Tag Archives: lepidoptera

07.15.2017 My Holy Grail of Larvae

Posted on July 15, 2017 by

I think most everyone is aware of the decreasing Monarch Butterfly population.  As far as their caterpillars are concerned, I saw nary a one for the last three or so years and maybe one or two adults total during that … Continue reading →

Posted in Butterflies, Closeup Photography, ecology, Insect Behavior, Insects, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

08.15.2015 Geina periscelidactylus

Posted on August 15, 2015 by

The title here sounds a bit like Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid…which I can say more easily than the above Latin name…just barely), but it’s a moth…and a beauty at that. Grape Plume Moth on a milkweed leaf.I’ve not done much mothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Closeup Photography, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

08.06.2015 Giving it up for future butterflies

Posted on August 6, 2015 by

Mary Beth noticed these on her potted parsley plants while hanging the laundry the other day.  Two instars (metamorphic stages) of Black Swallowtail caterpillars- Papilio polyxenes. They are eating pretty voraciously so I purchased four more plants and stuck them into … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Behavior, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Nature Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

07.17.2015 Streaking

Posted on July 17, 2015 by

Ha!  This isn’t what you were thinking.  🙂 Here are two species of Hairstreak butterflies.  We allow milkweed to grow on one side of our driveway in hopes of attracting a Monarch to lay some eggs.  So far we have … Continue reading →

Posted in Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Nature Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

03.15.2015 The Sweetheart

Posted on March 15, 2015 by

Newly ID’d by the nice folks at BugGuide.  AKA Catocala amatrix.  I posted this on BG.N back in August of 2010 and someone found it while cleaning up during the quiet winter season and gave me an ID. This is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Behavior, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Moths, Patterns in Nature | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

01.22.2015 Erotica….PG-13

Posted on January 22, 2015 by

The other day, Steve S. wondered if Erotica would be next up from me.  I don’t have too much that would qualify, but there is this…..Making sure the night will have firefly lights (Photuris sp.)   Spotted Thyris moths ( … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Behavior, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Moths, Nature Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

08.25.2014 Both sides of the story

Posted on August 25, 2014 by

In this case, the story is a possible False Crocus Geometer.  I say possible because the Genus Xanthotype is a very confusing one with several species that can only be confidently identified by the delicate term…genitallic dissection.  I am happy … Continue reading →

Posted in Closeup Photography, Insects, Lepidoptera, macro photography, Moths, Nature Photography, Patterns in Nature | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments