Butterflies around the Farm

In the past few weeks I’ve found a variety of butterflies around the farm. About the only flower blooming right not is the Daisy Fleabane.

American Lady

Red Admiral

Cabbage White

Orange Sulphur

Red Admiral Spring

I’m not sure why but this spring I have seen more Red Admiral butterflies than I have ever seen at any time of the year. It has been an early spring and it’s possible that there are so many because the dandelions and fruit trees are in full bloom early. With abundant food the migration seems to have stalled in this area. Just about everywhere I go I’ve been encountering them in large numbers.

 

On Goldenrod

The one of the few late summer flowers in my prairie is the Canada Goldenrod. It is reaching its full bloom now. Because it is one of the few flowers blooming at this time of year it is the food source for a large number of critters. Yesterday I walked through the prairie and noticed over fifteen different types of bees, bugs and  butterflies. It seems to be the primary food source for the Monarch Butterflies as they get ready to leave for Mexico. I’m a little concerned that the Monarchs are a little late in hatching this year and the Goldenrod is already in full bloom. Here are some of the critters I found in my goldenrod patch this week.

Monarch Butterflies

Great Spangled Fritillary

Red Admiral

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Sulphur

Honey Bee

Fly

Eastern Yellowjacket

Daddy Longlegs

Bumble Bee