Thematic Butterflies and Moths

arkav · 08-08-2016, 05:15 PM

[quote=ramseybuckeye;3735231]A Zebra Swallowtail in the distance

That top photo looks like a Tiger Swallowtail. Given your location, and assuming it was shot recently, it would be the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

Compare:

http://www.ontariobutterflies.ca/families/Papilionidae/eastern-tiger-swallowtail

vs

http://www.ontariobutterflies.ca/families/Papilionidae/zebra-swallowtail

Cheers, Rick

**ramseybuckeye** · 08-08-2016, 05:48 PM

Originally posted by arkav

That top photo looks like a Tiger Swallowtail. Given your location, and assuming it was shot recently, it would be the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

Cheers, Rick

Thank Rick, my mistake, corrected now.

timb64 · 08-15-2016, 01:45 PM - **2 Likes**

**KC0PET** · 08-17-2016, 04:07 PM - **2 Likes**

Taken on a gravel bar on a recent float trip.

timb64 · 08-17-2016, 11:14 PM

**jbinpg** · 08-18-2016, 12:24 AM

Hi, folks. Just thought I would pass along the link to a very useful and relatively new website devoted to the butterflies of the Americas:

Welcome to Butterflies of America!

It has both pinned specimens and live photos (if available) on the ID page which helps a lot.

Jack

**jacamar** · 08-18-2016, 05:33 AM - **1 Like**

Somebody had spread a bait of some sort (fruit juice maybe?) on the trail and it was attracting clusters of Clouded Sulphurs and Northern Crescents.

arkav · 08-18-2016, 05:49 AM

Originally posted by jacamar

Somebody had spread a bait of some sort (fruit juice maybe?) on the trail and it was attracting clusters of Clouded Sulphurs and Northern Crescents.

Or an animal may have urinated there. Butterflies cluster at spots like this to get moisture and/or minerals ( and other trace nutrients ). This behavior is referred to as "puddling". It's hard to know what's special about a particular spot where they've decided to congregate. It may be a spot where minerals and other nutrients are naturally concentrating. Or maybe someone deliberately put something there to bait them. Or maybe an animal got run over in that spot ( yes, I've seen this ).

Cheers, Rick

**jacamar** · 08-18-2016, 06:21 AM

Originally posted by arkav

Or an animal may have urinated there. Butterflies cluster at spots like this to get moisture and/or minerals ( and other trace nutrients ). This behavior is referred to as "puddling". It's hard to know what's special about a particular spot where they've decided to congregate. It may be a spot where minerals and other nutrients are naturally concentrating. Or maybe someone deliberately put something there to bait them. Or maybe an animal got run over in that spot ( yes, I've seen this ).

Cheers, Rick

I considered whether an animal had urinated there but the butterflies were gathering over several square yards. Also it was opposite a park bench so I thought it might have been deliberate. Yesterday was a hot, dry day and there didn't seem to be any moisture present, thought the insects were obviously finding something.

**ramseybuckeye** · 08-19-2016, 09:25 PM

Originally posted by jacamar

Somebody had spread a bait of some sort (fruit juice maybe?) on the trail and it was attracting clusters of Clouded Sulphurs and Northern Crescents.

Excellent photos! I've seen this on a tree where sap is running, but more often in mud.

I took a walk this morning through a "prairie" area and this cabbage white was about the only butterfly I saw, must have been too early.

**jacamar** · 08-20-2016, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

Excellent photos! I've seen this on a tree where sap is running, but more often in mud.

Thanks. Cabbage White seem to be outnumbering everything else here as well.

**noelcmn** · 08-21-2016, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by arkav

Or an animal may have urinated there. Butterflies cluster at spots like this to get moisture and/or minerals ( and other trace nutrients ). This behavior is referred to as "puddling". It's hard to know what's special about a particular spot where they've decided to congregate. It may be a spot where minerals and other nutrients are naturally concentrating. Or maybe someone deliberately put something there to bait them. Or maybe an animal got run over in that spot ( yes, I've seen this ).

Cheers, Rick

That is indeed true, and something that happens often in Kruger Park, especially with elephant dung.

Spotted this one today

timb64 · 08-24-2016, 06:29 AM

**forest_bear59** · 08-24-2016, 06:42 AM - **1 Like**

... I found this one. It's always the same: if you are on your way with a superzoom lens you will find subjects where a dedicated macro lens would be preferred.

Sigma 18-250mm zoom lens, MF.

**KC0PET** · 08-24-2016, 10:28 AM

This is xposted. Another example of one taken without a macro lens.

08-15-2016, 01:45 PM - 2 Likes	#273
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,510	Last edited by timb64; 08-15-2016 at 02:19 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Macro Mating Moths	Frogfish	Post Your Photos!	8	07-02-2010 06:55 AM
Macro Mating moths for Frogfish	foxglove	Post Your Photos!	2	07-02-2010 06:43 AM
Nature Butterflies	sealonsf	Post Your Photos!	10	02-23-2010 11:03 AM
FlutterBys and Moths	VaughnA	Post Your Photos!	1	07-11-2009 01:02 AM
moths on my front door	foxglove	Post Your Photos!	8	12-02-2006 12:51 PM

08-08-2016, 05:15 PM	#271
arkav Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 366	[quote=ramseybuckeye;3735231]A Zebra Swallowtail in the distance That top photo looks like a Tiger Swallowtail. Given your location, and assuming it was shot recently, it would be the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Compare: http://www.ontariobutterflies.ca/families/Papilionidae/eastern-tiger-swallowtail vs http://www.ontariobutterflies.ca/families/Papilionidae/zebra-swallowtail Cheers, Rick

08-08-2016, 05:48 PM	#272
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,291 Original Poster	Originally posted by arkav That top photo looks like a Tiger Swallowtail. Given your location, and assuming it was shot recently, it would be the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Cheers, Rick Thank Rick, my mistake, corrected now.

08-17-2016, 04:07 PM - 2 Likes	#274
KC0PET Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Central Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,273	Taken on a gravel bar on a recent float trip.

08-17-2016, 11:14 PM	#275
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,510

08-18-2016, 12:24 AM	#276
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Hi, folks. Just thought I would pass along the link to a very useful and relatively new website devoted to the butterflies of the Americas: Welcome to Butterflies of America! It has both pinned specimens and live photos (if available) on the ID page which helps a lot. Jack

08-18-2016, 05:33 AM - 1 Like	#277
jacamar Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Toronto Photos: Albums Posts: 3,443	Somebody had spread a bait of some sort (fruit juice maybe?) on the trail and it was attracting clusters of Clouded Sulphurs and Northern Crescents.

08-18-2016, 05:49 AM	#278
arkav Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 366	Originally posted by jacamar Somebody had spread a bait of some sort (fruit juice maybe?) on the trail and it was attracting clusters of Clouded Sulphurs and Northern Crescents. Or an animal may have urinated there. Butterflies cluster at spots like this to get moisture and/or minerals ( and other trace nutrients ). This behavior is referred to as "puddling". It's hard to know what's special about a particular spot where they've decided to congregate. It may be a spot where minerals and other nutrients are naturally concentrating. Or maybe someone deliberately put something there to bait them. Or maybe an animal got run over in that spot ( yes, I've seen this ). Cheers, Rick

08-18-2016, 06:21 AM	#279
jacamar Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Toronto Photos: Albums Posts: 3,443	Originally posted by arkav Or an animal may have urinated there. Butterflies cluster at spots like this to get moisture and/or minerals ( and other trace nutrients ). This behavior is referred to as "puddling". It's hard to know what's special about a particular spot where they've decided to congregate. It may be a spot where minerals and other nutrients are naturally concentrating. Or maybe someone deliberately put something there to bait them. Or maybe an animal got run over in that spot ( yes, I've seen this ). Cheers, Rick I considered whether an animal had urinated there but the butterflies were gathering over several square yards. Also it was opposite a park bench so I thought it might have been deliberate. Yesterday was a hot, dry day and there didn't seem to be any moisture present, thought the insects were obviously finding something.

08-19-2016, 09:25 PM	#280
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,291 Original Poster	Originally posted by jacamar Somebody had spread a bait of some sort (fruit juice maybe?) on the trail and it was attracting clusters of Clouded Sulphurs and Northern Crescents. Excellent photos! I've seen this on a tree where sap is running, but more often in mud. I took a walk this morning through a "prairie" area and this cabbage white was about the only butterfly I saw, must have been too early.

08-20-2016, 02:13 PM	#281
jacamar Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Toronto Photos: Albums Posts: 3,443	Originally posted by ramseybuckeye Excellent photos! I've seen this on a tree where sap is running, but more often in mud. Thanks. Cabbage White seem to be outnumbering everything else here as well.

08-21-2016, 01:47 PM	#282
noelcmn Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Africa-Johannesburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 46,175	Originally posted by arkav Or an animal may have urinated there. Butterflies cluster at spots like this to get moisture and/or minerals ( and other trace nutrients ). This behavior is referred to as "puddling". It's hard to know what's special about a particular spot where they've decided to congregate. It may be a spot where minerals and other nutrients are naturally concentrating. Or maybe someone deliberately put something there to bait them. Or maybe an animal got run over in that spot ( yes, I've seen this ). Cheers, Rick That is indeed true, and something that happens often in Kruger Park, especially with elephant dung. Spotted this one today

08-24-2016, 06:29 AM	#283
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,510

08-24-2016, 10:28 AM	#285
KC0PET Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Central Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,273	This is xposted. Another example of one taken without a macro lens.