Silvery Checkerspot

Feeds:: Posts; Comments

Silvery Checkerspot

July 27, 2020 by Mike Powell

In one corner of Jackson Miles Wetland Refuge there is a patch of wildflowers that I love to explore whenever I visit the refuge. In the past I have spotted bird, butterflies, and dragonflies amidst the flowers. Black-eyed Susans are now in bloom in that patch and I was thrilled on Saturday to capture this image of a Silvery Checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis) feeding on one of the flowers. As I noted in an earlier posting, I have not seen many large butterflies this season, so it is especially nice to see the smaller ones.

I am pretty sure that this is a Silvery Checkerspot butterfly, though I have sometimes had troubles in the past distinguishing between Silvery Checkerspots and the somewhat similar Pearl Crescent butterflies (Phyciodes tharos).

Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Chlosyne nycteis, Fort Belvoir VA, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Silvery Checkerspot, Silvery Checkerspot butterfly, Tamron 180mm | 16 Comments

16 Responses

on July 27, 2020 at 8:11 am | Reply Suzette Benjamin

Georgeos butterfly and great photo. Thank you Mike. 😊🦋
- on July 27, 2020 at 8:30 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Suzette.
  - on July 27, 2020 at 8:33 am Suzette Benjamin
    
    My pleasure 😊
on July 27, 2020 at 8:33 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Beautiful butterfly image Mike! We have not seen many butterflies here in Northern NJ also. It has been a quiet butterfly season.
- on July 27, 2020 at 8:57 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I am still maintaining hope, Reed, that there will be a resurgence of butterfly activity–I am an eternal optimist.
on July 27, 2020 at 2:18 pm | Reply Dan Antion

That’s a great photo, Mike.
- on July 27, 2020 at 4:34 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan.
on July 27, 2020 at 2:32 pm | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

Great photo! I love the way the bold yellow of the Black-eyed Susan accentuates the golden glow of those wings.
- on July 27, 2020 at 4:35 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Laura. I love it when the other colors in a photo complement those of the main subject. As you can probably tell, I was trying to capture the effect of the sunlight shining through the wings.
on July 27, 2020 at 4:08 pm | Reply Michael Scandling

Beautiful. We’re planting milkweed in our garden. Every little bit helps.
- on July 27, 2020 at 4:36 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Indeed. Milkweed is a beneficial plant for a whole range of insect species.
on July 27, 2020 at 7:20 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Love the lighting – she looks to be made of stained glass!
- on July 27, 2020 at 10:21 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eliza. I love when I am able to catch the light coming through the wings like that. I too thought of stained glass windows.
on July 28, 2020 at 7:31 am | Reply Sherry Felix

Looking at the two I think you are right. It’s a Silver Checkerspot.
Have you heard for the book “Butterflies of the East Coast” by Rich Check and Guy Tudor? https://www.amazon.com/Butterflies-East-Coast-Observers-Guide/dp/0691090564 It’s a good one.
- on July 28, 2020 at 8:05 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sherry, for the recommendation. I have several dragonfly books, a damselfly book, and a bird guide. My collection is growing. 🙂
  - on July 29, 2020 at 7:29 am Sherry Felix
    
    Rick Check leads our butterfly group in NYC.