Red Spotted Purple

This butterfly resembles a swallowtail, but it is a brushfoot. The blue iridescence is eye-catching. This is only the second one I have seen in my garden. It's almost like it came just to pose for me - it flew in, landed on the penta leaf, and stayed there open-winged while I took my photos. This one came out beautifully.

Gulf Fritillary

These beautiful orange butterflies start showing up here in August. In this photo the sun shines through the wings like stained glass. You can see the white "panes", which are on the outside of the wing.

Buckeye

Here is a common buckeye sunning itself on a sandy area.

The New Buckeye

This is a buckeye that I photographed as it pupated & eclosed. See the caterpillar section for other pictures of it.

The New Buckeye

Another shot.

The New Buckeye - Outer Wing

While it was drying its wings, I got this great shot of the outer side of the wings.

Variegated Fritillary

These lovely golden butterflies seem to like yellow flowers the best.

Variegated Fritillary

Nectaring on coreopsis.

American Painted Lady

These butterflies are similar to their cousin the Painted Lady. One way to tell the difference is to look for the tiny white spot in the middle of the orange panel on the forewing, clearly visible here.

American Painted Lady

Here is the outside of the wing. The little white spot is visible here also, as well as the two eyespots that are larger than in the regular Painted Lady.

Painted Lady

I don't see many Painted Ladies. American Ladies are more common here. This one looks fresh and brightly colored. I have seen wild thistles growing around here, which are their larval food, so I hope to see more in the future!

Painted Lady

Here is the outside view of the wings. Note the two small "eyes" on the lower wing, which are much smaller than the ones on the American Painted Lady.

Monarch

I never see Monarchs until late in the summer, so it is a thrill when they start showing up. The easiest way to tell a Monarch from a Viceroy is that Monarchs have spots on the outside of their wings, while Viceroys do not.

Male Monarch

This is not the greatest picture, but you can see the little black spots on his hindwings that let us know this is a male. Here he is sunning himself on my Wax Myrtle hedge. It was early in the morning, and he would nectar on the buddleia in the shade for a few minutes, then go hang in the sun, then back to the buddleia, back and forth for quite a while.

Male Monarch

Here he is sunning himself on the Rose of Sharon.