Butterflies

Farewell to the Monarch

A male monarch butterfly feeds on a wildflower, back lit by the low evening sun. This monarch was late to leave for warmer air down south, being one of the last I have seen in the area. A week later, I see no more as it is nearing the end of September. We shall meet again next spring. Horsham Powerline Trail, Horsham, PA-US

Beautiful Larvae of the Monarch

Two monarch caterpillars munch on some milkweed in preparation for entering their pupa stage. I never encountered monarch caterpillars in the wild before, so I was really stoked when I saw these. Beautiful creatures in all stages of their life cycle. Pennypack Trust, PA-USA.

Rest the Weary Wings

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly with a little less wing than usual feeds on an 8 foot tall thistle, baking in the hot summer sun. Carl Kohler Park, PA-US.

Cabbage White Closeup

This cabbage white butterfly was sheltering from a slight rain among some long grass. Gave me a perfect opportunity to get nice and close. Newtown, Bucks County, PA.

Hello There

Two skipper butterflies negotiate taking the relationship to the next level on some milkweed, which is great place to meet single insects. Newtown, Bucks County, PA

Mighty Monarch on Milkweed

The mighty monarch, taking in some food on a large patch of milkweed we grew in our backyard (and hopefully also laying some eggs!). This was the third year of the milkweed coming back since being planted, and this season it exploded at nearly five foot tall, and as dense as a bush. Consider growing some milkweed in your garden or yard. It's easy to grow, and the benefits to the declining monarch population, not to mention the benefits for anyone who likes to witness nature, are huge. Bees and many other pollinators will also show up, and you'll have a busy little garden metropolis in no time. Newtown, Bucks County, PA

Red Spotted Purple Butterfly

A red-spotted purple butterfly spreads its beautifully patterned wings out in the summer sun. Shot at the Power Line Trail, Horsham, Montgomery County, PA

It's a Speck to You but It's a Feast to Me

A tiny Spring Azure butterfly feeds on clover, those little white flowers always in your yard. Sometimes these small flyers settle down long enough for a photo. Usually once I lay flat on the grass, these guys decide its time to move on, but every once in a while I get lucky. Horsham Powerline Trail, Horsham PA-US

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on a Blue Sky Day

Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly enjoying some very tall yellow wildflowers on a beautiful blue sky day. These giants are one of the largest, if not the largest butterfly in my area of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, PA-US.

Great-spangled Fritillary Butterfly

A Great-spangled Fritillary butterfly feeds on some Beebalm in the setting sun at Pennypack Trust, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania USA.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Stretching its Wings

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail stretching out its wings while feeding. Good to see some of these giants lately, have been seeing way less of them this summer compared to the last few summers up until now. Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, New Hope PA.

Blue on Grass

A tiny Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly spread sits wings out in the sun on a spring day. There are many potential reasons butterflies do this, one being that it warms their wings up to keep them ready to fly at a moments notice. Displaying their wings can also be a method for attracting mates. Power Line Trail, Horsham, PA-US.

Mini Meadow Meal

A closeup of a cloudless sulphur butterfly sampling nectar from some fleabane wildflowers in a meadow at Tyler State Park, PA

Black Swallowtail Closeup

I believe this is a black swallowtail, but unfortunately it’s wings were fairly damaged where the markings were, so it was difficult to tell. I was able to get really close while it rested in the grass. I have seen butterflies fly with less wing than this one, so hopefully it was just taking a breather. Power Line Trail, Horsham, PA

Gray Hairstreak on Ageratum

A gray hairstreak butterfly feeds on Ageratum in the shade on a hot day. It was good to come across one of these butterflies, they are a favorite but I don’t see them that often. Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, Huntingdon Valley, PA-US

Eastern Tailed Blue in the Grass

My first Eastern Tailed-blue photo of the 2021 season. This one was flitting around the wet grass as the sun came out. Worth getting soaked for, as I laid on the soaked ground to get this shot. Power Line Trail, Montgomery County, Horsham PA.

Monarch on Joe Pye Weed

Monarch butterfly enjoying some Joe Pye weed in our front garden. This wildflower is about six foot tall in areas, and really came in strong this season. I have seen about seven different species of butterfly feeding on it so far. Newtown, Bucks County, PA-US

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Landing on Thistle

Eastern tiger swallowtail shows off its large wings, which are in fairly good condition for the time of the year. I think the thistle has a tendency to shred portions of their wings, but it doesn't seem to interfere much with their ability to fly. Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, New Hope, Bucks County PA

Base Jumping Butterfly

An unknown species of butterfly looks like it is about launch off of a cliff. Once in a while you get a butterfly that decides to calmly pose for a minute. I really like that short time spent with a creature in a relaxed state. Everything around you stops, and its just you and the subject removed from the standard hum of reality. Tyler State Park, Newtown, PA-US

Gray Hairstreak Resting on a Bright Summer Day

A small hairstreak butterfly resting on blue mink. Once in a while one of these will decide that it will take a break from flittering from one flower to another, and let me line up a nice shot. Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, Huntingdon Valley, PA-US.

Garden Party

A skipper butterfly is dwarfed by the coneflower it is feeding on. A late day summer sun added brilliance to the garden, and while I often get in close for my insect shots, I thought that the vivid colors were worth showcasing in the shot. Newtown, PA-US

Pair of Eastern Tailed Blue Butterflies

A pair of tiny eastern tailed blue butterflies enjoying each other’s company. Right out in the open with that. A mating pair is a rare find for me, and also rare for me to see them off the ground and highly visible like this. Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, Bucks County, PA-US

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Feeding on Bee Balm

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly feeds on a patch of wild growing Bee Balm. This patch of flowers had up to 20 butterflies of all different types, a sight I have not seen before. There were plenty of other bees and such, though unfortunately I did not see any honey bees, which is alarming since I have seen very few honey bees so far this entire summer. Tyler State Park, Newtown, PA-US

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly

Spicebush swallowtail butterfly perched on some pink milkweed. Finally, one sat still long enough for a shot. I see these each year, but usually only get a shot or two since they like to stay on the move. Even when they are sitting still, they have a tendency to ‘flap’ their wings at high speed, I assume for balance.