They must move north.
ReplyDeleteWow. I think you should be extremely proud that the butterfly chose to "hatch" on your railing, regardless of its identity. It's a beauty, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHelli, it seems that several other folks have already answered your question about the butterfly's identify. It is a red admiral and I've photographed them many times here on the VA eastern shore. Thanks for sharing the hatching story too.
ReplyDelete...glad you were able to see the end result. What a beautiful Viceroy and Red Admiral. You were lucky...they are so beautiful!-69-9
ReplyDeleteWow, that is so very interesting! I have never seen such a butterfly before. Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteI have had the Viceroy this summer and also lots of Red Admirals. More of them than anything. I am hoping the two Paw Paw Trees I planted will influence the Zebra Swallowtails to be more plentiful since they feed on them. I would say you got some nice pictures.
ReplyDeleteLike you I never want to take the butterfly picture unless there is a pretty flower for them to perch upon. But you did a great job and I'm glad others ID ed them as I'm not great with butterflies. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
ReplyDeleteJalynn
Very cool flutterby shots and story line. How come all I get at my house is a big dumb eagle and yet no cocoons? No fair.
ReplyDelete