Spring's Arrival of Painted Lady Butterflies

What's Buzzing on the Brussel Sprouts Blooms

One of the highlights of spring 2015 has been an influx of Painted Lady butterflies, Vanessa cardui, to my yard in western Nevada.  I do not recall these butterflies arriving in early spring, because they are usually here in late summer when the rabbit bushes are blooming.  I first began to notice a few butterflies landing on the wet dirt when I was watering my garden plants. Then I noticed numerous Painted Lady butterflies drawn to my Brussel sprouts plants, which I allowed to flower since they did not not produce any sprouts over winter. .  

One afternoon as I walked by the yellow flowers, I saw so much activity that I grabbed my Nikon with the 150mm macro lens and waited nearby.  

Not only were the blossoms attracting the butterflies, numerous worker bees were buzzing around, collecting the pollen.

While focusing in on the butterflies, I noticed a large number of moths coming to the flowers. From my research, moths also serve a very vital function to the environment along with butterflies and bees as pollinators. 

  

A Painted Lady with its straw-like proboscis unraveled, eating nectar from the flower. 

 

 Painted Lady butterflies use their feet to taste food.

As far as my Brussel sprouts plants goes, I think I came out way ahead by allowing the plants to flower, even though I did not get to eat any fresh sprouts.  What a fun and exciting photo opp this has been.  And by the way I did enjoy many of the plant's leaves in fresh salads during the winter.  

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Painted Lady Butterflies in December

Butterflies in place of snowflakes for Northern Nevada!

What can be more amazing in early December than seeing an influx of Painted Lady butterflies fluttering around my yard?  So far the temperatures for Northwestern Nevada have been mild and averaging around 60 °f (15.55 c) during the day and not dropping much below the freezing point at night. 

I would assume that all these Vanessa cardui butterflies are on migration and seeking warmer climates for winter. 

There is not much nectar available for them at this time of year, other than some flowering rosemary and orange colored mallows.  

They seem very attracted to my Arborvitae shrub that is facing south and gets sun most of the day. 

Butterflies not only feed on nectar but also on tree sap, dung, pollen and rotting fruit.  They receive minerals and especially sodium that is vital to reproduction from wet areas on leaves, plants and the ground.  I try and provide shallow, wet areas on the patio rocks and ground when I notice butterflies in the area.   

This winter, I will not disturb any leaves that have fallen to the ground just in case they might have butterfly eggs.  A female butterfly will lay her eggs on milkweed, mallow or any leaf that will serve as a food source for the caterpillar.  Come spring, it will be interesting to note if I find any of the small bristled caterpillars that will accent my yard as Painted Lady butterflies.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Southern Butterfly Migrations in the Great Basin

Autumn Flight of Painted Ladies and Pygmy Blues

Autumn 2013 in the western portion of the Great Basin Desert has been very mild, following the record breaking heat of summer.  The warm days and cool nights have extended the growing season well into November, which is very unusual for this part of the U. S.

With so many flowers in bloom and the milder temperatures, I was beginning to fear that the Painted Lady butterflies were not going to show this year. 

Suddenly, as if on cue and when the days were starting to cool, Painted Ladies, along with the tiny Western Pygmy Blue butterflies were both here in large numbers.

The numerous sightings of painted lady, Vanessa cardui butterflies must be due to the prolific blooms of Rabbitbush and other plants that provide nourishment en route for their southward migration to the wintering habitats. 

The Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis) is the smallest butterfly in North America, with a wingspan of only one half inch (1.2 cm), it can easily go unnoticed.

 Preferring the Saltbush as its host plant and the alkali soil, it's no wonder the Western Pygmy Blue thrives in such great numbers around Walker Lake. 

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Summer of 2012, Great Basin Desert

 Nature's Subtle Changes

Over the summer of 2012, I have noticed some subtle changes with the birds and insects that I enjoy watching in my yard that is located in the Great Basin Desert of Northern Nevada.

 It was a cold spring this year with the temperatures not warming until June. However, the cooler temperatures and strong winds were not deterrents to the hummingbird migration. I noticed some early arrivals in mid-March.  Fortunately I had the feeders ready with plenty of sugar in my pantry.

The Bullock's Orioles began to show up much later than the typical April 15th. calendar date.  I was starting to worry that something had happened during their migration from South America when finally I noticed a male desperately trying to drink from the hummingbird feeder.  Quickly, I prepared the larger feeder that is designed to accommodate the orioles so that they can drink nectar water.

Once the air began to warm up, it got very hot.  The summer was also dry and even the seasonal monsoons did not produce any measurable moisture. 

The hot, dry summer did not deter the damselflies from being so prolific; I have never seen such large numbers and a few stragglers were still around in late August.

For the first time over the summer, I did not see any of the usual garden spiders that spin such intricate webs around the pond plants.

  I only saw one Western Spotted Orb Weaver on the Russian Sage.  

However, the lake spider orb weavers were out in mass with larger numbers than I have ever witnessed.   It was not a good time to go hiking through the brush, they are not poisonous but will bite.

The bees have been very plentiful and are still buzzing at every flower that is still in bloom this late in October.

After such an abundance of Painted Lady Butterflies from the summer of 2011, I only saw a few and they did not hang around for long.

Much to my surprise, the number of preying mantis was very low.  There were so many last summer and I found egg sacs on almost every wooden surface.

The summer of 2012 has been an unusual one and it seems to be getting hotter each year.  The Great Basin Desert is noted for its cooler temperatures and if the climate continues to warm, it will be very interesting to see what changes to nature this will bring.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui

Spring Migration, 2012

Over the week of March 25--30, 2012, I have been noticing a large number of Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies in my yard at Walker Lake, Nevada. For this time of year, the temperatures have been very mild, ranging from the high 60's (15.6 c) during the day and only dropping to the 40's (4.4c) at night.  Walker Lake is located in Northern Nevada, in the Great Basin Desert, 38.71N and 118.72W at an elevation of approximately 4,300 feet (1310.64m).

The Painted Ladies are migratory, beginning their northern trek from Baja California up through the northwestern states in the early spring, when the temperatures warm and wildflowers become abundant.   Their numbers appear to increase every four, five or six years when there has been a good breeding season which is contingent on the rainfall and available food source.   

During migration the Painted Ladies do not stop along the way, flying at night, in straight lines over obstacles and not around them, burning their larval fat as an energy source.  Neither battered nor torn wings keep these amazing creatures from fulfilling their destiny within their two week lifespan. 

The Painted Lady has two eyes that are composed of 10,000 lenses. 

 The proboscis or tongue is used for drinking nectar; however the Painted Lady tastes thought its feet.   

Although the Painted Lady butterfly is the most widespread butterfly in the world, its numbers are decreasing in the United States due to loss of habitat and climate changes. 

For more information on the Painted Lady, please visit the following links:

http://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/node/446
http://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/Article/painted-lady-butterfly

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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The Painted Lady Butterfly

 Accenting the Fall Flowers

The warm seasonal temperatures of this fall in 2011 have been such a delight to just get out with the camera and see what shows up.  Over the last few weeks, I've noticed a large number of Painted Lady butterflies that are highlighting the sunflowers along my walkway.  All I've had to do was just set up my D90 with the Nikon 150mm 2.8 macro lens on the tripod and click away.  

The Painted Lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui, also known as the thistle butterfly or cosmopolitan is one of the most widespread of all butterfly species because it is found in temperate and tropical areas across the globe. 

The adult Painted Lady's open orange wings extend  around 2 1/2 inches, 5-6 cm and are accented with white, blue and black circles.  

When folded, the underside of the wing is a duller shade of gray and brown with the leading edge accented in a white bar and smaller white spots.  Four small eyespots are visible on the hind wing. 

 

Even with pieces missing from this Painted Lady's wings, it seems to have no trouble maneuvering and flying. 

Painted Lady on a Rabbit Bush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, that is native to the Great Basin Desert and blooms from August through October.    

Since the life cycle of the Painted Lady butterfly is just a short two weeks, I will enjoy as much time as possible with these amazing creatures that flutter across my yard visiting each sunflower that is still in bloom.

For additional information:

http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/lepidopt/nymph/plady.htm

http://www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies

Photographs Make Great Gifts

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Photographing Butterflies

 The Illusive Butterfly

Trying to freeze the illusive butterfly in the lens of the camera can be both a rewarding and frustrating experience.  I was in southern New Mexico one summer when the Western Tiger Swallowtail butterflies were out in mass, feeding on the flowering thistles.  All I had to do was just stand nearby, clicking the shutter.

 

Western Tiger Swallowtail 

Most of the time, it is not so easy to get up close and the butterfly just refuses to be still.  Due to its survival instinct to flee from predators, the butterfly reacts to any movement, especially when the shadow from a moving body comes near.

Monarch

 

The time to photo a butterfly when it will remain still is in the early morning, before the sun catches its wings.  The butterfly’s metabolism slows down at night or when it is cool. In the early morning, the wings are spread to absorb heat before the butterfly can start moving them to begin feeding. 

Mourning Cloak

Having the camera on a tripod with a macro or telephoto lens allows you to get close to the butterfly and concentrate on the areas for sharp focus, which are the body and wings.

 Pygmy Blue

 By increasing the ISO, you can get a faster shutter speed in order to freeze the movement of the wings.  As in macro photography, I try and keep the lens parallel to the area of sharpest focus. 

Painted Lady

Frontal lighting is important to highlight the butterfly and bring out the accents and beautiful colors.

Pygmy Blue

Most often, if you remain still the butterfly will return to the nearby flower.  A little patience and preparation by pre-focusing on the flower also has given me good results.  I have heard that butterflies will not fly away if you wear dark clothes.  However I can not guarantee this since most times when I'm doing nature photography, I wear light, neutral colors.

 Zephyr Angelwing

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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