A patch of thistle was growing at the edge of a parking area at Santee National Wildlife Refuge, Cuddo Unit. I suspect it was planted or at least encouraged by human intervention: it was a little too neat to be just wild.
An assortment of insects were working the thistle blooms, with a Black Swallowtail standing out.
The blooms were in all stages of development, some well on their way to releasing seeds for a new crop.
A pair of Black Swallowtails were doing their thing along the edge of a pond.
Quick poses then flitting along at full speed constituted much of the action.
Then they stopped for an interaction, somewhat shielded from my view by tall grass.
I liked the intersection of the curlicue vine with the butterfly’s antennae and the nicer view of the blue wing spots in this last image.
April 28. 2020
I’ve used the ButterfliesandMoths.org website to help identify this butterfly where the Pearl Crescent description starts off:
Identification: Quite variable.
The other factors of size (Wing Span: 1 1/4 – 1 3/4 inches (3.2 – 4.5 cm), habitat and range seem to fit, so I give this as a probably ID.
I regret that I didn’t notice the water drops on the blade of grass at the time and get a better composition. However, I had just narrowly avoided stepping on a large black snake and I wasn’t keen on moving into the tall grass.
March 26, 2020
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
The four or five Swallowtails flitting around these thistle plants flew off when I drove by. I had room to stop, walked back and waited.
After a few minutes one returned and continued probing the thistle.
These butterflies were competing with some other flying insects, the tail end of one can be seen here sticking up out of the flower.
We had frost Sunday and Monday night so I was surprised to see a Gulf Fritillary out and about today.
It was warmer, but windy, and he was working hard to stay on the flowers at the top of the Lantana.
Swamp sunflowers attract all kinds of insects including this Gulf Fritillary and a tiny photobombing one at the butterfly’s feet.
It’s fall and the Gulf Fritillaries are flitting around in the beach dunes.
This one was mostly showing off his underside, which is intricately patterned and very different than the upper side.
September 24, 2019, Kiawah Beach Dunes
Red was the favorite for this Palamedes Swallowtail as he zipped around the brilliant Lantana blossoms.
This garden area had some orange and pink zinnias and other annuals but this butterfly kept coming back to the red.
Head on images of wildlife rarely end up looking good, but I liked this view with the wings folded and antennae out.
The butterfly then turned a bit to the side showing off his long legs. If you zoom in you can see he’s picked up some pollen in his travels, too.
Click any image for a larger view.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, August 27, 2019.
Bouncing gently on a grass frond this Common Buckeye seemed quite content to stay put.
This bit of tall grass was within a mowed area that I was able to walk around the other side and still he didn’t move.
I haven’t seen many butterflies this summer and it was nice to watch this one for several minutes.
This Black Swallowtail Butterfly flitted along on the outside of the plants lining the walkway as I went along the edge of the pond, obscuring my view. Finally he landed in a fern and seemed to peak through the fronds.
He then moved to a more open area and spent some time on this statice type plant.
The plant was down an embankment putting me even with the Butterfly for part of his feeding.
The area just beyond these plants has recently been flooded as part of a plan to make an additional pond near the heron rookery. Next year the vegetation will likely be very different here.
A year ago I captured similar images of butterfly and plant at a different pond about 25 miles (40 Kilometers) from this spot and thought the plant to be Brazilian Vervain (Verbena brasiliensis). Black Swallowtail Butterfly is the post if you’d like to compare.
