Halloween Pennant
Halloween Pennant, Celithemis eponina I found this spectacular dragonfly at the edge of the 5-acre Prairie this afternoon. Halloween Pennants have always been my favorite dragonfly. I love the “Halloween” … Continued
Tiger Swallowtail
Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus With ideal moisture and temperatures the prairie plants are especially lush this year. That means lots of flowers and lots of butterflies. I photographed this Eastern Tiger swallowtail … Continued
Pipevine Swallowtails Mating
Pipevine Swallowtails, Battus philenor I wasn’t sure what was waving like a flag on a grass stalk in the prairie this morning. On closer inspection I found these two Butterflies mating. … Continued
Eastern Pondhawk
Eastern Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicicollis These are ferocious dragonflies, attacking even each other. I found this female in a draw in the middle of the prairie today.
Blue Dasher on a Lily Bud
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis Pointing the abdomen strait up like this is called obelisking. Dragonflies do that on hot days like today. The raised abdomen reduces the surface area so … Continued
Clouded Sulphur
Clouded Sulphur, Colias philodice. This is one of the most common butterflies at the Prairie Garden Trust and much of America; you can even find them in Alaska. Here it is … Continued
Giant Swallowtail
Giant Swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes This butterfly lives up to it’s name; it’s huge! With a wingspread of over 6-inches it’s the largest butterfly in all of North America. I photographed this … Continued
Blue Dasher
There are wonderful details to be seen when you get up close with a dragonfly face-to-face. This is a Blue Dasher that I photographed yesterday around one of our ponds.Blue … Continued
Dragonfly Sex!
Arrowhead Spiketail, Cordulegaster obliqua I found this attractive couple mating near our house last week. They are in the “wheel” formation which is typical for dragonflies. I’m told by Paul McKenzie … Continued
Tiger Swallowtail
Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus The butterfly weeds started to bloom today and it’s easy to see how the orange flowered plant got it’s name; it’s a butterfly magnet! Here you can … Continued