The Flutter Files Name: White Admiral Butterfly or possibly Western White Admiral Species: Limenitis arthemis Native to: Much of Canada, with the Western White Admiral in Alaska and western Canada Date Seen: June 2017 Location: North of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Notes: Black or deep brown body with wide white band.
Bug Bits Name: Anise Swallowtail Butterfly Species: Papilio zelicaon Native to: Western North America Date Seen: May 2012 Location: Southern Alberta Notes: A large butterfly - 52 to 80 mm (2.0 to 3.1 in) similar in color to the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly - except quite different when you look more carefully!
The Flutter Files Name: Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Species: Papilio canadensis Native to: All Canadian Provinces and Northern U.S. States Date Seen: June 2013 Location: Southern Alberta Notes: Large (53mm to 80mm; 2.07in to 3.12in) bright Butterflies with a furry black and yellow body.
The Flutter Files Name: Painted Lady Butterfly Species: Vanessa cardui Native to: Found on most continents (except Australia and Antarctica) in many climates. Date Seen: November 2016, October 2016 Location: North of Fountain Hills, Arizona Notes: An irruptive migrant - migrates independent of any seasonal or geographic patterns.
The Flutter Files Name: Empress Leilia Butterfly Species: Asterocampa leilia Native to: Central and southern Arizona (except for the southwest) as well as south Texas, Mexico and Baja Date Seen: March 2014 Location: North of Fountain Hills, Arizona Notes: Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 3 inches (3.8 - 7.6 cm). This butterfly was sitting on … Continue reading Empress Leilia Butterfly
In a past post, White Butterflies Hiding in a Hay Field, I wasn't able to actually get a photo of the White Butterflies. They never came to rest long enough, or if they did stop, it was on the low growing flowers that I couldn't see! Later, the butterflies were feeding on some flowers that … Continue reading Cabbage White Butterfly
Bridging the Knowledge Gap: I was weeding and deadheading a few days ago, and was surprised to find my viola/pansy crop consisted of mostly bare stalks. Odd. When I looked closer, I could see that the few remaining leaves were well chewed. I didn't give the sorry state of the Viola family much more thought. … Continue reading Fritillary Butterflies and Violas
I made this Monarch Butterfly Collage with 5 photos. The first, and background layer, was a photo of painted daisies. I gave it a textured filter. The remaining four photos were close-ups of a single Monarch Butterfly. I put those photos into 4 layers, gave each of them a border, and positioned them on top … Continue reading Monarch Butterfly Collage
We've had Monarch butterflies in our Arizona yard recently. They may be migrating south to Mexico, north-west to California or they may overwinter here if the conditions are favourable. The Monarch's Southern fall migration is made by a single butterfly that will live for 6 to 8 months. The Northern spring migration will take multiple … Continue reading Monarch Butterfly – a Magic Migration
Solitary - being alone; without others. As in, "I'm going out to the garden to do some weeding. Who wants to come out and help me?" I only found one Monarch Butterfly in my garden this year, and it is the only Monarch I've ever seen in my part of the world. Ideas don't stay … Continue reading Monarch Butterfly in Alberta
