The only distinctive skipper to me. And rather boring, too.
I haven’t seen a Monarch butterfly this year, despite a healthy plot of milkweed. I mentioned this to my BAMONA regional coordinator in Ohio recently. He replied, “Sadly, although I grow many nectar sources and milkweed in my garden here in north central Ohio, I have not seen a Monarch yet. I know that Monarch numbers were very low in their overwintering quarters in Mexico, down something like 60% from last year I believe which is worrying. In fact the feeling among my fellow naturalists here is that butterfly numbers and diversity are generally low this year :(.” Sad, indeed.
So this “season” I’m determined to keep track of the “diversity” of insects (and spiders, I guess) that come my way. » 2024 bug-and-spider species
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* Illustrating the importance of using scientific names over common names, Epargyreus clarus is not present in the UK, although a very-different-looking species with the same common name, “Silver-spotted skipper” is present.
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...