Just when I thought there might not be any new butterflies or moths in the garden till the weather changed significantly, I spotted this little guy flying around the garden. Initially I thought it would be a Blue Azure, which I spotted-and-posted several weeks ago, http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-06-07
When it lit on the bloom-less chrysanthemum, I noticed flicking “tails” on its hindwings, which is certainly not a characteristic of the Blue Azure. It wasn’t difficult to identify it as a Gray Hairstreak from one of my field guide pamphlets. (I looked for the National Wildlife Federation Field Guide… at the Harvard Bookstore, Carolyn, but no luck. Probably an amazon purchase!)
For as light as these wings are “below,” see http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-09-08 for how dark they are “above”! Or click the “strymon melinus” tag at right and see my images side-by-side!
P.S. This Gray Hairstreak trumped what I felt sure this morning would be my post for the day. I had an office visit with Roland, my rowing friend and favorite orthopaedic surgeon, for a big-toe issue. X-rays confirmed that I [literally] have a loose screw. A screw implanted in 1998 has backed itself out enough that it will have to come out in the near future. I had my new point-and-shoot camera with me and I took a shot of the x-rays on the computer monitor.
Retired economics professor (“dismal scientist”). Married 40+ years to the love of my life; we have two grown daughters, both married, two granddaughters and a...
Beautiful butterfly, Thom - love her soft muted colors. Sorry about you big toe - will you need to have it taken care of soon? Why aren't we seeing the x-rays of it?