Caught in the Act

Close Up

Far Away

Why are Monarchs always so high up?

If I concentrate ... I can jump up another 2 feet

Foiled again!

Blurry due to full magnification
(the 2 "alar spots" on the hindwings indicate this is a male)

I Spy

I spy, with my little eye, something that

breezed through the garden one spring day

stopping long enough for just one photo

and then returned on August 30th

to feast on the remaining blooms of the butterfly bush

Nymphalis antiopa

I Spy

I Spy, with my little eye, something that is

beautiful

purple and iridescent blue

Limentis arthemis

 "Red Spotted Purple Butterfly"

taken with maximum zoom so a little blurry

I Spy

I spy, with my little eye, something that

is black and green/blue

moves very fast

 allowed us to get very close

Calopteryx maculata

male "Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly"

I Spy

While nose-to-nose with a Red Admiral,

I spied something that

is black and yellow 

is much larger than most of our winged visitors

 

 Papilio brevicauda

"Short-tailed Swallowtail"

 

I Spy

I spy,with my little eye, something that

has a wing span of 62-75mm

is the state insect of Montana

Nymphalis antiopa

 

one of the first arrivals to the garden this summer

I Spy

"It's Baaaaack!"

"Do you see it, Bodi?  Look for yellow."

"Yes, I do!"

 

Papilio glaucus
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

I Spy

I Spy, with my little eye, something that

is orange & black & white

is very fast and keeps it's distance

Danaus plexippus

"Monarch"

I Spy

I Spy, with my little eye, something that

On tip toes: "There has to be a butterfly in here somewhere."

is orange and black and white

"Aha, there you are!  Hiding in plain sight!"

Vanessa virginiensis

"Painted Lady"

Question Mark and Painted Lady

I Spy

I Spy, with my little eye, something that



is black and yellow



has a 3.9-6.3 inch wingspan!!!

is the largest butterfly in Canada and the U.S. 

 Papilio cresphontes

"Giant Swallowtail"

Mama can play this game, too!

I spy, with my little eye, something that

is yellow and black

has a 3-5.5 inch wingspan

Papilio glaucus

"Eastern Tiger Swallowtail"

Miska:  "This was the best photo because someone who shall
remain nameless was shaking the buddleia from underneath!"

I Spy

I spy, with my little eye, something that

is orange & dark brown

?  ? ? ?  ?

yet can look like a crumpled leaf

 Polygonia interrogationis

"Question Mark Butterfly"

 

"question mark" visible on the wing's underside

Caught in the Act

I Kissed a Butterfly ... and I liked it!

The camera was quickly switched to video:

After flying around my head a few times, the Red Admiral returned to the flowers.

Red Admiral Butterflies are so friendly!

I Spy

I spy, with my little eye, something that

is black, orange & white



likes lilacs and buddleia

is very calm in the presence of dogs and humans

Vanessa atalanta

"Red Admiral"