Leapin' Lepidopterans!

Some of the butterflies and moths that can be found in the back yard here.

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Banded Hairstreak, Satyrium calanus.




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Cabbage White, Pieris rapae. One of the most common butterflies in the area, you can often see whole flocks of them fluttering about. Also one of the most hated by farmers, as the caterpillars tend to destroy crops.




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Common Buckeye, Junonia coenia.




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Great Spangled Fritillary, Speyeria cybele.






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Hummingbird Clearwing, Hemaris thysbe. One of my favourites. When you first see one, you're trying to figure out whether or not it is a big bee or a hummingbird. They don't land on flowers, but hover over them to feed.








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Luna Moth, Actias luna. Probably the largest type of moth or butterfly here; this one was about eight inches from wingtip to wingtip. They're nocturnal, so this one had chosen a bush in a church's front alcove as a place to nap.






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Monarch, Danaus plexippus. Probably one of the most famous types of butterfly, particularly well known for its migration.






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Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor.






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Question Mark, Polygonia interrogationis.




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Red-Spotted Purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax.




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Silver-Spotted Skipper, Epargyreus clarus.




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Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus. The official state insect of Virginia.




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Unknown beasties: