The second installment of Butterflies of 2012 features three members of the Papilionidae family. Swallowtails regularly make their home in our gardens and fields and seeing their wings lit up like stained glass floating about the plants is always a delight.Last year was very exciting for a rare sighting of a Giant Swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes here at Flower Hill Farm. Butterfly enthusiasts from all over Massachusetts were reporting first time ever sightings of the magnificent … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Swallowtails
Spring Wildflowers and Other Wild Wings Scattered About
The gardens, fields and forest floors are dotted with fresh spring wildflowers. A delicate dancing red Trillium magically lifts itself up into the light. An early to emerge Orange sulphur Colias eurytheme, flying about looking for vetch no doubt. I am excited to see that the chrysalis survived our winter and hungry birds. April is suppose to bring showers but this year there have been few and I guess that is good for butterflies. I have never seen so many flying wildflowers this early … [Read more...] about Spring Wildflowers and Other Wild Wings Scattered About
Spring Wildflowers and Other Wild Wings Scattered About
The gardens, fields and forest floors are dotted with fresh spring wildflowers. A delicate dancing red Trillium magically lifts itself up into the light. An early to emerge Orange sulphur Colias eurytheme, flying about looking for vetch no doubt. I am excited to see that the chrysalis survived our winter and hungry birds. April is suppose to bring showers but this year there have been few and I guess that is good for butterflies. I have never seen so many flying wildflowers this early … [Read more...] about Spring Wildflowers and Other Wild Wings Scattered About
Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Eastern Black Swallowtail
Eyeing female depositing an egg on hidden Wild Carrot A lucky sighting! A female Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes (Fabricius), 1775 deposits an egg. 1st and 2nd Instar 3rd Instar 4th Instar 5th Instar Spinning thread and Letting Go! Talk about a weight loss that many would envy . . . the Black Swallowtail evacuates its entire digestive system before becoming a chrysalis. Note how much smaller it is in the shots above . . . when comparing to the photographs … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Eastern Black Swallowtail
Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Eastern Black Swallowtail
Eyeing female depositing an egg on hidden Wild CarrotA lucky sighting! A female Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes (Fabricius), 1775 deposits an egg. 1st and 2nd Instar3rd Instar4th Instar5th InstarSpinning thread and Letting Go!Talk about a weight loss that many would envy . . . the Black Swallowtail evacuates its entire digestive system before becoming a chrysalis. Note how much smaller it is in the shots above . . . when comparing to the photographs of the caterpillar eating … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Eastern Black Swallowtail
