Moths & Butterflies

[Brenda]

Huh, I assumed that because they're so common here they were everywhere upstate. You literally can't look out the window without seeing several of them at once here. It's really cool to see them "courting"--the way they circle around each other; sometimes in pairs, other times in groups.

[Brenda]

I was bumming because I had a beautiful Black Swallowtail in the yard on Tues. afternoon, but it was too quick for me to get a better shot than this, which just doesn't do it justice:

Then, as I was closing down the office yesterday afternoon, I spotted this male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail feeding on the Teasel just off the office porch. He looks like he's had a rough summer, judging by the damage to his wings, but they're one of my favorites:

[Brenda]

Nice! I'll have to make a trip there. We went to one in Houston, but I didn't get any decent shots (too crowded).

[Matt]

there's also a small one at the strong museum of play in Rochester. If you know any children it's a great place to bring them.

[Brenda]

I finally got him! I couldn't believe how cooperative he was being, so I kept inching closer and I put my hand in front of him and he climbed right on (for a few seconds)!

Black Swallowtail (male):

[Brenda]

I suspected as much. Here's the one that we visited in Houston: http://www.hmns.org/see_do/butterfly_center.asp Is the one in Ontario as large? I wonder if the one at Strong is native species? It would be cool if there was one in our area that focused on that. Hmm... something to suggest to perhaps the Ithaca Science Center or Cayuga Nature Center.

[Matt]

I can't tell if it's any bigger. They have 10 or so less species.

[Brenda]

I discovered an exhibit of native species here: http://www.adkvic.org/butterfly_ps.html