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Past Species of the Week: InsectsSee main Species of the Week page for references. |
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GO TO PREVIOUS FLOWERS OF THE WEEK GO TO PREVIOUS BIRDS OF THE WEEK GO TO PREVIOUS CRITTERS OF THE WEEK This species is presented by a Friend of Crex, mn_windchill. You can find more from her at http://sci.windwolf.org/crexMain.htm
Wing span: 3 1/4 - 4 1/4 inches (8 - 11 cm). Larvae feed on plants of the carrot family (Apiaceae = Umbelliferae). Commonly found on Dill, Parsley and Fennel in gardens, and Queen-Anne's-Lace in the wild. Female lays eggs singly on leaves and flowers of the host, which are then eaten by hatching larvae. Hibernates as a chrysalis. Habitat: Open areas, meadows, fields, and gardens where caterpillar host plants grow. This species is presented by a Friend of Crex, mn_windchill. You can find more from her at http://sci.windwolf.org/crexMain.htm
The various Blues have begun to show themselves in the last two weeks with numbers increasing as warm days lengthen. It is difficult to separate males from females in this particular species, but the various websites indicate the females are darker with a wider black band.
Wing span: 7/8 - 1 1/4 inches (2.2 - 3.2 cm).
Caterpillars feed on flowers, seedpods, and young leaves and are tended by ants; fully-grown caterpillars hibernate. The Blues present a difficult challenge to photograph with wings open most days. What seems to work is being ready to take a picture soon after the butterfly lands. Large groups of Blues tend to show open more frequently. 2008 (July 5-11, 2008) American CopperLycaena phlaeas (Gossamer-wing Family Lycaenidae)
American Coppers have two to three broods each year in this area. The flight periods are from late May to mid September. It overwinters as a chrysalis under leaves and rocks. It's favorite foods as a caterpillar are curly dock and sheep sorrel. The adults prefer clovers, yarrow, orange hawkweed, ox-eyed daisy, buttecups, goldenrods and black-eyed susans. (June 21-27) American LadyVanessa virginiensis (Brushfoot Family Nymphalidae)
The similar Painted Lady lacks the black spots on the upper hindwing and has four eyespots on the lower hindwing, as well as a different overall orange and black pattern on the forewing above. American Ladies have two to three broods each year in this area. The flight periods are from early May to mid June and again Mid July to October. It overwinters as a chrysalis. It's favorite foods as a caterpillar are pussytoes, burdock and everlasting. The adults prefer clovers, fleabane, chokecherries, lilac, milkweeds, hawkweed, asters, and goldenrods. Newly emerged males often congregate at puddles. (June 14-20) Rusty Snaketail Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis (Clubtail Family Gomphidae)
This dragonfly prefers clear, moving streams and rivers. It prefers grassy open banks for perching. Juveniles are often seen in forest openings (this one was probably a juvenile as it was a bit out of it's normal habitat) while adults perch on rocks and twigs along the riverways. 2007 (August 25-31) Atlantis Fritllary, Speyeria atlantis (Brushfoot family Nymphalidae)
The Atlantis Fritillary has one brood each summer with a flight period from mid-June through August. It overwinters as a caterpillar. It feeds on several common flower species, incuding common milkweed, Joe-Pye weed, thistles, knapweed, hawkweed, and several others. (August 18-24) Goldenrod Crab Spider, Misumena vatia (Crab Spider Family Thomisidae) flower spider
The color change that occurs in females is quite fascinating. It is made possible by secreting a liquid yellow pigment into the outer cell layer of the body. On a white base, this pigment is transported into lower layers, so that inner glands become visible. If the spider dwells longer on a white plant, the yellow pigment is often excreted. It will then take the spider much longer to change to yellow, because it will have to produce the yellow pigment first. The color change is induced by visual feedback; spiders with painted eyes were found to have lost this ability. The color change from white to yellow takes between 10 to 25 days, the reverse about six days. Crab spiders are also commonly called "flower spiders" because they are most often found on flowers, lying in ambush for prey. Crab spiders do not build webs to trap prey, but are active hunters much like the jumping spiders (Salticidae). They are called crab spiders because of their first two pairs of legs, which are held out to the side giving them (with their flattened, angular bodies) a crab-like appearance. Also, like crabs, these spiders move sideways and backward more easily than forward11. (August 4-10) Hummingbird Clearwing, Hemaris thysbe (Sphinx or Hawk Moth Family Sphingidae) a.k.a Hummingbird Moth, Lobster Moth
The Hummingbird Clearwing is a large moth that resembles a hummingbird in flight (although it is smaller than the bird) It lack scales on the wings except for a dark border around the edge, giving rise to the common name for this moth group, clearwing moths. The hummingbird clearwing has a furry greenish-yellow or tan body with a wide reddish-brown band across the abdomen, and a wingspan of 1½ to 2¼ inches. It's tail resembles a lobster's tail, explaining another of it's nicknames. Hummingbird Clearwings feed on nectar-producing flowers during the day, unlike many other moths. It has a long proboscis which it uses to gather the nectar. The proboscis coils up when not in use. These moths have one generation in this northern region, but have two in the southern parts of it's range. Adults can be seen throughout the summer here. The caterpillar is green and hairless with a horn at it's rear. It's chrysalis is a dark-brown, thin walled cucoon. Hummingbird Clearwings may be found feeding on Joe-Pye-Weed, Coneflowers, Bee Balm, and other flowers that hummingbirds would be found at. (July 7-20) Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus (Brushfoot Family Nymphalidae)
The monarch is told from it's smaller mimic, the Viceroy, by it's size and wing pattern. The Viceroy has a solid black line vertical line from the top to the bottom of the wing. Spring Monarchs arrive from the south usually in mid-May. Their first brood of caterpillars by mid-June and pupates in July. The next generation of caterpillars appear by mid-August and pupate in late August. They begin their migration south in September. They overwinter in the Sierra Madre Mountains of central Mexico. As they move north again, they lay eggs in Texas. This generation is the one that migrates to this area in May. The Monarch caterpillar's favorite food is milkweed, which is abundant in this area. Adults feed on milkweed and many other flowering plants that grow abundantly here, such as Joe-Pye Weed, Knapweed, thistles, sunflowers, asters, and the many varieties of Blazing Star. Watch for them along the many roadsides throughout all of our wildlife areas. (July 7-20) Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina (Skimmer Family Libelluludae, Genus Celithemis; small skimmers)
Halloween Pennants can be found usually near water where they lay their eggs into the water, even on windy days. The mated pair flies straight up into the air fifty feet before speeding to the water to drop their eggs. They often feed and forage away from water in grassy areas. Look for this dragonfly throughout Crex Meadows. (June 30 - July 6) Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella (Libellulidae family (skimmers))
The Twelve-spotted Skimmer is a medium sized dragonfly, about 2 inches long. It has three large, black patches on each wing. The males also have white patches between the black patches on all four wings and at the base of each hindwing. Male Twelve-spotted Skimmer's flight is accented by bursts of speed and sudden hovering stops, followed by a hasty retreat in a completely different direction8. They fly irregular patrols and drive off all other dragonflies of all species that enter it's territory. They guard the female while she is laying her eggs (ovipositing), otherwise other males may harass her. The female lays it's eggs by tapping it's tail onto the water above vegetation. The Twelve-spotted Skimmer is a common dragonfly in our area, preferring waterways with marshy borders and soft bottoms. Look for the Twelve-spotted Skimmer feeding near water throughout Crex Meadows and Fish Lake Wildlife Areas. (June 23-29) Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele (Brushfoot family Nymphalidae)
This Fritillary differs from others similar to it mainly by it's larger size and the hind wing's yellow band. The Aphrodite Fritillary has a much darker band at the outer edge of the hind wing and lacks the darker coloring near the body. The Atlantis Fritillary has a solid black border on the outer edge of the wing. The males emerge first, in late June and early July, and the females emerge about 4 weeks later. The ones in the above photo are most likely two males. Look for Great Spangled Fritillary feeding on milkweeds throughout Crex Meadows and Fish Lake Wildlife Areas.
(June 16-22) Mourning
Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Brushfoot family Nymphalidae)
The Mourning Cloak is a sap-eating butterfly with Black wings lined with blue dots and a light yellow to white band around the lower wings. It's wingspan measures 3-4 inches long. This is one of the earliest butterflies seen each year and can be spotted throughout the spring, summer and fall. It has one brood each season. Adults hibernate in hollow logs, woodpiles or loose bark through winter and mate in April and May. Their young emerge in late June and alternately feed and estivate (go into dormancy) in July and August. They wake again in late August and September and feed again until late fall when they go into hibernation or migrate south. Mourning Cloaks are one of the longest-lived butterflies, living up to 11 months. Look for Mourning Cloaks in the wooded areas in Crex Meadows and other GLG-managed properties. (June 9-15) Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Papilio canadensis (Swallowtail family Papilionidae)
The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail and it's closely related cousin, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail are nearly identical, and their range overlaps in this part of Wisconsin. They will sometimes mate and produce hybrids where they overlap. One of the major differences between the two species is that the Canadian Tiger produces only one brood each year while the Eastern Tiger produces two. A yellow swallowtail observed in August here is most likely the Eastern Tiger, but May through July it could be either. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is larger than the Canadian Tiger, and there are subtle differences in markings. Both species overwinter as a chrysalis. Look for Canadian Tiger Swallowtails feasting on Hoary Puccoon or many of the other wildflowers growing throughout all of the GLG-managed properties. See main Species of the Week page for references.
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***This website is brought to you by the Friends of Crex, a non-profit organization dedicated to SUPPORTING WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE EDUCATION at the crex meadows complex*** FRIENDS OF CREX, INC. 102 EAST CREX AVENUE, GRANTSBURG WISCONSIN 54840 (715) 463-2739 www.crexmeadows.org |
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Black
Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes
Silvery
Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus 
Caterpillar
hosts: Members of the legume family including Astragalus, Lotus, Lupinus,
Melilotus, Oxytropis, Lathyrus, and Vicia. 
The
American Copper is a small butterfly with a 1 to 1 1/8 inch wingspan.
The forewing is orange with black median stripes and black spots in the
center.
The hindwing is mostly black or dark gray with an orange submarginal
stripe with black spots along the edges. Underneath, the forewing
is light orange with white-encircled black spots. Males and
females are similar.
The
American Lady is a medium-sized butterfly with a 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 inch
wingspan. It is orange-black above and gray and pink below.
The forewing is orange with black median spots that are not connected.
The hindwing is mostly orange with four black submarginal connected
spots. Underneath, the forewing has a large pink patch and the
hindwing has two large "eyespots" within a mask-like pattern.
There is a saying about this butterfly "American Ladies have big eyes
and an open mind" which refers to the large pale patch inward from the
eyespots. 
The rusty snaketail is a
medium-sized (2 inches long) dragonfly with a bright green thorax with
small, brown shoulder stripes and no bold side stripes, only a small,
dark, incomplete thoracic stripe. The abdomen is brown without
distinct top spots, and appears rust colored in flight. The face
and occiput are green. 
The
Atlantis Fritillary is a medium-sized fritllary with a 2 to 2 3/4 inch wingspan. They are orange above with
numerous black lines and
spots through out the wing black wing margins. Males have darkened
veins. The lower wing is mostly orange with some black spots and
orange spots near the tips of the otherwise black edges. As with
most of the other fritillaries, there is a very light edging to both
wings, more yellow than white in this case. The back of the wings
appear light brown with black spots towards the body above and white
spots below. The outer white spots are triangular in shape, and
the light sub marginal band is much narrower than in the Great-Spangled
Fritillary and absent in the others. 
The
Goldenrod Crab Spider is a small spider, females grow up to 10
millimeters and males to 5 millimeters. Females are white or yellow
(they change color based on the flower they are on), and males are
brown. They are most commonly found on goldenrod, primrose, and
asters.
Named
for it's black and orange/yellow wings,
the Halloween Pennant is a small dragonfly that grows to an average 1.5 inches long. Mature males and some females
have a orange-red face and body markings, and most females have yellow
marks. No other band-winged species has the tinted wings that this
dragonfly has, so it is difficult to mis-identify the Halloween Pennant.
It's flight is bouncy and butterfly-like. It seems to enjoy flying
on windy days when other dragonflies seek shelter. They are even
active in light rain and on cooler days.
Great
Spangled Fritillary is the largest of all fritillaries with a 2 1/2 to 3
1/2 inch wingspan. They are orange above with black stripes and
spots through out the wing and white or silver spots at the edges of the
wing. The inner part of the wing closest to the body is darker.
The hind wing is orange to light brown with light brown markings and
white spots. There is a light yellow band towards the outer edge
of the hindwing.
The
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is a beautiful yellow butterfly with a 3-4
inch wingspan. It has black striping that resembles tiger stripes
at the forewing and broad black striping around the outer wings with
blue and red spots at the tail. Swallowtails are so-named for the
"swallow-like" long tail that most other butterflies lack.