New Beginnings

Flutterby

This poor little thing was lying in the grass in our yard today. I called the boys out to see it. Sam held it while I went in side and got a little honey for it to eat, which she did right away. She died later this evening. I wonder what happened to cause her short life to become even shorter...or was it really just her time?

Butterflies

Above: A Gulf fritillary taken by Sam Cumbess

I don't know much about butterflies, but am trying to learn! The place where I work is a butterfly "hot spot" that attracts people from all over the country. Next Friday, a geo-friend of mine from FAU is supposed to stop in to look for some flutterbys. I plan on walking around with her and learning as much as I can. If we find anything cool or just get decent pics, I'll post them here. (Taking good pictures of butterflies is very, very hard to do! Don't believe me? Go outside and try it yourself!!)

In the meantime, here are some pictures I have taken over the last few weeks. I am missing one of a Dina yellow. When I find it, I'll add it in.

Possibly a Mimosa yellow (they say they're rare!)

A Ruddy Daggerwing

A Julia butterfly being very cooperative

Hemiargus ceraunus?

Off subject: This succulent is taking over my backyard in Highlands County. If anyone knows how to eradicate it, other than pulling by hand, PLEASE let me know! Also, I cannot figure out exactly what kind it is. So, again, if anyone knows, please...



Had to snap a picture of the cool web this young argiope spider made in a lantana bush. When these spiders are young, their web looks like this...a sort of circular mass of zig-zags, but as they age, their webs change and they tend to have one vertical zig-zag strip in the middle of the web. No one is really sure why this is. The theory I tend to believe that the more zig-zaggy mass of the young ones help to camoflauge it more from prey.