Red Car Property: Monarch Butterfly

Photo: Diane Edwardson,May 25, 2016.  I followed a Monarch Butterfly flying north through Red Car Canyon, then it seemed to luxuriate in the flowering tree of a Riverside Place backyard.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)  

Click here for all our butterfly posts.

For the past few months, we've been preoccupied with the loss of trees in the Red Car Property Neighborhood.  So we're looking at the little things that got overlooked this summer.

Corralitas Drive: Funereal Duskywing

Photo: Diane Edwardson,June 6, 2016.  The black Funereal Duskywing is looking a little pig-faced.  These butterflies seemed to be all over the neighborhood earlier this summer.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

For the past few months, we've been preoccupied with the loss of trees in the Red Car Property Neighborhood.  So we're looking at the little things that got overlooked this summer.

Red Car Property: Caterpillar Frass

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 23, 2016.  I thought perhaps the mass of white blob in the center of the a native Cudweed on the north end of the Red Car Property was a cocoon or egg case. Lila Higgins, Insect Goddess at LA County Natural History Museum responded it was most likely caterpillar frass (poop).  We so enjoy making the crap credible.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

For the past few months, we've been preoccupied with the loss of trees in the Red Car Property Neighborhood.  So we're looking at the little things that got overlooked this summer.

Red Car Property: Cabbage or Checkered White Butterfly?

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 23, 2016.  I've given up trying to tell the difference between Cabbage White and Checkered White Butterflies.  I'm more impressed at how well it camouflages with the underside of Nasturtium leaves.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

Click here for all our butterfly posts.

For the past few months, we've been preoccupied with the loss of trees in the Red Car Property Neighborhood.  So we're looking at the little things that got overlooked this summer.

Riverside Place: Swallowtail Butterfly

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, June 18, 2016.  This is most likely a Pale Swallowtail found lifeless but mostly intact.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

For the past few months, we've been preoccupied with the loss of trees in the Red Car Property Neighborhood.  So we're looking at the little things that got overlooked this summer.

Corralitas Drive: Pale Swallowtail

*Stuff you missed this year...

Photo: Diane Edwardson, April 12, 2015.  You know you've spent too much time taking photos of butterflies, when the dog comes to get you when he finds a dead butterfly in the yard.  At least this was one I'd not seen in a very long time.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, April 12, 2015.  Pale Swallowtails are similar to Tiger Swallowtails, but the yellow is pale and they're a lot more black.   It was cool to find an intact dead Pale Swallowtail, since I rarely get a good look at butterflies while they're alive.  The shading in the tail was amazingly detailed and the blue was positively iridescent. 

Click here for all our butterfly posts.

Download the Butterflies of Griffith Park Field Guide.

*Stuff You Missed This Year is our annual wrap up of interesting photos and things we just didn't have a chance to run, because everything seems to always happen at the same time.

Red Car Property Neighborhood: Sometimes, You Just Make Art

*Stuff you missed this year...

Photo: Diane Edwardson.  July 6, 2015.  When you shoot a lot of butterflies, you invariably make a lot of art.  They simply move too fast, like Gulf Fritillaries. (Click on photos to enlarge.) 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, March 7, 2015.  The most common butterflies, Cabbage Whites, actually have variations of white and cream in their wings.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 3, 2015.  Cabbage Whites are usually in constant motion so capturing their wing movement is pretty cool.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 18, 2015.  Another common butterfly, a Marine Blue only showed up blue when the light was right.  I'd actually never seen one look as blue as this one right after the July rainstorm that dumped an inch of rain on the neighborhood.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, March 15, 2015.  Monarchs became common this year.  Credit native milkweed restoration efforts.  Note: The Monarch here is on non-native, invasive wild radish.

The warmest March on record had butterflies on overdrive.  Butterflies are cold blooded and warm up with the sun. 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, March 7, 2015.  Myths of faeries in gardens gain credibility when the light cast a shadow from the eye of the Cabbage White.  I couldn't have created this shot if I tried, it just happened.  Magic can happen if you just shoot.

*Stuff You Missed This Year is our annual wrap up of interesting photos and things we just didn't have a chance to run, because everything seems to always happen at the same time.

Corralitas Drive: Cabbage White Butterfly

Photo: Diane Edwardson, December 12, 2015.  Cabbage White Butterflies are non-native and seemingly everywhere, year-round.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Learn more: UC Irvine
 

Corralitas Drive: Gulf Fritillary

Photo: Diane Edwardson, December 6, 2015.  Gulf Fritillary caterpillars tend to be much smaller than you think they'd be.  This was one of the larger ones at 1 1/2" and was chowing down on the Passion Flower vine in the backyard.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, December 6, 2015.  Gulf Fritillaries are bright orange on top with 3 silver spots on their wings that catch the sunlight. The underside of their wings is a marvel of camouflage to look like dead stems. 

There's a lot of competition for what is left of the Passion Flower vine.  While I was shooting these photos the butterflies kept chasing each other off of the plant.

Red Car Canyon: Monarch Butterfly Feeding On Native Toyon Flowers

Photo: Diane Edwardson, December 6, 2015.  I've noticed a number of different butterfly species feeding on the Toyon flowers, but was excited to score a couple of good photos of a Monarch Butterfly on the flowers.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

I've noticed butterflies seem to be particularly attracted to the native trees' out of season bloom, more than bees or other insects. Indeed, I've seen so many butterflies lately, you would think it was spring.  Keep planting native plants in your gardens!

LA County Natural History Museum is studying local populations of Monarchs and milkweed.  They have links for more information on Monarch Butterfly habitat conservation and citizen science programs on their website.  

Corralitas Drive: Gulf Fritillary Mating Fest

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 15, 2015.  Last week, Gulf Fritillary Butterflies (Aragulis vanaillae) have been running amok and mating in my backyard lately.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)  

Gulf Fritillaries are really striking butterflies with bright orange on the top of their wings; brown and white on the underside of their wings.  The brown is even shaded to look three dimensional.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 15, 2015. Once they land they remain attached for so long, I had a plethora of shots to choose from.  I could see how their underwing camouflage works to their advantage with such long mating sessions. A predator might not be able to differentiate the butterflies from a mass of dry leaves, twigs or branches backlit by the sun.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 13, 2015.  A few days earlier, I happened to have my cell phone in hand when a pair of Gulf Fritillaries were tumbling through the air in the backyard.  

Gulf Fritillaries, are among the most common butterflies in the neighborhood.  Their larval food plant is non-native, exotic Passion Flower.  
 

Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase: Giant Swallowtail

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 7, 2015. Giant Swallowtails are seemingly everywhere in the Red Car Neighborhood.  They are particularly attracted to pink and red varieties of bougainvillea.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)   

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 7, 2015.  Giant Swallowtails are the largest butterfly in the United States, and their bold black and yellow patterned wings make them all the more eye-catching. 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 7, 2015.  Last summer was the first time I'd ever seen Giant Swallowtails, but only occasionally.  This year, they're practically common, but no less spectacular flying by. 

Their larval food plants are citrus trees.  To everyone who took advantage of those free citrus tree giveaways, thank you for encouraging the population growth of this spectacular butterfly.  

Learn more: What's That Bug? 
Butterflies and their larval food plants (UCI) 
Butterflies of Orange County (UCI)
Bug Guide

Red Car Canyon: Monarch Butterfly

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, September 28, 2015.  While walking his kids with dogs through Red Car Canyon, Vandiveer discovered Monarch Butterfly, just barely clinging to life.  It was a rare opportunity for his kids to see one up close.  Summer Monarchs live 2 - 5 weeks, winter Monarchs up to 9 months.

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, September 28, 2015.  This time of year, the Monarchs flock to Red Car Canyon because of the Silk Floss Tree blooming on a street directly adjacent the canyon.  On sunny afternoons, the wooded canyon becomes magical, as beams of light filter through the trees with dozens of Monarchs fluttering through.  It is very cinematic.  

Learn more about Monarchs: 
Monarch Watch
Butterflies and their larval foodplants (UCI)
Butterflies of Orange County (UCI)

Click here for all our Monarch Butterfly posts
 

Corralitas Drive: Marine Blue

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 15, 2015.  It is so hard to catch a clear shot of Marine Blue Butterflies when their wings are open and miraculously showing off their blue.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Marine Blues are the most common tiny blue butterfly in Los Angeles.  This one was either spectacularly blue, or the light was perfect, reflecting brilliantly off its wings.  I'd never seen one quite so blue.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 15, 2015.  They are so tiny, you can't see the detail easily in person.  (Shoot photos first; ID species later.)  In these photos, the butterfly is standing on a 1/4" diameter peppercorn from a Peruvian Pepper Tree.  This is the far more typical shot of the Marine Blue I have taken, time and time again.

Corralitas Drive: Marine Blue Butterfly

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 2, 2015. For a "blue" butterfly, Marine Blues do not like to show off their blue parts.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Lot C: Tiny Butterfly In Shadow Of Tiny Oak Tree

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 18, 2015.  A Marine Blue Butterfly kept landing on the cut branches of the Coast Live Oak sapling while I was taking photos of the 3' tall tree.  The butterfly is smaller than my thumbnail.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Marine Blues are one of the most common butterflies in the area.

Historic Viaduct Footings: Milkweed Blooming

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 16, 2015.  This may be native Kotolo Milkweed blooming among the City of LA Historic Landmark Pacific Electric Viaduct Footings.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 16, 2015.  Usually, we see a pink variety of Kotolo Milkweed blooming up above the viaduct footings.  This is the first time in the 25 years I've walked the property, I'd never seen the yellow variety.

Native milkweed is vital for butterfly species as a larval foodplant. 

Click here for all our Kotolo Milkweed posts.

Lot C: Tiger Swallowtail

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 18, 2015.  The Year of The Butterfly is not over yet.  Tiger Swallowtails are still everywhere.  Keep your eye out for Giant Swallowtails.  They've been mocking me; flying past my head in my own backyard whenever I don't have a camera handy. 

Click here for all our butterfly posts.

Red Car Property: Butterfly, Not A Moth

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 12, 2015  Skippers are small, not so pretty, common butterflies, but they are pollinators.  There are dozens of species of Skippers in Los Angeles County.  This is most likely a Fiery Skipper, one of the most common in the area, seen here on the north end of the Red Car Property. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Red Car Property: Acmon Blue Butterfly

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 8, 2015.  A different tiny blue butterfly caught my eye on the north end of the Red Car Property, an Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon).  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

The north end of the Red Car Property has different species of wildflowers, hawks and insects not found elsewhere on the property.  For instance, through the years, I've occasionally observed  this tiny blue butterfly only on the northern most portion of the property.  In 2011, I was finally able to get a photo of one.  Albeit, not a very good one.  

Even in this Butterfly Bonanza year, I had not seen the Acmon Blue yet.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 8, 2015.  The butterfly first caught my eye when it landed on a piece of trash just above the viaduct footings.  I was shooting blindly, without my reading glasses, a butterfly with a 1" wingspan from 8 feet away.  When its wings were open, the brownish topside of its wings blended in perfectly with the weeds and dirt.  (See UCI's Butterflies of Orange County for some very detailed photos of the Acmon Blue.) 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 8, 2015.  According to the "Common Butterflies of Griffith Park"  (and UCI's guide), one of the Acmon Blue's host plants is Lotus.  Unfortunately, in this shot the butterfly's wings are closed, but for scale the native Spanish Lotus flower in the left corner of the photo is about a third of an inch.  The butterfly is just to the right of the flower and has a 1" wingspan.  The long Lotus seedpod to the right of the butterfly, is about 1 1/2" long.  

Spanish Lotus is only found on the northern most parts of the Red Car Property.

Click here for all the butterflies we've documented in the Red Car Property neighborhood.