Dec. 11. 2011 - Texas Butterflies and Other Insects

My trip to Texas included a stop at the National Butterfly Center near Mission, TX. They’ve planted native flower species that attract many kinds of butterflies. This is a Gulf Fritillary which has a wingspan of 2½ to 3¾ inches. They are found from Argentina through Central America, Mexico, and into the southern United States.

ButterflyFritillaryGulfNationalCenterMission20111028

This butterfly could easily be mistaken for a dead leaf. It is called the American Snout; if you look at its head, you can see why it got that name. They have a wingspan of 1½ to 2 inches. I’ve read that the Snout population occasionally explodes, resulting in massive migrations of this species.

ButterflySnoutAmericanNationalCenterMission20111028

The Red-bordered Pixie is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of 1½ to 2 inches. It is found from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas to Costa Rica.

ButterflyPixieRedborderedNationalCenterMission20111028

This Guava Skipper was a favorite of the butterfly enthusiasts visiting the gardens. Besides being really beautiful, it’s a little larger (wingspan of 2 to 2¾ inches). Its range is very similar to that of the Gulf Fritillary (above).

ButterflySkipperGuavaNationalCenterMission20111028

Other insects besides butterflies were also attracted to the gardens. Someone told me this Tarantula Hawk Wasp has a really nasty sting. Fortunately, I didn’t have an opportunity to find out if it was true.

WaspTarantulaHawkNationalButterflyCenterMission20111028

True to their name, Hummingbird Moths hover next to flowers and sip the nectar. They never seem to sit still and their wings beat as fast as those of hummingbirds, so I was happy to get a photo that is, at least, pretty sharp.

MothHummingbirdNationalButterflyCenterMission20111028

In Edinburg, TX, I visited a private home which is landscaped to attract butterflies. It was amazing to see how many different species were attracted to a standard-sized city lot carefully planted with the right flowers. There were many Queen Butterflies in this yard. With a wingspan of 2½ to 3¾ inches, they are a little smaller than a Monarch.

ButterflyQueenAlbertRendon'sHouseEdinburg20111025

Monarchs were passing through Texas on their annual migration. I photographed this one at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

Here’s a link to many more butterfly photos from my Texas trip.

http://www.earlorfphotos.com/TexasTrip-OctNov2011/Texas-Butterflies-and-Other/20484118_cM4w8X#1621874033_NZ5vH97

ButterflyMonarchLagunaAtascosaNWR20111031horizontal