The silver-spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus, has been missing around here this year. Today I spotted a few working the wild bergamot.
They spend ten seconds or less on each flower, but usually don’t move too far to the next, so with luck and persistence you can get close. You need to move slowly, but be ready to make decisions quickly, and move fast when you have to.
Things were a little more difficult today because of the chain reaction of small grasshoppers. I could move and not spook the butterfly, but my movements would spook grasshoppers which jumped and startled many others, which would startle the butterfly.
I never did get quite the photo I wanted, but I was able to get close.
Silver-spotted skippers are flying fireplugs–they fly with an energy not seen in most other butterflies. They are quite charming.
The roused bear 