Lovely! Thanks for sharing.

Wow! How fantastic, Sandy! Such interesting butterflies!

I remember Ladobe saying that the males made a chastity belt for the females, and he wasn't kidding!

Sherry

Thanks for the update on Ladobe.

Yes, I appreciate the update on Larry as well. I do remember is focus on the Parnassians. Do you know if they are the only butterflies that "intercept" subsequent matings in this manner, Sandy? Really fascinating!

Susan

Susan,

They aren't the only BFs that do this. However, I couldn't find out how many or what kinds use sphragides. There isn't much out there. This butterfly is also referred to as the Apollo.

Parnassius phoebus is the Small Apollo, this one is known as Clodian Apollo.

Thanks for the info, Sandy. Activity is picking up a little here. I even have about 4 RAs that have made it thru to 5th instar w/o parasitation. Tons of GFs, making up for last year. No Swallowtails, tho. They are MIA here, after infrequent visits earlier and very few eggs. Lots of predators this year. Robber flies, Ichneumon wasps, wasps in general. I saw a Cardinal grab at one of the Manducas on my Datura this week. He didn't get the cat, but did kill it.

Saw a huge American Lady and very small Buckeye this week. Of course, the Cabbage Whites are here all the time. Very few QMs and HEs, TEs right now. I keep putting out the bananas. It's like one day the garden will be filled with hummers, birds, butterflies, and the next 4 or 5 days, nothing. Very odd. I am once again wondering about the migration this year with drought nearly everywhere. I am keeping my stand of Sunflowers and other nectar plants going in case they find me again.

Also had lots of Skippers and Checkerspots. I had cats on my Sunflowers that I "think" were Gorgones again.

One observation this year is that there are a lot of Skippers nectaring on the Lavender Porterweed. The flowers are more open than on the red, I guess. So, it is very popular with the little ones, big ones, and hummers.

Susan

Correction to anyone reading this thread. Ladobe is no longer dealing with cancer--all tests good. Small Apollo--forget that! LOL

Larry said to tell everyone "Hello". He stops by from time to time to check out the posts.

About the sphragis--"In the leps a sphragis is normally associated with primitive species, and Parnassinae are so primitive they are almost moths. Anyway, I thought about it on my walk, and off the top of my head In Papilionidae all of the Parnassiinae and I think most of the Troidini, and in some of the Nymphalids from tribes Melitaeini, Acraeini , Satyrini , and some of the Heliconiinae. Probably more, but that�s all that came to mind . . ." Ladobe.

The amount of knowledge Ladobe has is mind-boggling, and continues to make me aware of my ignorance about Lepidoptera.

Sandy

So glad to hear the update on Ladobe. My goodness he's had cancer for a long time so it's unexpected to get good news. Great news!