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Tag Archives: butterflies
Today’s Critters
Today was a beautiful day and I was able to spend a little time wandering around with my camera. There were lots of cool insects out. This viceroy was taking nectar from rattlesnake master. An eastern tiger swallowtail was working … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, insects
Tagged ambush bug, butterflies, Dragonflies, macro photography
2 Comments
Recent Butterflies
Butterflies are less common this year than most. Still, there are some good ones out there. This is a summer azure, one of the two most common blue butterflies in Iowa. You can tell the difference between them by how … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, eastern tailed-blue, Silver-spotted skipper
Tagged butterflies, macro photography, nature, summer azure
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Arkansas Butterflies
Last week my coworkers and I left a cold, rainy Iowa and drove to Arkansas to take some classes. It was warm and sunny down there, and after the classes were over we had a little time to ourselves. Others … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, photography, Uncategorized
Tagged butterflies, macro photography
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The Ninth Annual Day of Insects
Yesterday and Friday I went to the Ninth Annual Day of Insects, hosted by Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa. I have posted about this event in the past, but it keeps getting better and better. This event is about insect … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, Uncategorized
Tagged butterflies, conservation, Day of Insects, nature events
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Wet Tree Watch
It is that time of the year, or at least almost that time of year. Watch for wet trees. Here in Iowa most of the trees are deciduous. The leaves fell from the branches last year, and the sap is … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, insects, rural
Tagged butterflies, February, spring, tree sap, wet trees
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Failed at Frogger
Life is made mostly of proteins. Protein is about 16% nitrogen. Plants convert sunlight into sugars, and the structures of plants are made of cellulose. Sugars and cellulose don’t contain nitrogen. As a result, plants contain a significantly lower percentage … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, Uncategorized
Tagged butterflies, hackberry emperor, macro photography, nature
2 Comments
LBJs
Butterfliers have a term (probably borrowed from the birders) for butterflies that are difficult to identify. “LBJ” stands for “little brown job.” In the last few days I have been photographing some butterflies that can best be called LBJs. They … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, butterfly surveys, Uncategorized
Tagged butterflies, lbj skippers, macro photography, witches
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A Day Spent Chasing Butterflies
I went to Rolling Thunder and Medora Prairies in south-central Iowa yesterday. I will be inviting people along with me on a butterfly walk in a couple of weeks (July 2), and I thought I would check things out before … Continue reading
Posted in butterflies, butterfly surveys
Tagged butterflies, Regal Fritillary, wild turkey
2 Comments
Some Butterflies and a Fly
Today was very hot and humid. But it was a great day for taking pictures of butterflies and other insects. This is a hackberry emperor. Today was the first time I have seen this species this year. These small woodland … Continue reading
Posted in Biological diversity, butterflies
Tagged butterflies, insects, long-legged fly, macro photography
1 Comment
A Little Dose of Butterfly
I spent about six and a half hours in a car today–most of it for work. Nothing wears me out quite as much as driving or riding in a car for hours. My muscles stiffen up and I find it … Continue reading
