Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
This week the most prevalent butterfly in my garden was the Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) of which I counted 5 on 4 different days throughout the week (06/06/2021 – 06/11/2021).
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
Aside from the easily recognizable Silver-spotted Skipper, identifying most of the skippers is a challenge. iNaturalist suggests possibilities and I am tentatively calling this Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho), hoping for a confirmation. I saw a similar one the next day, but couldn’t get close enough for a photo. There usually are many skippers but I’ve never recorded this kind before, so am skeptical. [UPDATE: 6-17-2021 ID from Carolina Leps confirms as Southern Broken-Dash, a first for me.]
Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho) ???
On June 8 and 11 I encountered the first Duskywings of the year. iNaturalist has not been much help so far in identifying these either. I tentatively listed one as Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco) and the second as Horace’s Duskywing -(E. horatius), but my photographs are not very clear. I thinks it’s possible they could be the same individual. [UPDATE: 6-17-2021 ID from Carolina Leps suggest this is probably Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius).]
Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco) ??? June 8, 2021 Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)
Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) ??? June 11, 2021
On each of 3 days I encountered a Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). This little butterfly flits all over the garden and has been difficult to photograph. In the shortest amount of time it lands briefly on clover or grass, mulch, iris and penstemon leaves, not caring it could have a lovely portrait made if it would just be still! One finally slowed down a fraction to nectar on the butterfly bush.
Common Buckeye – Junonia coenia
Common Buckeye – Junonia coenia
While fretting around the butterfly bush trying to photograph the buckeye I enjoyed the happenstance of a cool moth sighting. I managed a few images of a Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) (June 11, 2021). Gotta love those wings!
Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)
Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)
Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)
My favorite butterfly visitor this week was on 6/9/2021, another Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), the third in the garden this year. Its colors were so rich as if it were freshly inked!
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
There were flowers happening throughout the garden too which I will share another time. Off to attend the Plant Symposium. Enjoy your weekend!
pbmGarden 
You are getting a nice collection of butterflies. You should do a finally post featuring all of them. Your hummingbird moth is so colorful. The ones I have seen here are mostly brown.
Thanks Judy. Trying to keep up with the butterfly sightings as I go this year and maybe I’ll get in a summary one at the end. It’s so hard to go back and find them later. Aren’t the hummingbird moths great? This one did have nice color.
All beautiful photo captures, Susie! My favorite is the Pipevine Swallowtail, something I’ve never seen here.
Kris, that Pipevine is a chameleon — it changes color, shape and pattern depending on how it’s viewed.
The PVST is gorgeous, and the clearwing is pretty cool, too. You’ve got the right flowers to attract them!
Looking forward to reading about your symposium. 🙂
I love the pipevine too. The blue is just breathtaking. The symposium was good, some parts were more detailed than I as a home gardener could appreciate, but immersion in plants for a day was a lovely experience. One of the most interesting was a man in Norway who coined the term Edimentals (edible ornamentals). He forages his yard for his food. His garden is full of trees and his website has tons of articles, photos (look for salads), and things like forest gardening. Some of his salads composed of items from his garden have had more than 500 species, but I can’t seem to post the specific link just now. Search for edimentals dot com in google
Permaculture is on the rise! Thanks for the suggestion.
This is great.
Thanks Flower, I’ve had so much fun chasing these butterflies.
Wow yes, the pipevine swallowtail is perfect! You say you struggled getting a few of them to sit for their photo but it looks like it worked out. My pictures are always blurry!
What a nice range of butterflies, your garden is really pulling them in. Things are still quiet here with just a few wandering through, but hopefully that picks up soon.
Frank, I got lots of blurry pictures too. So easy to keep taking them on iPhone instead of being more careful, but with strong sunlight I could hardly see the digital display so was snapping pictures wildly. Next day I had a very calm buckeye and got some nice closeups. Hope you get lots of good butterflies stopping by.
The Swallowtail has such beautiful colours, but the Hummingbird Clearwing has won me over. What a gorgeous little creature! I always think Hummingbird moths look cuddly with their furry bodies. 😉 Your photos are great Susie. It is so hard to get good shots of most butterflies and you are clearly patient enough to persevere.
Cathy, I agree the Hummingbird Clearwing is particularly special. I am so glad the iphone cameras are so good. I can just keep snapping away and select later. (Doesn’t always work though.)
I think I’ve seen a total of two so far this year so thanks for sharing yours especially the last one. Now, that is a beauty.
Hope your butterfly visitors pick up. I am trying hard to go out at the hottest part of the day to just scout around. Lots more bees here than butterflies.
You’re getting a lot more butterflies than we are, though there is a Monarch that’s been hanging around. Great shots of the Clearwing.
We’re all rooting for monarchs.