-
Orange On Orange
I captured this Orange On Orange this afternoon. A Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) thoroughly enjoying the nectar of Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa). This creature was dining on the nectar for at least 45 minutes. Quite satisfied with its discovery. Female Great Spangled Fritillaries lay their eggs near violets in August or September. The newly…
-
Up Close
Under the blazing midday sun a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) uses its long proboscis to sip nectar from a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). _______________________________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
-
To Each His Own
Butterflies on the road going up the mountain. The one on the left a Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis), the one on the right a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele). Both these butterflies love to hang out at mud puddles, rotting fruit, and in this case, on scat. All are a source of nutrients for the…
-
A Couple Fritillaries
A Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) enjoying the nectar of a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). And another Fritillary, a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) on another Purple Coneflower. The common name, Fritillary, comes from the Latin, fritillus: chessboard or dice box. ________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up…
-
This Afternoon
This afternoon a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) caught my attention as it alighted on a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurpea). Looking well-worn, as if it had spent its few weeks taking great chances, perhaps escaping a predator or two. I appreciate Great Spangled Fritillaries in part because their host plants are various species of native…
-
White Swan Coneflower
A Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) on a cluster of White Swan Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’).