Tag Archives: Thistle

Skipper Butterfly on Thistle

Parts of Black Point Wildlife Drive were lined with thistle when I was there in mid-April. Most of the blooms had gone by, but a few were on a different schedule.

Skipper Butterfly on Purple Thistle Bloom
Skipper Butterfly on Purple Thistle Bloom

A few Skippers were taking full advantage.

Skipper Butterfly on Purple Thistle Bloom
Skipper Butterfly on Purple Thistle Bloom

Most of the plants looked like some variation of this.

Goneby Thistle Bloom
Gone by Thistle Bloom

Black Point Wildlife Drive
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 12, 2022

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle, Year 2

About a mile or so from where I saw the Black Swallowtail Butterflies for my post from March of 2020 I saw a similar scene April 12.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

This year’s thistle flowers were a bit past their prime.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

And the butterfly was showing some signs of wear, or a battle.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

The wing tears did not impair his mobility, as he nimbly circled around the plant checking each of the spidery blooms.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

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.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle, Bee Photobomber

An assortment of insects were working the thistle blooms, with a Black Swallowtail standing out.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

The blooms were in all stages of development, some well on their way to releasing seeds for a new crop.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle