I was not going to go to the National Butterfly Center. I wanted a rest day and had stuff to do. So while the butterfliers were running around seeing stuff, I was accomplishing things. I even got in a pretty good workout. I was going to thaw out some chicken for a stir fry, but the damn butterfly watchers kept reporting stuff. First the usual Malachites and Red Rims. Then a Ruddy Hairstreak. Then a White Scrub-Hairstreak. Blue-eyed Sailor was the straw that broke the camel's back. I've seen a few of those but if Blue-eyed Sailors are showing up, what else could be in the offing? So I raced over to the National Butterfly Center and found the crowd focused on the Blue-eyed Sailor. That was easy.
The first Julia I've seen in months took our attention from the sailor.
The Ruddy Hairstreak failed to show any orange on the topside that would designate it as a male Ruddy. So it has to fall ito the Ruddy/Muted category. Glassberg says it is not known how to ID Muted Hairstreak in the field. This is most likely a female Ruddy Hairstreak.
Then we heard a distant call of "Pale-spotted Leafwing." We started running, some of us faster than others. I like the exotic shape of the fore wing. It didn't stay long.
Red Rims are being seen daily.
Silver-banded Hairstreaks have become common.
And so many Clytie Ministreaks.
Then Terry found another White-scrub Hairstreak.
I later heard that the Indiana Gang had seen 100 butterfly species on the day. Yikes. This is turning into one of the best fall butterfly seasons ever in the RGV. Good stuff is coming.
