----- Original Message -----
----- Original Message -----
Late summer is a time in our area of southwest Virginia for flowering of
natives such as goldenrod, ironweed, impatiens, virgins bower, wing stem, green
headed cone flower, great lobelia, thistles and others. Many of these flowers
are an important nectar source for the beautiful butterflies we enjoy in our
fields. Just as different flowers bloom during different months, d ifferent
kinds of butterflies also emerge in seasonal patterns. For example the early
great spangled fritillaries are replaced by tiger swallowtails and now monarchs
are the dominant large butterfly in our yard and fields.
In addition to using native plants you can attract butterflies and other
insects to your yard by planting non-natives in your flower beds. Such
mini-butterfly gardens can indeed be a major source of nectar for your
butterflies and hummingbirds, and a delight to the eye. Here is one small
example from our yard that primarily includes five species: Brazilian verbena,
orange cosmos, zinnia, bouncing bet and Russian sage. Such a display does of
course require a lot of work from the gardener!
Monarchs have catholic tastes when it comes to flowers and here one is feeding
on an orange cosmos, one of the longer blooming species. Your mini-garden will
also attract other insects such as the snowberry sphinx moth which hovers at
flowers like a hummingbird. Unlike monarch caterpillars which require milkweed,
adult monarchs are not particular and enjoy feeding on "weeds" such as this
wing stem. Some "weeds" are indeed remarkably beautiful as well as attractive
to butterflies, as shown by a skipper feeding on ironweed.
One of the smaller butterflies that is common in late summer is the eastern
tailed blue, which requires magnification to be appreciated for its delicate
beauty. The "tails" and spots on the posterior edge of the hindwing are
apparently a device that mimics a head to divert attacks of jumping spiders and
other predators away from the vulnerable head and body. The eastern comma is
hard to separate from its close relative the question mark, both of which are
extremely well camouflaged when their wings are closed.
I have recently seen a very few great spangled fritillaries, whose larvae feed
on violets, and who are just at the end of their seasonal abundance. The end of
summer is a time when you will encounter many flies and wasps, and sometimes it
is hard to tell the difference. For example I recently heard a loud buzzing
noise and looked around with some alarm suspecting that a hornet was nearby.
Instead I saw this syrphid fly which is an amazing mimic of a yellow jacket
wasp.
So enjoy the final days of summer, the flowers and the insects, and the
exciting beginning of an intense period of bird migration prior to late autumn
and the oncoming winter months.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
http://lemonbayconservancy.org/news-blog/nature-notes-by-bill-dunson/ ;
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Butterfly mini garden VA farm 8.23.16 Bill Dunson IMG_5592 aa.jpg
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Monarch on cosmos VA farm 8.23.16 Bill Dunson IMG_5584 aa.jpg
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Sphinx moth snowberry clearwing on verbena VA farm 8.23.16 Bill Dunson IMG_5603 aa.jpg
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Monarch on wingstem VA farm 8.23.16 Bill Dunson IMG_5636 aa.jpg
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Skipper on ironweed VA farm 8.28.16 BIll Dunson IMG_5673 aa.jpg
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Eastern tailed blue VA farm 8.23.16 Bill Dunson IMG_5623 aa.jpg
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Eastern comma butterfly VA farm 8.16.16 Bill Dunson IMG_5506 aa.jpg
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Great spangled fritillary VA farm 8.28.16 Bill Dunson IMG_5704 aa.jpg
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Yellowjacket mimic Syrphid fly Milesia VA farm 8.20.16 Bill Dunson IMG_5549 aa.jpg
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