Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Mar 23, 2023 13:55:57 #
Blenheim Orange wrote:
Here is a Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Papilio canadensis puddling on some gravel. I was flat on my stomach. Birches are the preferred larval host plant for these. Found all across Canada and pretty common in northern Michigan.
Wonderful, Mike!
Mar 23, 2023 17:30:04 #
Mar 23, 2023 23:53:26 #
RodeoMan
Loc: St Joseph, Missouri
I forgot to ask you when I commented on this image if you have ever happened to see a "Rusty Patch" Bumblebee. I think that is the correct name. They are quite rare and endangered but I think they might be in Michigan. Thanks. I'm looking forward to more posts from you.
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Mar 24, 2023 00:16:42 #
RodeoMan wrote:
I forgot to ask you when I commented on this image if you have ever happened to see a "Rusty Patch" Bumblebee. I think that is the correct name. They are quite rare and endangered but I think they might be in Michigan. Thanks. I'm looking forward to more posts from you.
I haven't seen one in a long time.
There hasn't been an observation in Michigan recorded since 1986, according to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory at Michigan State University.
https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/description/19854/Bombus-affinis
No one has recorded a sighting on Inaturalist, either.
https://www.inaturalist.org/
From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
"Rusty patched bumblebees are found in small, scattered populations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. Historically, the bee ranged across the eastern and upper Midwest United States. Before it was declared endangered in 2017, the rusty patched bumble bee experienced a widespread and steep decline, with populations plummeting by about 87 percent in the past two decades."
https://fws.gov/story/2021-11/rusty-patched-bumble-bee-recovery-plan
Aug 8, 2023 12:14:16 #
Absolutely stellar rendering of this fragile and spectacular butterfly Mike...
Your plane of focus was "spot on"! What perfect timing...
The erratic nature of butterflies make them far more difficult than one would first believe.
My fav mode is to find all the local Butterfly Bushes (Buddleja davidii) along my hiking paths...
And simply wait until the sun is at low angle to fully illuminate (at a normal i.e. 90 angle) those epic colorful wings...
In my experience Tiger Swallowtail's totally love Butterfly bush foliage! Starbucks for Butterflies...
I've spent many hours mesmerizer by Mother Nature's dazzling gems trying to get that "perfect" wing alignment to showcase those vibrant colors in all their splendor...
However your rendering here with perfect wing positioning on a lovely bed of quartzite sand grains is a tour de force in nature photography!
Thank you so much for sharing Mike
Your plane of focus was "spot on"! What perfect timing...
The erratic nature of butterflies make them far more difficult than one would first believe.
My fav mode is to find all the local Butterfly Bushes (Buddleja davidii) along my hiking paths...
And simply wait until the sun is at low angle to fully illuminate (at a normal i.e. 90 angle) those epic colorful wings...
In my experience Tiger Swallowtail's totally love Butterfly bush foliage! Starbucks for Butterflies...
I've spent many hours mesmerizer by Mother Nature's dazzling gems trying to get that "perfect" wing alignment to showcase those vibrant colors in all their splendor...
However your rendering here with perfect wing positioning on a lovely bed of quartzite sand grains is a tour de force in nature photography!
Thank you so much for sharing Mike
Aug 8, 2023 12:42:29 #
Thomas902 wrote:
Absolutely stellar rendering of this fragile and s... (show quote)
Thanks for your kind words, Thomas.
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