The Yellow and Winding Road
Painted Lady on Hollyhock
(Vanessa cardui on Alcea rosea)
© Mother Nature, 2009
(Yellow Roads Abstract by Leaf Miner)
(Vanessa cardui on Alcea rosea)
(Yellow Roads Abstract by Leaf Miner)
The Hairstreak... an unassuming Superhero?
This brave and daring Hairstreak goes eye to eye with a Tarantula Hawk.
California Native Mallow, one of the Hairstreak's many host plants.
This Sylvan Hairstreak survived an attack. Heads predator wins, tails he loses!
A hairy Hairstreak rests on California Buckwheat.
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio cresphontes) lay their eggs on the tender young leaves of many types of citrus, including Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit and Kumquat. The Giant Swallowtail Caterpillars feeds on the leaves of the citrus tree until pupating and emerging as one of the North America’s largest butterflies.
Damaged Citrus Leaves due to the Citrus Leafminer
In the last several years the influx of the Citrus Leafminer has left little food for the larva of these large graceful butterflies. The Citrus Leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella) also lays it’s egss on citrus. The Citrus Leafminer is a very small, light colored moth. Their newly emerged larvae immediately begin feeding on the leaves and “mine” themselves inside the top or bottom layer of the citrus leaf, causing the leaves to curl and harden making them inedible for the caterpillar of the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly.
Please don’t spray citrus trees with insecticides, instead use Blue Sticky Traps or Citrus Leafminer Pheromone Traps which attract the male citrus Leafminer and help to reduce the population and reproduction of these pests.
Protect the tender new growth of your citrus tree for the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly and help create a friendlier environment for the these lovely butterflies!
For more information on ecologically sound pest management visit the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) web site.
Kristen gives a Butterfly Presentation at the Los Angeles Arboretum
Everybody loves to learn about lepidopetera and Kristen enjoys teaching people about them. “Educating others about butterflies is so rewarding! Butterflies are fascinating and fun to learn about and having an understanding of their life cycle also helps to raise awareness of the delicate balance of nature.”
I know I resemble a snake or a manatee but can you guess who I really am? Do you know exactly what species I will turn out to be. Leave a comment with your best guess, but hurry I will be revealing my true identity soon!
I am starting to change… Do you recognize me still? I am a different color now but have the same melancholy lavender eyespots. I have turned brown because I am no longer grazing and resting upon green leaves. Now I am a stealthy climber looking for a place to safely switch my identity. I don’t want anybody to see me as I move about the dark colored branches.
Ok, I am guessing you may really have a hard time knowing me now. I have not only lost my lavender eyes but my legs too. Scary Looking Tree Bark is my new look, quite the trend in the Chrysalis World and camouflaging too! Hope you like it and if you think this is cool just wait until you see what I do next!
Oh, there’s a bit of chill in the air now and the days have grown shorter! I have a feeling if I emerge from my chrysalis at this time I won’t have any friends to flutter with. Think I will stay as I am over winter, patiently waiting, resting inside my cozy shelter.
I will dream of the suns warm rays gently awakening me from my slumber. I can feel the winds raising me up to dance with the heavens. Upon bright wings, gracefully I will soar, adorning skies and embracing sweet flowers. I am boundless and free as a Butterfly.
Look to the skies and watch for me and my friends, we will be in flight come springtime.
