Recent sightings

MJV Meeting

MJV Meeting

Warmed to about 76 degrees & the butterflies were at their peak about noon. Much more diversity today. Some were enjoying neighbor’s fall blooming azeleas.

Seen flying in the traffic circle to Orchard Beach. Surprised it was still alive after the frost a couple days ago.

Digging out more cannas on a beautiful fall day - low 60’s, sunny with winds 5 MPH. First butterfly of the day, Common Buckeye, but the second one was a Sleepy Orange. That was very unexpected. This is the first Sleepy Orange seen here since 11/2 but the 7th sighting this year. I am hoping to have the correct senna for them next year to mate and lay eggs here. Also male and female Cloudless Sulphurs here and the male kept trying to mate. Most of my nectar is either snapdragons or little tiny yellow flowers in the grass. The male Sachem was also in a mating mood. Total of 10 species flying. 5 Common Buckeye, 3 Black Swallowtail and 1 Monarch caterpillars continue along with overwintering 6 Spicebush Swallowtail chrysalis.

First cold morning with low of 38 degrees. But as soon as the sun was up good the butterflies were flying! They are enjoying our neighbors azeleas that bloom Spring and Fall and our Passion Vine blooms, Gallarida and Zinnias.

(21-289). Full sun, warm, with a slight breeze. Lantana bushes in bloom. Sleepy morning coming into bloom - soon to be a large hatch of Mallow Scrub-Hairstreaks.

(11-130). Walked out the Pinellas Trail a mile and a half and back. Cloudy skies the entire time. Found a new, northern-most Pinellas location for Three-spotted Skipper.

recent frost killed most nectar sources

90 degrees and sunny. The butterfly garden had butterflies but the rest of the park had almost no butterflies because of drought. The butterfly garden is watered. This Gray Hairstreak has lost his false head at the rear of the hindwing. We found 29 species.

Sunny, breezy, 85 degrees

36°-63° under mostly cloudy skies and light air movement. Catmint plant, Dandelion and very few other nectar sources available today.