July 3, 2009. Kentucky Manor, 5211 Kentucky Avenue, Nashville, Davidson
County, TN
360934N (36.15944) and 0865102W (-86.85055)
Today at the Manor was a season high of eight species of butterflies, a new
moth for me, and an interesting (especially in flight) black and orange
insect. If the sun comes up, there will be Cabbage Whites (4); the
watermelon rinds and bananas pulled in their share with Hackberry Emperor
(1) and Question Mark (1) plus an American Snout on the melon, a first for
that here (also seen on the flowers); an Eastern Tailed-Blue (1) was
enamored with a wet piece of compost soil (see attachment); very active
Sachems were among the flowers all day (3); and two first for the season
here. Late afternoon a Silver-spotted Skipper fed on white phlox, but before
I could get the camera in position it left. I could see the large white mark
in the center of the folded hindwing and the gold mark as well. As I was
standing there hoping for its return, a black swallowtail started feeding
rapidly on the Mornarda, the first 'fly I have seen do so. I am not
confident on these black swallowtails and all I could do was try and get an
image. The individual was moving fast, but what I got I think shows that it
is a Pipevine Swallowtail, another first for the Manor this season. Two
images are attached. The first shows the C of seven orange spots and the
second the white spots on the bottom edge of the upper wing. You may want to
increase magnification a little. Let me know if I am wrong. I was surprised
after going through the digital links that it was a Pipeview. A word on
Mornarda, do any of you have bee balm and do 'flys use it? I had thought
maybe it would be the larger butterflies that use it, and have had none
until today since it started blooming. Thanks.
Michael Lee Bierly, Nashville, Davidson County, TN
Attachment:
Eastern Tailed-Blue (1) 07-03-09 KM (800).jpg
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
Pipeview Swallowtail (1) 07-03-09 KM (800).jpg
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
Pipeview Swallowtail (2) 07-03-09 KM (800).jpg
Description: JPEG image
