As we move deeper into autumn, I expect to find the colors orange and yellow only in the fall foliage or an occasional sunset. Yesterday, I was surprised to see this orange-and-yellow butterfly flitting from flower to flower, seemingly oblivious to the changing seasons. Doesn’t he know it’s almost October? Is it eternally spring for a butterfly?
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
it does seem late for butterflies, but I don’t really know for sure if it is or isn’t.
This is the first year I have paid attention to insects, so I don’t really know what the norm is. It may be that I have preconceived notions about which insects should be out in which seasons that are completely wrong.
Nice shot! I did a little research and it might be a High Brown Frittilary. Take a look at the ones on this link:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=high%20brown%20frittilary&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1063&bih=819&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=5vhmUIa8Der00gGn04DQCg
Thanks, Cindy. As the British might say, “By Jove, I think you’ve got it.” I looked at some photos of other fritillaries and none seemed to match. You found one that did. The only concern that I have is whether geographically speaking the High Brown Fritillary is found here. Wikipedia suggests they are found in Europe and Asia. I came across some shots of the Great Spangled Fritillary that look a bit like “my” butterfly (but a side view that I have makes this doubtful). Who knows?
Nice atmospheric shot, Mike. I’d think it could well be a Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), which is found in your area and has 2-3 broods from spring to fall, has that distinctive black-rimmed orange spot on the forewing and that line of black spots at the far end of the wings. See the website at http://butterfliesofamerica.com/L/t/Euptoieta_claudia_a.htm for more pictures.
Thanks so much, Joe. I looked at some of my other shots (including a side view) and the Variegated Fritillary seems to match in all respects. I guess I don’t know enough about butterflies yet to distinguish between different members of a family, i.e. which characteristics to focus on.
What a handsome butterfly, and my butterfly book says it is a dull orange! Not so. I agree with Joe, it looks like a Variegated Fritillary. Nice photo, Mike.
I’m still seeing plenty of butterflies here in northern Minnesota, so it’s surely not to late for them out there on the more temperate east coast. Beautiful shot, Mike!
I’m beginning to think my inexperience led me to make draw some erroneous conclusions about when butterflies should be active. Now it’ll be interesting to see how much longer they hang around.