In front of my cabin right now, there is a constant buzz . There are loads of trees and bushes involved in the sound, three good sized trees, planted soon after our cabin was built, many years ago – pear, MacIntosh apple, and Monmorency cherry, and a good number of blueberry bushes planted at about the same time as the fruit trees. Plus there are several wild cherry trees contributing to the buzz, at the edge of the woods.
As you might imagine, the sound is not exactly being generated by the trees and bushes themselves, but by the critters that are enjoying the nectar, like the Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Hemaris thysbe, pictured above, at the apple tree.
There are loads of bees and wasps. This bee is sipping nectar at one of the blueberry bushes.
The most plentiful species buzzing about is a large number of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus. They give action to the scene with their constant motion and larger size. The two images, above, are both Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. The top image is a light morph female. The image immediately above is a male.
This, above, is also an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. It is a dark morph female. The dark morph female is mimicking the color and pattern of the Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor. There is a measure of protection using this coloring and pattern, since Pipevine Swallowtails are poisonous and predators will be less likely to eat the mimic.
This visitor, a bit frayed, is one of my favorite butterflies, a Zebra Swallowtail, Protographium marcellus. If this butterfly were newly emerged from its chrysalis, it would have two swordlike tails and the faded coral spots, that you see here, would be a brilliant crimson.
Another butterfly buzzing about is the Silver-spotted Skipper, Epargyreus clarus, one of our largest skippers. Interesting: it is said that the Silver-spotted Skipper will not seek the nectar of flowers that are yellow. I’ll have to watch the yellow flowers on the mountain, and see! This skipper is quite common in the area.
All this action, sipping of nectar, brings on pollination of the blooms. Soon there will be apples, pears, cherries, and blueberries as a result, enough to keep me busy for a while, like the pollinators that are busy right now!
5 responses to “Fruit at the Cabin”
Beautiful photos Brenda, I may learn to ID butterflies yet.
Oh, I must admit Khalil, that it is a daunting task! – those swallowtails that are mostly black. I am just *now* getting comfortable with identifying the dark morph female of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Taking photographs helps **so** much! Knowing this particular species is only the beginning. So much more to learn.
Thanks bunches for the compliment on the photos. I’m so glad you enjoyed them.
Perhaps you and I can learn together!
What a wonderful world of magical creatures you live in Brenda! When we first began our journey home I was so astounded at the number of Swallowtails we could see roadside. I thought that they must migrate and that I would look up their migration pattern. Maybe I’ll do that now. I am just excited to see bumble bees although there is not much for them to buzz upon. I noticed that the scilia I have do support the bees and my young red Maple bloomed and when I took a closer look – sure enough, a bumble bee was enjoying its tiny blooms. My Serviceberry should open any day – I am sure it will be a main attraction. That Zebra Swallowtail is incredible! I think you will be enjoying pies, crumbles, and jams – all yummy.
Interesting and beautiful as always! Thanks Brenda.
Thanks for checking out this “issue” of Tendrils LaVonne! We are finally getting sunshine after nearly a week of fog and drizzle. Hope you are having lovely weather too!