While I was on my west Texas trip, the Valley got some rain and things have really greened out. But the spring bird migration has been really good so butterflies have taken a back seat. Which is fine because I didn't feel like battling the mosquitos. So Monday I finally got over to the National Butterfly Center and it was alive with flowers and butterflies. Granted most of them were Lyside Sulphurs and Reakirt's Blues.
On the big board in the visitors center, I saw Ornythion Swallowtail had been reported among the healthy for April 63 species. So that was my target as I headed for the Mexican Orchid bush in the south garden. It didn't take long. But getting a photo of this amorous male was close too impossible as he chased the female Western Giant Swallowtails. This was the best I could do.
Western Giant Swallowtail.
Nearby I saw a Gray Hairstreak on a blooming fiddlewood. But the color and luster seemed off so I fired at a shot at what I expected would be a Marius Hairstreak. Wrong again! It was a sharp really fresh Red-lined Scrub Hairstreak. I've never seen one in spring.
Lots of Clytie Ministreaks out.
Good to see a couple of Curve-winged Metalmarks out.
All of the big whites were Great Southern White.
Marine Blue is uncommon in the RGV.
And then there were these. We've gotten Mexican Crescent happy in the last year. Are these Mexican Crescents? Or are they female Vesta? That spot in the middle of the pale jagged median band has me concerned. But I just went on Butterflies of American and solved my problem. These are both males. Male Vesta is distinctly two toned black and orange. These are two male Mexican Crescents. I feel better now. I think.
