A Buckeye state

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A Buckeye state

July 17, 2014 by Mike Powell

Although I don’t live in Ohio, nicknamed “The Buckeye State,” I think that I can claim that Virginia also is a Buckeye state, because we are a home to the uncommonly beautiful Common Buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia).

I have seen few colorful butterflies so far this summer, besides the Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies that I featured in a posting in June. Where are all the Monarchs and Eastern Swallowtails? I don’t know if they were affected by the polar vortex of this past winter or if I am merely looking for them in all the wrong places, but their numbers seem to be unusually low this summer.

I was therefore thrilled this past Monday, when I caught sight of this Common Buckeye. Its coloration is so distinctive that I immediately recognized it and chased after it a bit. Fortunately I was able to capture several images of this beautiful creature before it flew out of sight.

Looking at these images, I am happy to proclaim that I live in a Buckeye state.

Posted in Art, Butterflies, Flowers, Gardening, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, Portraits, Summer | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, Common Buckeye, Common Buckeye butterfly, green spring gardens, Junonia coenia, Tamron 180mm macro lens | 13 Comments

13 Responses

on July 17, 2014 at 7:54 am | Reply Dan Antion

These are so pretty. I don’t think I’ve ever seen butterflies like this.
- on July 17, 2014 at 7:14 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  They are supposed to be “Common,” but I don’t see them very often myself.
  - on July 17, 2014 at 7:16 pm Dan Antion
    
    My wife agrees that there are no monarch’s this year. Very sad
on July 17, 2014 at 9:29 am | Reply anomadlife

How do you get these??
- on July 17, 2014 at 7:13 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Hmm. I presume you’re asking me how I get shots of the butterflies like this. It’s mostly a question of patience and persistence combined with a lot of luck and a bit of skill. I try to be ready at all times, never knowing for sure what will pop up.
on July 17, 2014 at 10:47 am | Reply James Keegan

Beautiful shots Mike. I have seen a couple of Monarchs here in northern Illinois the last week or so, but not many.
- on July 17, 2014 at 7:11 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. Send a few Monarchs my way. I am carefully checking out the milkweeds that are blooming now, hoping that I’ll see some butterflies there soon.
on July 18, 2014 at 6:28 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

I’ve seen lots of swallowtails and two or three monarchs here, but nothing like it once was. The buckeyes are beautiful. Nice shots!
on July 18, 2014 at 2:43 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

What an amazing creature, I am amazed you got such gorgeous photos. I find them really hard to catch.
on July 18, 2014 at 7:24 pm | Reply ppf digital photography & restoration

Stunning photo
on July 19, 2014 at 3:38 pm | Reply Sue

Gorgeous photos! I usually see them here in the summer, but not this year. On the other hand we seem to have quite a few swallowtails and monarchs just recently.
on July 21, 2014 at 7:02 am | Reply Marco Pesaresi

Stunning work Mike
- on July 21, 2014 at 7:08 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Marco. There is something especially beautiful for me about butterflies and I am always thrilled when I see them (and particularly so when I can capture an image of one).