Tag Archives: painted lady

Finding Nature Where You Find It

Posted on April 25, 2019 by the roused bear

I have recently moved from an apartment complex to a house in the small town of Woodward, Iowa.  The house is a great improvement over the cramped apartment I was living in.  I have a yard, but it is a … Continue reading →

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More Bug Watching

Posted on October 2, 2017 by the roused bear

Thistles are spectacular for their ability to attract butterflies and other pollinators.  When the thistles are at their peak, they attract not only the largest, most beautiful butterflies, but also the smaller skippers and bees, wasps, and flies of all … Continue reading →

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When Butterfly Photography is Easy

Posted on September 7, 2017 by the roused bear

Butterfly photography is often a challenge.  It can be difficult to get close enough to an individual to get a good shot.  If you scare it away, it will be a while before you get close to another one. Not … Continue reading →

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Recent Butterflies

Posted on June 11, 2017 by the roused bear

The last couple of days has been very hot with strong winds.  The winds make the butterflies less likely to fly around like they normally do.  When they do take to the wing they are obviously bothered by it.  They … Continue reading →

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Not So Many Butterflies

Posted on September 20, 2013 by the roused bear

Most years find September a great time for butterflies.  During a normal year, I would find dozens or hundreds of butterflies competing for the nectar resources of asters in my prairie. Tonight I only found three.  Two orange sulfurs and … Continue reading →

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So Little Time

Posted on September 10, 2012 by the roused bear

Things get a little rushed this time of year.  Yesterday we spent most of the day in a city a couple of hours away watching soccer games. The light fades faster in the fall.  Tonight when I got home I … Continue reading →

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Another Day, Another Butterfly

Posted on July 29, 2012 by the roused bear

I did some butterfly chasing this afternoon and got a photograph of this painted lady, Vanessa cardui.   Painted ladies can be very common but there aren’t so many right now. Butterfly photography, at least the way I do it, requires … Continue reading →

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Even More Butterflies

Posted on April 25, 2012 by the roused bear

If you have been following my comments, you might think that red admirals are the only butterflies around.  That could not be farther from the truth.  There have been greater than normal numbers of several species of butterfly.  You do … Continue reading →

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Butterfly Survey Results–Lots of butterflies this year.

Posted on August 8, 2010 by the roused bear

I have been doing butterfly surveys for the past eight years–mostly informally.  I do report the results of some of them to the Iowa Butterfly Survey Network, which is associated with Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University. I have been … Continue reading →

Posted in butterflies, butterfly surveys, common buckeye, insects, monarch, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments