Nature Blog: Fall Butterflies Plus
Ranger Greg from the Museum of Life and Science reports on the butterflies and other wildlife active during the early fall heat. Despite temperatures in the 90s, meteorological fall has begun, and several butterfly species are braving the heat. Painted lady butterflies, which are migratory in North America, move north from the southwest following food sources, sometimes in large numbers. Black swallowtails are common in gardens where host plants like dill and carrots are grown. Cabbage whites, a non-native species, are also frequently seen. The summer brood of eastern tiger swallowtails is larger than the spring brood, with females sometimes appearing as dark morphs. Fiery skippers, small fold-wing skippers, are common, as are monarchs, pearl crescents, sleepy oranges, silver-spotted skippers, and eastern tailed-blues. The article also mentions annual cicadas, known as dog-day cicadas, which emerge when the Dog Star Sirius rises with the sun, and green tree frogs, including a juvenile and an adult with a coppery color, found in the wetlands. Ranger Greg encourages readers to explore nature despite the heat.
Key facts
- Ranger Greg is a museum naturalist at the Museum of Life and Science.
- Temperatures are in the 90s, but meteorological fall has begun.
- Painted lady butterflies are migratory in North America, moving north from the southwest.
- Black swallowtails are attracted to plants in the carrot family, such as dill and fennel.
- Cabbage white butterflies are a non-native species.
- Eastern tiger swallowtails have a larger summer brood; spring individuals are smaller due to overwintering as pupae.
- Fiery skippers are common at this time of year.
- Monarchs are orange and black butterflies, well-known to everyone.
- Pearl crescents are smaller than monarchs and painted ladies, often found low to the ground.
- Sleepy orange butterflies are sulphurs, with color compared to Cheetos.
- Silver-spotted skippers are large, swift, with a white splotch on hindwings.
- Eastern tailed-blues are small, low-flying; males are blue above, females brown/gray.
- Annual cicadas, also called dog-day cicadas, emerge when Sirius rises with the sun.
- Green tree frog juveniles are seen on buttonbush leaves in the wetlands.
- An adult green tree frog showed a coppery color, possibly to match background.
- The article is from the Nature Blog on lifeandscience.org.
- The post appeared first on the Museum of Life and Science website.
Entities
Artists
- Ranger Greg
Institutions
- Museum of Life and Science