Bouquet of butterflies

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Bouquet of butterflies

August 7, 2020 by Mike Powell

There were so many butterflies concentrated in a small patch of swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) that they looked like a bouquet of orange flowers when I first spotted them on Tuesday at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. I believe that they are all Pearl Crescent butterflies (Phyciodes tharos), though there is also a chance that they might be the similar-looking Silvery Checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis).

Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Asclepias incarnata, Canon 50D, Fort Belvoir VA, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Pearl Crescent, pearl crescent butterfly, Phyciodes tharos, swamp milkweed, Tamron 180mm | 23 Comments

23 Responses

on August 7, 2020 at 7:48 am | Reply Dan Antion

That’s a great photo, Mike.
- on August 7, 2020 at 8:44 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. It looks like only a small portion of the swamp milkweed was in bloom, which caused the butterflies to congregate in a single spot.
on August 7, 2020 at 8:12 am | Reply Suzette Benjamin

Oh my…how absolutely gorgeous! 🦋❤🦋🦋🦋
- on August 7, 2020 at 8:45 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Suzette. I normally would not have thought that orange and pink went together, but somehow in this photo it worked.
  - on August 7, 2020 at 10:26 am Suzette Benjamin
    
    Yes, they certainly do in this photo. Great work Mike.
  - on August 7, 2020 at 10:43 am Mike Powell
    
    Thanks, again, Suzette.
on August 7, 2020 at 9:35 am | Reply Vikash

Many people are intrigued by butterflies. But, I find it interesting but not inquisitive. However, it’s a wonder there are thousands variety of butterflies. Are you into them as well? Well, nice picture!
- on August 7, 2020 at 10:16 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I do like butterflies a lot, although I am much more knowledgeable about dragonflies than butterflies.
  - on August 7, 2020 at 10:24 am Vikash
    
    Wow! Will surely want to know about them.
on August 7, 2020 at 11:04 am | Reply Laura Denise

Wowsers! 😃
- on August 7, 2020 at 2:08 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Laura. I’ll take your response as an indication that you liked the photo. 🙂
on August 7, 2020 at 11:58 am | Reply Benjamin

I love your photo of the flower’s flutter of butterflies! Gem and I read about that a long time ago in the little book about Gem’s Flutterby Butterfly bush. We see flutters of different pretty butterflies and lots of bees on it’s flowers. Thank you, Mr. Mike! Bye until Monday!
- on August 7, 2020 at 2:19 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Benjamin. “Flutter of butterflies”– that would have made a great title for the blog post.
on August 7, 2020 at 5:42 pm | Reply M.B. Henry

Amazing photo
- on August 7, 2020 at 7:00 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks.
on August 7, 2020 at 6:52 pm | Reply Steve Gingold

That’s a great shot and reminiscent of puddling. They do appear to all be Pearl Crescents.
- on August 7, 2020 at 7:03 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Steve, for confirming the species. There were other patches of swamp milkweed available, but they appear to be only buds.
on August 7, 2020 at 6:58 pm | Reply allysnotebook

Beautiful 🦋
- on August 7, 2020 at 8:36 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. 🙂
on August 8, 2020 at 12:29 am | Reply sv-anui.com

A very apt title for your post, Mike, it is indeed a lovely bouquet of butterflies!
on August 8, 2020 at 4:47 am | Reply krikitarts

I routinely see both species commonly during our summer cabin time, and they are an essential part of the experience. It’s really good to see them again, through your eyes.
on August 8, 2020 at 5:08 pm | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

Wonderful!
- on August 8, 2020 at 5:35 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Molly.