I'm too old to learn. My brain is tired. I really wanted to learn more about the butterflies and skippers I see, but after getting this wonderful butterfly book (more than 2,300 images) I feel more confused than I was when I just tried Googling things like "orange butterfly" and looking at the images. My usual trip the Harman Arboretum on Thursday offered me several subjects to test my mental skills on.....hmmmmmm.....
Clouded Sulphur! I had to start with something easy so I would not feel totally stupid by the time I was done.
There was a beautiful Painted Lady flitting around. I had heard that there were two different "Lady" butterflies.....the American Lady and the Painted Lady, so which did I have and had I ever seen the other one.
This view is not much help, but butterflies do not like to cooperate.
According to my new Kaufman book this is a Painted Lady due to the 4 small eye spots on the hindwing.
I hunted through earlier butterfly visits and found this one that is an American Lady! It has 2 large eye spots on the hindwing. Ah, ha! I can see the difference! Maybe I'm learning something after all!
Clouded Sulphur! I had to start with something easy so I would not feel totally stupid by the time I was done.
There was a beautiful Painted Lady flitting around. I had heard that there were two different "Lady" butterflies.....the American Lady and the Painted Lady, so which did I have and had I ever seen the other one.
This view is not much help, but butterflies do not like to cooperate.
According to my new Kaufman book this is a Painted Lady due to the 4 small eye spots on the hindwing.
I hunted through earlier butterfly visits and found this one that is an American Lady! It has 2 large eye spots on the hindwing. Ah, ha! I can see the difference! Maybe I'm learning something after all!I should have quit while I was ahead.
I see lots of Skippers at this garden. This little beauty appears to be a Peck's Skipper! I learned that the ones that sit in the "jet plane" position are "grass skippers". I've seen that and wondered about it. Will have to look back at some old posts now that I know that.
Well, when I looked in Kaufman at the hundreds of photos of skippers I knew I was in trouble. I've looked at dozens of photos and still don't know what this one is......Clouded Skipper? some sort of Duskywing??
It actually opened up for me and I still don't know what it is. Sigh. I think I'll just call it "Medium Brown Skipper With Dark Spots and a Few White Spots". Works for me!
And this one??.....Brown....definitely brown.....definitely a skipper.
Here are a lovely pair(?) I was going to say the dark one on the right was a Swarthy Skipper but maybe that is the one on the left? Or not? I do notice the sort of "cropped" look the body has...whatever that means.
My brain just froze up, and my eyes are crossing.........
OK.....lets look at flowers instead!
This is a Sunflower....a different darker sort, but a Sunflower!
This is a Snapdragon! A Pink Snapdragon! They sort of look like butterflies...right?
Oh, boy....another Snapdragon! With a bug in it.
OK.....I know this one.....Cabbage White!
Tried to get an open wing shot as it flew away.....make this one the rare "Unfocused Version of the Cabbage White"!
I see lots of Skippers at this garden. This little beauty appears to be a Peck's Skipper! I learned that the ones that sit in the "jet plane" position are "grass skippers". I've seen that and wondered about it. Will have to look back at some old posts now that I know that.
Well, when I looked in Kaufman at the hundreds of photos of skippers I knew I was in trouble. I've looked at dozens of photos and still don't know what this one is......Clouded Skipper? some sort of Duskywing??
It actually opened up for me and I still don't know what it is. Sigh. I think I'll just call it "Medium Brown Skipper With Dark Spots and a Few White Spots". Works for me!
And this one??.....Brown....definitely brown.....definitely a skipper.
Here are a lovely pair(?) I was going to say the dark one on the right was a Swarthy Skipper but maybe that is the one on the left? Or not? I do notice the sort of "cropped" look the body has...whatever that means.My brain just froze up, and my eyes are crossing.........
OK.....lets look at flowers instead!
This is a Sunflower....a different darker sort, but a Sunflower!
This is a Snapdragon! A Pink Snapdragon! They sort of look like butterflies...right?
Oh, boy....another Snapdragon! With a bug in it.
OK.....I know this one.....Cabbage White! 
Tried to get an open wing shot as it flew away.....make this one the rare "Unfocused Version of the Cabbage White"!I think I'll hide my butterfly book for awhile and go back to Google......."white butterfly with dark spot".
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15 comments:
So many pretties! All great shots! I particularly like the lighting on the "Medium Brown Skipper With Dark Spots and a Few White Spots."
Pretty snapdragons. I must remember to plant some of those next spring!
You have set yourself up for a mammoth taks Mary. Some species differ with just one small dot in one place. I don't know how people learn all these in anycase. My brain is definitely too small and old for this. :) Best of luck!!
You have some stunning images here.
Insects are mind boggling when it comes to identity! I was all enthused at first ... but there are SO many variations and .... that I now say, isn't it pretty or interesting and leave it at that.
Good Luck with your new book! There are so many kinds it's hard for me to identify them! Great series of pictures!!!
Lindy: I was just tickled that it opened up for a change. Most of the skippers, I only see the closed version of the wings.
Joan: What...the "Bug Lady" doesn't want to identify each one??? I'm shocked! LOL!
Cicero: I'm with you! Identifying the real big ones isn't so bad...so far....but those little ones are the pits to figure out and I don't think I am going to try real hard...it takes the enjoyment out :-) Beauty is good enough on its own without a name.
Dorothy: I think all the book really does is convince me that I see a lot more different ones that I thought! I'm happy to just see them and enjoy them.
Oh my gosh....you first couple of sentences made me laugh. I feel the same way. I found a book called "Butterflies of Ohio," and that has helped me. I start small and then move to the larger books! You have some lovely, lovely shots here!!
Mary: What a great butterfly show, I haven't seen a lot this year. I learn so much from your posts.
Oh Mary,you made me smile.I too have a new butterfly book,BUT,like you am even more confused now than before.Sigh!Whatever the names they look pretty.The sunflower is quite unique,I like it.
Blessings,Ruth
I'm proud of you for learning so much about butterflies and skippers. I predict you'll have these identifications down in no time. Me? I'll stick with "Medium Brown Skipper with Dark Spots and a Few White Spots"!
You know, no matter what their name, they are all beautiful!
Kelly: I need to find some books that are specific for Indiana...a bit less to look through!
Tom: The only reason that I see so many is that I found two places they really like....this arboretum garden and the "butterfly road"....which is a gravel road running through a wooded area, if you know a place like that to try.
Ruth: I don't think I realized just how many butterflies there are in the entire North America! I should have looked for an Eastern half or even just my state or the midwest. I think the main reason I try to name things, is because others ask me what they are and I don't know and I think I should try to be more helpful in my blog for those who don't know this area.
George: Thanks! I don't think my knowledge will win any prizes so far, but I did find out a few general things.
Rose: I'm with you on that! I think I'll just call them "beautiful butterfly #1, #2, etc. :-)
Simply put a lovely series of butterfly shots...but is one a Moth? the darker colored one in the middle of your series...I'm just curious to know. Your flowers are lovely.
That's how we all learn, Mary... Glad you are trying... I know it's difficult. I just know how much trouble I have sometimes identifying the birds. Heaven help me IF I tried to learn the butterflies... ha
Thanks for sharing. They are ALL gorgeous.
Hugs,
Betsy
I think you did great Mary. All your pictures are so wonderful. We just don't have the Butterflies this year. Way too wet and cold I guess. I should have seen lots more by this time, and I only have one Monarch caterpillar. At least I can see yours.
B.
Nature as is: Could be! I'm never sure what is a butterfly and what is a moth. I just lump them all together.
Betsy: Birds are certainly easier than butterflies or dragonflies. I should have stuck with birds!
Becky: You may only have one, but that one is really interesting and I look forward to it opening!
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