Clouded Sulphur Butterfly

The markings of the Clouded Sulphur are quite similar to those of an Orange Sulphur, however, there is no orange on this butterfly and its yellow colouring is very light and almost faded looking. As well, the post median markings on the hind wing do not seem as prominent as those of a Orange Sulphur. At first I thought perhaps this might be a Pink-edged Sulphur as the pink edging and head on this butterfly is very strong but the central spot on the hind wing is double whereas the spot on the hind wing of the Pink-edged is a single one. Also the Pink-edged sulphur has no hind wing post median spots.

Scallop Shell Moth

Male Monarch Butterfly

My search for Monarch Butterflies was rewarded yesterday when I visited a Milkweed Patch where I had seen this species last summer. I saw two Monarchs when I arrived and was able to get a photo of the male which is pictured here. I do not know if the second Monarch was male or female but plan on checking out this location further another day.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

The first I encountered a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth it was resting on a Tomato plant in my garden a few years ago. The one pictured here is feeding on Milkweed blossoms. My earliest sightings of this species this year was when our Lilac bushes were in bloom and these moths were found there.

Primrose Moth [Schinia florida]

The first time I had seen a Primrose Moth I thought I had discovered a new wildflower; a beautiful yellow one with a pink center! On closer examination though I found a pink Primrose Moth in its center. Ever since then, I often check out Primrose to see if there is a small moth nestled there.

Striped Hairstreak

While standing in my yard taking pictures of baby Tree Swallows in their birdhouse above I caught a glimpse of a small dark butterfly in the bushes beside me. A first sighting ever of a Striped Hairstreak.

Spotted Tussock Moth

Last week I had found a Rosy Maple Moth at a gas station near by. This week I found a Spotted Tussock Moth there. This very pretty yellow

moth also has an attractive looking caterpillar within its life cycle. I found a picture of a Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar in my picture archives which I had taken in August 2001.

Fritillaries, American Copper, Pearly-eye and Red Admiral

Great Spangled Fritillary

Red Admiral

Northern Pearly-eye

Aphrodite Fritillary

American Copper

Virginian Tiger Moth Laying Eggs

This is the third Virginian Tiger Moth I have seen recently. When I took this picture it seemed like there was some sort of white smudging underneath the moth. After downloading the photos I could see that there were actually a whole lot of eggs there. I enlarged a portion of the picture to show the light green ball shaped egg. If you double-click on the photo you will get a larger view of it. The eggs which are successfully hatched will develop into Yellow Bear Caterpillars.

Northern Pearly-eye

At first I had thought this was an Eyed Brown but after researching I have decided that it is a Northern Pearly-eye. The Pearly-eye has a continous white line surrounding the submarginal eye spots whereas the Eyed Brown does not. I first saw this butterfly flitting about my back deck and then, luckily for me, it few into my back porch and landed on the window there. After taking its picture I picked it up and released it outdoors.

Rosy Maple Moth [Dryocampa rubicunda]

I had only seen this moth species once before and that was in the early 2000's. Yesterday we had stopped at a gas station and there were several Rosy Maple Moths on the outside wall of the building. A welcomed sighting of a very colourful moth.

Virginia Tiger Moth [Spilosoma virginica]

Smith's Dart [Xestia smithii]

False Crocus Geometer Moth [Xanthotype urticaria]

I glimpsed this attractive yellow moth flying in the early evening with sunlight shining through it wings. I followed it over the grass until it finally settled in one stationary spot on my lawn; then hoping it would stay in that location I ran to get my camera and it was still there when I got back. One of the foods this False Crocus Geometer Moth feeds on is Ground Ivy and we have a plentiful supply of that small wildflower in our yard.

Butterflies Seen - June 22

Silver-bordered Fritillary
Little Wood-Satyr
White Admiral

Northern Cloudywing

Common Ringlet

Unidentified Moths

I haven't found a name for this moth yet (shown on the left), so I would appreciate any help in identifying it. It was very small; about 1/2 inch in width. I found it on a very dry, hilside meadow on June 11.

The second moth pictured here is another that I cannot identify. It was larger than the first one pictured above. I found this moth in a grassy meadow on June 12.

I think the moth pictured to the left is the same species as the moth shown in the top picture above though this moth seemed quite a bit larger than the first one shown. I see this moth often during my daytime meadow walks.

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

I took this photo while this Canadian Tiger Swallowtail was feeding on the Lilac bushes in our yard. Swallowtails are abuntant in our area at this time of year.

Variegated Orange Moth [Epelis truncataria]

I saw this moth along the Mud Lake Nature Trail in Quispamsis on May 25 '07. Searching for similar moth images on the internet I found a match with the name, Variegated Orange Moth.

This moth was very small, about the same size as a small skipper. The patterning was very bright and reminded me of woven yarn.

Viceroy

Very beautiful and fresh loooking with very strong, rich colours; it looks like it has perhaps just recently emerged from its cocoon. This Viceroy Butterfly was found in an open meadow nearby a river on June 13th.

To the right is a Viceroy Caterpillar which I had photographed in July, 2006.

Northern Crescent - June 07, 2007

Northern Crescent and Pearl Crescents are very similar and are sometimes confused with one being id'ed with the other.. The Northern Crescent is found in a more northern range such as our area is, tho some of their areas overlap each other. The wingspan of a Northern Crescent is from about 1 1/2 inches or more in full width.