More Satyrs

I tried an early morning excursion in an attempt to photograph some Carolina Satyrs while they were in a more sluggish condition.  I guess all of the small Satyrs were so sluggish they weren’t moving at all.  I didn’t find the first one until things had warmed considerably and the butterflies were acting in their typical wary manner.  I did get a couple of shots of the two larger species of the Satyr group found at Blue Jay Barrens.  This is a Northern Pearly Eye, a rapid flier that normally perches on tree trunks

The Common Wood Nymph is the second of the larger Satyr species.  This butterfly is very common and can be found in a variety of habitats, but I tend to find it in the shadow of trees.

It normally perches near or on the ground.  With the forewing eyespot hidden from view, the butterfly is almost impossible to see.

A couple of days ago I watched a large Robber Fly chase after a passing Common Wood Nymph.  No capture was made and I thought a butterfly of that size would be quite a lot for the fly to manage.  I changed my mind when I found this Robber Fly hanging on to its captured Common Wood Nymph.

The fly has inserted its piercing mouth parts into the body of the butterfly and is busy guzzling down the soft insides. 

 

While I was busy trying to overcome my problem of getting near enough to a Carolina Satyr for a good picture, this Hackberry Butterfly presented me with an opposite problem.  I had trouble getting this guy to back off far enough for me to get a shot.  It first landed on my face and then dropped down to my neck.  Eventually I got it to move onto my arm where it sat calmly drinking sweat. 

The Hackberry Butterfly can sometimes become a nuisance.  In cases where they don’t find enough sweat, I’ve seen these butterflies probe ears, eyes, nose and mouth in an attempt to find some tasty liquid.  I guess I’m luck I always seem to have plenty of sweat to offer.

Lacking Butterflies

Blue Jay Barrens is still lacking butterflies.  A few species, like this Northern Metalmark, are present in expected numbers, but most species are either poorly represented or completely absent.

Northern Metalmarks typically sit with wings outspread, so the common view is of the mostly brown upper surface.  Occasionally one will give a glimpse of the bright orange under side.

Even though the metalmarks are occasionally found on flowers, their usual location is on a sunny leaf near the ground.  My first notice of them is most likely to be when they quickly shift plants at my approach.  I don’t know why this species would be so abundant this year when so many butterflies are absent.

This may look like a typical clump of Butterflyweed, but there is something missing.  There are no butterflies visiting here.  At this time of year there should be no Butterflyweed clumps without butterflies.  Most noticeable to me right now is the total absence of any hairstreak species.

Common Wood Nymphs are around in good numbers.  These are low fliers that thread their way through the vegetation.

Little Wood Satyrs are generally very common this time of year.  I’ve seen only two in the past week. 

This Little Wood Satyr looks like it’s been around for a while.  Hopefully the few individuals that managed to emerge have left plenty of eggs to rebuild the population for next year.

Most of my Great Spangled Fritillary encounters have been with lone individuals.  In some years there are so many of these butterflies that they knock each other off the flowers during the scramble for nectar.

Just a scattering of Pipevine Swallowtails around.  No other swallowtail species were seen last week.

This is one of the swallowtail species that keeps its wings moving while feeding.  I figure all of that movement makes it more difficult for predators to zero in on the butterfly.  It’s disturbing not to see the familiar masses of swallowtails working over the Butterflyweed.

A lone Pearl Crescent has the entire flower head to itself.  I hope the butterflies get themselves straightened out.  I can understand if it was the weather patterns responsible for the decline.  The winter was warmer and wetter than normal, spring brought record floods and high temperatures and summer is beginning with a severe drought already underway.  This may turn out to be the year without butterflies.