A Butterfly Garden has been one of my goals this summer--and I was more successful then expected. This year I have been more closely observing what I had thought were moths (I previously hadn't paid much attention to these tiny winged critters because I didn't think they were butterflies. What an elitist I was!)
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| ...his fairy errand like the light and glittering gossamer before the breeze. |
Now that I'm looking more closely, have been finding the most interesting butterflies.
This is a Edwards' Hairstreak Satyrium edwardsii. Not supposed to be this far west.
His backside has camouflage--a faux eye and antennae that rub together to deceive predators.
He is considered a 'gossamer-winged' true butterfly; the caterpillar depend on eating ants, which could be why they like my yard here in the desert.
This butterfly isn't even on the flowers I specially planted for the Butterfly Garden--he's really enjoying the flowering mint which is one of the easiest plants to grow.
He's even compared to Puck in Midsummer Night's Dream:
"...his fairy errand like the light and glittering gossamer before the breeze."Correction! I have discovered that this is a California Hairstreak. I've joined the NABA (North American Butterfly Association) and post pics and get info about the butterflies I view on my outdoor adventures.
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