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Post by Admin on Aug 4, 2023 19:32:09 GMT
When I ride deep into the Southern West Virginia woods, taking the back trail to the Northern tip of the lake, I don't raise hell and rev my engine. I sneak through the woods, coasting up to a mile down a mountain with my engine off. That's when I see Life. I've seen everything from Cub Black Bears with Mama to Hawks to Owls to Deer the list goes on and on. I expected more of that type of creature(s) today, but no.
Right as I was pulling into the trail that dips straight down to the Lake, dozens upon dozens of Monarch butterflies are lit on the ground. As I pass through the center of them, an explosion of Monarch butterflies flay around me like some kind of Butterfly Orchestra without Sound. Small purple and small white Butterflies, in much fewer amounts, also frequent the same location. The Monarchs existed in yellow, orange, and more rarely black colours.
But what are all the Butterflies up to. I'm writing this without the aid of google or the internet. So you tell me, with a reply here, what your hypothesis/educated guess(es) are. All the Butterflies relight on the ground and their wings quiver and their entire bodies vibrate, as to make their own wind. Are they going through a mating phase or are they eating/drinking what's on the ground. Why are the little white and purple Butterflies doing the same?
They are extremely preoccupied and easy to catch by pinching their two wings together, but I only do that once, not wanting to rub needed dust off their wings hurting their abilities to fly.
Don't Monarch Butterflies leave or come back to a location far far away from Southern West Virginia?
Post a reply with your knowledge, not googles knowledge please.
Michael Piziak - a naturalist just like all of you and us !
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Post by luftfluss on Aug 4, 2023 22:10:15 GMT
Wow, so neat that you were able to see all those butterflies!!!
What you're describing sounds like "puddling", where butterflies will attempt to ingest nutrients from soil. I actually encountered an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail doing such a thing today.
BTW, your posted pic is an Admiral, not a Monarch.
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Post by Admin on Aug 5, 2023 9:52:11 GMT
Wow, so neat that you were able to see all those butterflies!!! What you're describing sounds like "puddling", where butterflies will attempt to ingest nutrients from soil. I actually encountered an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail doing such a thing today. BTW, your posted pic is an Admiral, not a Monarch.
You are very knowlegable on Butterflies. Are you one of those Geeks that goes around catching, studying them, and releasing them back into the wild. If so, you're the kinda Science Geek person in my fold!
Yes, they were all, Monarch, & two other smaller coloured Butterflies all appeared to be munching on the soil and mulch on the ground.
Is this a Monarch?
And is this the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail?
Michael Piziak, B.S., M.A.
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Post by luftfluss on Aug 6, 2023 3:57:13 GMT
Wow, so neat that you were able to see all those butterflies!!! What you're describing sounds like "puddling", where butterflies will attempt to ingest nutrients from soil. I actually encountered an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail doing such a thing today. BTW, your posted pic is an Admiral, not a Monarch.
You are very knowlegable on Butterflies. Are you one of those Geeks that goes around catching, studying them, and releasing them back into the wild. If so, you're the kinda Science Geek person in my fold!
Yes, they were all, Monarch, & two other smaller coloured Butterflies all appeared to be munching on the soil and mulch on the ground.
Is this a Monarch?
And is this the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail?
Michael Piziak, B.S., M.A.
Yup, you nailed it on the butterfly ID's!
I don't know how knowledgeable I am, but I do have photos of some two dozen species local to me. Some of the photos aren't particularly good, but are sufficient as a record shot. And I try to record locations, times and behaviors.
BTW, did you know that some Monarchs migrate from the Eastern US all the way to California and Mexico - and their progeny eventually migrate back?
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