Butterfly Identification

　　The Incredible Glasswing Butterfly 　　A butterfly with transparent wings? Surely not. Yet there is a species that exhibits this trait. Take a close look at the incredible Glasswing, an enchanting species that confounds science. 　　Greta oto may sound like the name of a silent movie star from Eastern Europe but is in fact the scientific name for one of the most exquisite – and little known – species of butterfly on the planet. This butterfly’s claim to fame is that its wings, spanning up to six centimeters, are almost completely transparent. That’s right, you can see just about right through … Read more

Common Grass Yellow Butterfly (Eurema Hecabe) Well then! I am finally coming up with some photos of common grass yellow butterfly that I found in my backyard yesterday afternoon. It was darting over the ground when I saw it making slowly move to the wild plant, I decided to come a bit closer to take a few pictures that I used to do when I sighted the beautiful stuff around. According to my observation, it is one of beautiful butterflies that I ever found, especially the color that attracted so badly to capture this winged insect. It is called common … Read more

　　Heliconius melpomene 　　Heliconius melpomene is a widespread neotropical species well known for its geographic diversity in colour pattern. Throughout its range, H. melpomene is co-mimetic with Heliconius erato, and both species have around 30 named geographic sub-species. H. melpomene is generally less abundant than H. erato, but both are found in open areas. H. melpomene can however be locally common in river edges and along streams. 　　H. melpomene is an ecological host plant specialist in Central America, where it only feeds on either Passiflora oerstedii or Passiflora menispermifolia. In other parts of the range however it is more of a … Read more

　 　Great Southern Whites tend to be wanderers. Individuals often disperse, but the species is known for massive emigrations where thousands leave to colonize new territory. Coastal movement is common, and some years they travel inland, using a variety of weedy mustard plants for reproduction. Jim Egbert, who documented Great Southern Whites in Alabama, observed such a mass movement in June 2016. He reported seeing hundreds flying in south Baldwin County, and at times, was able to see three “whites” together: Cabbage, Checkered, and Great Southern. In the fall, Great Southern Whites often make a backward trek. These butterflies cannot … Read more

Host Plants Skip to Host Plants Buckeye caterpillars are solitary and mostly feed on the weed plantain and on Gerardia, grown for its showy flowers. It also feeds on snapdragon, toadflax and other native weeds. Buckeye butterflies visit numerous weedy and ornamental flowers. Residential Recommendation Skip to Residential Recommendation Because plantain is not a particularly desirable plant in the landscape, should buckeye caterpillars be noticed on it, no control seems necessary. When buckeye caterpillars are found causing actual damage to snapdragon or Gerardia, use Sevin or some other insecticide labeled for use in the landscape. Common Name：Buckeye The Buckeye occurs at all … Read more

How to identify Apart from the very rare large blue, the chalkhill blue is our largest blue butterfly. Males are silvery-blue with a dark brown border and a white fringe on the wings. The females are brown with a white fringe to the wings and a blue dusting near the body. They look similar to common blue females, but are larger and have chequered wing fringes. The orange wing spots are also less obvious in the female chalkhill blue. As its name suggests, the Chalk Hill Blue is found on chalk downland, although limestone downland is also used. The adult … Read more

Brown Hairstreak Obsession The Brown Hairstreak is one of our most elusive yet most conspicuous butterflies. The adult is rarely seen but the egg is easily found.It is an attractive butterfly, the female especially delightful with a warm golden underside with a patch of the same striking hue on the upper-side of the fore-wings. Aside from the golden patch the upper-sides are dark brown. Males look similar, but the underside gold is paler and the fore-wing patch paler and reduced or absent. The reddish-gold tails on the hind-wings add to its charms. The legs are a striking white, resembling starched … Read more

　　The Brown argus favours open, chalk and limestone grasslands, but can also be spotted on coastal dunes, in woodland clearings and along disused railways. 　　The Brown argus is a small butterfly that is on the wing throughout the summer, between May and September. Adults feed on Common Rock-rose, which is also the caterpillars’ foodplant, together with various species like Crane’s-bills. The Brown argus is found in dry, sunny and open habitats, including heathland and downland, and seems to be expanding its range as the climate warms up. 　　How to identify 　　The Brown argus has bronzy-brown upperwings with an orange band … Read more

How rare is a brimstone butterfly? Usually seen in ones or twos, they are never very common, but are widespread. They can be found in damp woodlands, along sunny, woodland rides and mature hedgerows, and in large gardens. Why is it called a brimstone butterfly? The brimstone is thought to be the original butterfly, named for the yellow colour of the male. Brimstone is an old name for sulphur, the colour which perfectly matches the male’s wings. The brimstone is sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females are different. What are the predators of the brimstone butterfly? Predators. Like most woodland … Read more