Open for Butterfly Business
I’d like to know why all the butterflies in my yard this year are black.
I’ve not seen one yellow tiger swallowtail and usually there are plenty.
Is this a butterfly bully?
"A blog is to a writer what a canvas is to an artist." ~ Colleen Redman
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July 19th, 2014 4:40 pm
Same here and true in MANY other places. There is a butterfly demise, whether just this year, we have to wait and see! I have only two zebra swallowtails where before I have had a dozen, no tiger swallowtails, fewer skippers, etc. And just a couple of the black ones you have above.
July 20th, 2014 3:38 am
Oh…these are so very Beautiful, Colleen…….I’ve never seen a Black Butterfly before…And three all at once–WOW!
I don’t get a chance to see any Butterfly’s so this is a real treat for me…..
I hope and pray we are not losing Butterfly’s the way we are losing Bee’s……We certainly have screwed up their environment and ours, too!
July 20th, 2014 8:56 am
I love your questions.
July 20th, 2014 9:44 am
The Black looks so luscious against the purple flowers!
Let’s hope and pray that it isn’t like the bees.
July 20th, 2014 10:30 am
Harsh winter. late season, a global warming muck-up. Sometimes with insects that do the pupa, chrysalis and cocoon t’ing, what happened with last year weather-wise affects the cycle for a year or two to come.
Or your yellow tigers are like my Orioles, they’ve found a better place. In the spring Orioles were all about, now nothing. But I walk three minutes to my mother’s and they’re there by the plenty.
At least you have these beauties. Our season is so behind I have not even seen a butterfly of any shape or colour. Though the notion of a butterfly bully – a clever insight as to how we think and butterflies just live without prejudice -am sure he or she doesn’t notice the absence of yellow wings.
July 21st, 2014 10:14 pm
I wish I had butterflies in my yard. I have to go hunt for them.
These black ones are gorgeous.
July 22nd, 2014 12:37 am
Great captures of the butterflies. They did cooperate with you. 🙂
July 22nd, 2014 2:35 pm
I don’t think you are seeing a bully … I think you are witnessing a female and two suitors. I think the male is going to have to calm down if he expects to accomplish anything 🙂 We have had butterflies, tiger swallowtails, Monarchs, Viceroy, and many of the little white ones (don’t know their official name) and our winter was awful. But we don’t have the numbers we have had in the past so I am sure the winters have taken it’s toll. Your Black Swallowtail is gorgeous … we usually have more of those than the Tiger, but none this year, so far. Beautiful pictures but a sad story.
Andrea @ From The Sol
July 22nd, 2014 9:38 pm
Yes, I thought perhaps an over enthusiastic male. It pushed the other one to the ground and the third came later. I’ve heard many say that the butterfly populations are down this year.
July 23rd, 2014 1:57 pm
gorgeous, gorgeous close-ups!!!
July 23rd, 2014 2:41 pm
Looks like we both had luck with swallowtails this week — I love your blue one!
July 25th, 2014 2:31 pm
I loved that video. Thanks for sharing. 🙂