Butterflies, moths & caterpillars Archives - Page 15 of 18

Spicebush is blooming

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) blooms are the latest sign of spring in the backyard. In my opinion, this is a first-rate shrub for suburban landscapes. This native Kentucky plant is easy to grow and does well in shade or sun.

It has small yellow flowers in early spring and attractive foliage in summer, and female plants have bright red berries in early autumn. The leaves have a pleasant spicy smell when crushed. It can grow up to 15 ft. high but it can be kept to most any size by pruning.

a native Kentucky shrub that's great for landscaping — 1. flowering spicebush 2. close-up of flower 3. summer foliage 4. autumn leaves 5. late summer berries on a female plant

And if that isn’t enough, it’s also the major host plant for spicebush butterflies (Papilio troilus). I wrote about the spicebush caterpillar last summer and these images review the butterfly’s life cycle.

Papilio troilus life cycle — 1. folded leaf covering small caterpillar 2. small caterpillar 3. full-grown caterpillar 4. chrysalis 5. spicebush swallowtail butterfly

Last summer I found several caterpillars on my two spicebush shrubs and saw the butterflies in the backyard. I’m not sure which I enjoyed more.

Spicebush is fairly common as an understory shrub in our Kentucky woods. Their yellow bloom makes them easy to spot this time of year. I’m glad to find them in the woods and I hope to see more of them in suburban yards.

Kentucky Backyard Wildlife Habitat

At a good friend’s suggestion, I applied for certification as a Kentucky Backyard Wildlife Habitat. It was an interesting learning experience.

The application process included listing plants in the backyard and how they are used by wildlife, other food sources like our bird feeders, wildlife cover, and water resources. It helped me see what we’ve already done for wildlife and how we can do more.

I included some photographs in the application. This one shows a few of our backyard insects.

Here are some of our 2010 backyard butterflies.

And here’s a sampling of our birds and mammals.

When we first re-worked the backyard, I focused primarily on the plants. Applying for the certification has helped me realize how the changes have affected the wildlife we see, and how much that adds to my enjoyment of the backyard. I’m interested in exploring how we can encourage wildlife even more.

I now realize we have only one nesting box, a wren house. I want to add one or two chickadee houses and possibly a bat house. I also want to identify more of the insects in the garden, and I’m hoping some of the neighborhood kids will help.

I’m pleased to report that a panel reviewed my application, and our backyard is now an officially certified Kentucky Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

Common checkered-skipper

I suspect this is my last butterfly image for 2010, but I’d be glad to be wrong.

I’ve come to appreciate the diminutive skippers. I especially enjoy them in late summer when the other butterflies begin to dwindle. This common checkered-skipper (Pyrgus communis) is one of the easiest to identify.

This particular one has brown tones, but they are often checkered black and white. It is about 1/2 inch wide and is feeding on New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae).

According to Jim Brock and Kenn Kaufman, authors of Butterflies of North America, this is “the most common and widespread skipper in North America.” I’m surprised that I’m just now seeing it and making its acquaintance.

October butterflies

It’s October and I’m still enjoying butterflies in the backyard.

The New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae) has recently been a magnet for butterflies and bees. It was great fun this past Saturday to observe bumble bees (large, medium, and small), honey bees, and butterflies including cabbage, pearl crescent, and several different skippers. I also managed to capture these images.

I see Orange Sulphurs (Colias eurytheme) fairly often and enjoy their bright spots of color.

Gray Hairstreaks (Strymon melinus) are less common and seeing them is a special treat.

I was especially glad to see a variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) for the first time this year.

Since Saturday, daytime temperatures have dropped to the 50s and 60s. Was this my last backyard butterfly show of the year? If so, it was a good one.

Buckeye butterfly

What a treat! I am seeing Buckeye butterflies (Junonia coenia) in the backyard for the first time. I think they are quite attractive with their colorful markings and distinctive “eyes”. They, along with several other smaller butterflies, are feeding on Mist Flower, the subject of last week’s post. At times it’s a butterfly frenzy and great fun to watch.