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Omaha, Nebraska
August 1-7, 2011
Backyard butterfly weekly list. Number indicates the number of days sighted. Names in bold represent new sightings for the year.
Butterflies:
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (6)
Monarch(6)
Black Swallowtail
Cabbage White (2)
Red Admiral (1)
Question Mark (1)
Painted Lady (1)
Orange Sulphur (1)
Skippers:
Silver-spotted Skipper (5)
Least Skipper (1)
Peck's Skipper (1)
Tiger Swallowtails continue to be the dominant butterfly in the yard. The other day there were four feeding at the butterfly bush at one time. No Blues last week. That is the first time in the last 3 weeks that family has no been represented. I continue to be surprised by the lack of Red Admirals.
I recently found this gaggle of Black Swallowtail caterpillars feasting on some dill. Black Swallowtails lay their eggs singly, so it is unusual to find so many together. One morning they were there and later that afternoon they were all gone. Makes me wonder sometimes how we ever get adult butterflies at all.
No clearwing moths last week. Disappointing, but not surprising. They have never been common in this area.
So, what are you seeing in your area?