Category Archives: Butterflies

09.09.2022 Beauty on a Parsley Sprig

Posted on September 9, 2022 by Steve Gingold

We grow some parsley in a long rectangular pot alongside my small cactus collection on a table in the yard. It’s been a few years since we had these larvae but yesterday I found this one and it’s still munching … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, black swallowtail, Butterfly, caterpillar, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Papilio polyxenes, Papilio polyxenes asterius, Papilionini, Papilionoidea, western massachusetts | 16 Comments

09.04.2022 Silent Sunday-Cabbage White on New England Aster

Posted on September 4, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Posted in Abstract, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Cabbage White, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, New England Aster, Papilionoidea, Pieridae, Pieris rapae, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, western massachusetts | 17 Comments

08.29.2022 Finally!

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Steve Gingold

While walking around the yard yesterday afternoon with the 7D setup I came across a Monarch caterpillar apparently resting after a meal of milkweed leaf. As I made a few images I felt something breeze by and it was an … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Danaus plexippus, Danaus plexippus caterpillar, Danaus plexippus larva, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, Monarch butterfly, monarch caterpillar, monarch larva, New England, nymphalidae, Papilionoidea, western massachusetts | 29 Comments

08.23.2022 Doppelganger

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Steve Gingold

I haven’t had any luck photographing Monarchs this year. Just a few that I saw visited the yard, I only saw three larvae, and none ever stopped where I could get a clear shot. But yesterday while roaming one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Brush-footed Butterflies, insect, lepidoptera, Limenitis archippus, Massachusetts, New England, Papilionoidea, Viceroy, western massachusetts | 27 Comments

08.21.2022 Silent Sunday

Posted on August 21, 2022 by Steve Gingold

American Copper- Lycaena phlaeas

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged American Copper, Amherst, insect, lepidoptera, Lycaena phlaeas, Massachusetts, New England, Papilionoidea, western massachusetts | 24 Comments

08.17.2022 Another Skipper

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Steve Gingold

I’ve been seeing mostly Peck’s Skippers in the yard but yesterday this somewhat worn Silver-spotted- Epargyreus clarus decided to nectar on our boneset flowers. We’ve had them in the yard before but it’s been awhile.

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Epargyreus clarus, Hesperiidae, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, Papilionoidea, Silver-spotted Skipper, western massachusetts | 16 Comments

08.08.2022 Macro Monday-Butterfly Fun

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Well, limited fun. Just the two. I am seeing a few more visit the yard but most are on their way to an important meeting so don’t stop for more than a second in any one place. I’ve seen a … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Azure, Butterfly, Celastrina neglecta, Grass Skipper, Hesperiidae, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Papilionoidea, Peck's Skipper, Polites peckius, Skipper, Summer Azure, western massachusetts | 23 Comments

08.02.2022 Complaining does sometimes get you somewhere

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Steve Gingold

So I have complained about not seeing many butterflies this year. I do believe their numbers are down just as is the case with most insects worldwide. But as often happens, once I open my big mouth something shows up. … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Butterfly, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Papilio glaucus, Papilio troilus, Papilionoidea, Spicebush Swallowtail, western massachusetts | 29 Comments

04.16.2022 Smiling on Saturday

Posted on April 16, 2022 by Steve Gingold

That’s me having spotted and photographed my first butterfly of 2022. Cabbage White-Pieris rapae on some of our iris foliage. These usually are pretty active but it’s chilly today so that got this one sitting and saving its energy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Butterfly, Cabbage White, lepidoptera, Massachusetts, New England, Papilionoidea, Pieris rapae, western massachusetts | 30 Comments

08.30.2021 A pleasant chase

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Steve Gingold

While at MacLeod Field yesterday morning, I spotted this flash of orange and having seen several Pearl Crescents thought it to be one. But upon a closer look I was mistaken. Silver-bordered Fritillary-Boloria selene When I first spotted this individual … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Butterflies, Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Argynnini, Boloria, Boloria selene, Heliconiinae, insect, Lawrence Swamp, lepidoptera, MacLeod Field, Massachusetts, New England, nymphalidae, Papilionoidea, Silver-bordered Fritillary, western massachusetts | 27 Comments