ATALA HAIRSTREAK a small but unmistakable butterfly that is a creature of delicacy and beauty. It is the one that features in the RH logo above. Here is a live specimen taken deep in the pine forest  a few days ago at the Blue Hole known as Sawmill Sink. The colouring is just as it is in real life – there’s been no ‘work’ done on this image. Its little curly tongue shows that it is busy feeding. Click on it to enlarge it.

For detailed and lavishly illustrated account of the breeding habits of Atalas (Eggs! Caterpillars! Larvae! Hatching!) click ATALA LIFE CYCLE

HUMMINGBIRD MOTHS Hemaris Thysbe

Apart from the plentiful bird species to found all around the Delphi Club, there’s the strange half-way house between insect and bird that is the HUMMINGBIRD MOTH Hemaris Thysbe. These can be seen – and heard – especially at dusk hovering around the flowers in the garden, sipping nectar. In the half-light they are sometimes confused for tiny birds. I have seen them most clearly when they are busy among the flowers in the beds on either side of the main staircase. So far I have not managed to get a reasonable photo of one – a situation I hope to put right very soon. Meanwhile, I have found some wonderful pictures, not from Abaco, on a website related to a Research Program at Miami University . They were taken by Dr Hays Cummins, to whom thanks for use permission. These and other outstanding images can be found at his comprehensive website, for which CLICK===>>> HERE   

To see the sideshow of the images CLICK THIS IMAGE  

KASIA CATCHES BUTTERFLIES IN THE DELPHI DRIVES

Kasia has recently sent me photos of the regenerated vegetation in the pine forest along the drives, following the major wildfires last March. I’ll post some comparative pictures soon. During her circuit, she took some other photos including the two butterflies below. Of note is a vivid example of the Atala Hairstreak, my favourite butterfly, which I have never seen on the drives. 

ATALA HAIRSTREAK  Eumaeus Atala - Delphi Drive

GULF FRITILLARY Agraulis vanillae - Delphi Drive

 

Photo credit Sandy Vernon

GOLD RIM SWALLOWTAIL / POLYDAMAS SWALLOWTAIL     (Battus Polydamas Lucaeus)

Thanks to PM for his butterfly ID suggestion (see Comments). I was cautious about it because the butterfly in question did not seem to have anything that could be described as a wing-tail. However some more research came up with the information that the Polydamus is the only ‘tailless’ swallowtail in the United States. I then found the excellent butterfly section of the website of the Conservancy of South West Florida, where there is a clear photo of the butterfly that wouldn’t keep still for me. Due credits to the site and photographer, and see LINK added to the BLOGROLL. Grudging credit to PM also.

STOP PRESS see also CONTRIBUTIONS / PHOTOGRAPHS page Photo credit: Susan Leach Snyder

As a change from birds, here are some other flying items, mostly from around Delphi itself, with a redesigned logo in their honour.

JULIA LONGWING Dryas Julia  - Delphi Beach                                                     

Plant: Bay Cedar Suriana maritima, much enjoyed by butterflies and bees

HAMMOCK SKIPPER Polygonus Leo - Delphi Service Drive

GULF FRITILLARY Agraulis vanillae - Delphi Guest Drive

GOLD RIM SWALLOWTAIL / POLYDAMAS SWALLOWTAIL      (Battus Polydamas Lucaeus)

 

 I haven’t nailed the ID of this one yet. Any ideas appreciated. See later post for ID as GOLD RIM SWALLOWTAIL / POLYDAMAS SWALLOWTAIL (Battus Polydamas Lucaeus) Seen all round Delphi this March. These are on the move the whole time, and are surprisingly hard to pin down (not a very sensitive way to put it for a butterfly…) The bottom photo looks like a rubbish picture, I know, but in fact the butterfly is at rest (look! the body / legs / feelers aren’t blurred) while the wings beat fast and constantly while it feeds

AND FINALLY… Pride of place goes to this Atala Hairstreak, photographed during a Delphi outing with Ricky Johnson to one of the Blue Holes in the pine forest. It’s the only place I have seen these small butterflies, and there were only four or five. This one stayed still for just long enough. This photo is the one used for the new butterfly logo for this page

ATALA HAIRSTREAK  Eumaeus Atala