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Wildlife in our own backyard in Central Virginia. Our one acre Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat.
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Two Fawns Exploring Our Backyard
Squirrel Eating Watermelon
Squirrel Eating Watermelon
Underside Of a Female Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) The male has more of the purple/brown coloring on the wings. These moths don't feed once they are adults (in moth form rather than caterpillar). They only live a few days or maybe a week at most. Their sole purpose as adults if to procreate, so hopefully this female has already found her man and laid her eggs on a host plant. They mainly use oak, maple, sweetgum, sassafras, and pine. We have all of those except for the sweetgum, so we've seen these moths before. They also provide food for birds, giving life to something else with a longer lifespan.
Female Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) The male has more of the purple/brown coloring on the wings. These moths don't feed once they are adults (in moth form rather than caterpillar). They only live a few days or maybe a week at most. Their sole purpose as adults if to procreate, so hopefully this female has already found her man and laid her eggs on a host plant. They mainly use oak, maple, sweetgum, sassafras, and pine. We have all of those except for the sweetgum, so we've seen these moths before. They also provide food for birds, giving life to something else with a longer lifespan.
Female Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) This is a common and widespread eastern species found in moist woodland openings and along streams, flying low and perching close to the ground. It flies from late spring to fall (1-3 broods in the east, 1 in the west). One of the host plants for the larvae (caterpillars) is Black-eyed Susan. Males perch and patrol all day in open areas. Females lay eggs in batches of about 100 on the underside of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars move in groups. Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate when necessary.
Female Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) This is a common and widespread eastern species found in moist woodland openings and along streams, flying low and perching close to the ground. It flies from late spring to fall (1-3 broods in the east, 1 in the west). One of the host plants for the larvae (caterpillars) is Black-eyed Susan. Males perch and patrol all day in open areas. Females lay eggs in batches of about 100 on the underside of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars move in groups. Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate when necessary.
Female Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) This is a common and widespread eastern species found in moist woodland openings and along streams, flying low and perching close to the ground. It flies from late spring to fall (1-3 broods in the east, 1 in the west). One of the host plants for the larvae (caterpillars) is Black-eyed Susan. Males perch and patrol all day in open areas. Females lay eggs in batches of about 100 on the underside of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars move in groups. Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate when necessary.
Male Zabulon Skipper Butterfly on Invasive Knapweed
Male Zabulon Skipper Butterfly on Invasive Knapweed
Male Zabulon Skipper Butterfly on Invasive Knapweed
Male Zabulon Skipper Butterfly on Invasive Knapweed
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