ColePrairieSept05

All photos copyright P.V. Switzer. No use without permission.

A mating pair of eastern tailed blues. They are discretely hiding their connection behind the grass. When butterflies mate, the male and female remain connected for some time while the male passes a spermatophore to her. This spermatophore may contain substances in addition to sperm. For instance, males of some species have a lot of sodium in their spermatophore. They obtain this sodium, which is a limiting nutrient not present in high quantities in nectar, by sucking on mud, carrion, or feces.	Gray Hairstreak
Cabbage White	Orange Sulphur The tattered wings of this female suggest that she's had some close calls with predators.
Peck's Skipper	Sachem
Fiery Skippers Like many skippers, this male fiery skipper pursued this female relentlessly trying to mate with her, following her from flower to flower. He would get very close to her, vibrate his wings, and make occasional attempts to jump on her. In some butterflies, the males release a pheromone during their courtship (e.g. this is the purpose of the black dot on the hindwing of male monarchs). This may be why this male was fluttering his wings near her.	Fiery Skippers This action photo shows the male "making his move" with the female. He was unsuccessful and ended up flying to a different flower. The female remained nectaring on the same flower (see picture at top).
Monarch caterpillar This individual, as well as the other monarchs that are caterpillars now, will not become sexually mature immediately upon emerging from their chrysalis. Instead, they will be making the long journey down to Mexico to spend the winter.	"Inchworm" caterpillar of a geometrid moth
Chinese mantid This female's abdomen was extremely distended. She was probably close to laying an egg sack, which is about the size of a walnut. Those eggs will hatch into little mantids next spring, ready to feast on little insects.	Butterfly chrysalis We found this chrysalis wiggling on a seed head of some thistle. Given its location (thistle) and its size, we guessed that it was likely a pupa of a painted lady.
Goldenrod soldier beetle Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus These beetles are very common on flowers right now, especially on goldenrod. The male is remaining attached and riding the female, which is a form of "mate guarding" and helps prevent her from mating with other males.	Goldenrod soldier beetle Another image of the same beetles.

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