Or something like that…
Does anyone know what species this is?
(The composition was actually noticed by April, so the credit for the idea goes to her.)
Or something like that…
Does anyone know what species this is?
(The composition was actually noticed by April, so the credit for the idea goes to her.)
Looking through my Peterson Field Guide, I’d say it’s either an Emperor or a Fritillary. I’m leaning Emperor.
I would have guessed a Monarch.
Nice picture. 🙂
I can’t tell for sure, but I think it’s an Agraulis vanillae vanillae
Hackberry Emperor according to my 4-H entomology handbook, which was published in the 70s but hasn’t failed me yet. Pictures of yours that I have seen taken in rural settings lead me to believe that you have a low spot that’s swampy or a creek or branch nearby. Similar territory at the farm where I keep my range sees these little fellows in droves. Up against the creek there are a lot of Hackberry trees and I would reckon that’s where the name comes from. According to my little handbook they do well in drought seasons because their host trees are well suited to drought conditions. this would jive with my observations of their numbers.
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