This post is mostly about pretty bugs.
Last night I watered my garden the minute I got home, before going inside. I disturbed quite a bit of wildlife by doing it, but they seemed forgiving. There was a dark brown moth. I think it might have been one of the ctenucha moths that are towards the middle of this page. Although it might have also been a skipper rather than a moth. I have trouble telling the difference between the two, sometimes. There was also a yellow butterfly that might have been one of the sulphers near the bottom of this page and my mated pair of whites who I think are Florida whites (also on the page with the sulphers). There were also some teeny flying things. No bees though. I think I have only seen about 6 bees all spring and summer, which is very odd, and most of them were spotted early in the spring out by the ligustrum in front of our condos, not on my patio. I have heard news reports about bee shortages but I’m not really sure what is up with that. It is not a good thing, that’s for sure.
I think I need to buy a really good, comprehensive book on butterflies and moths. Since I’m planning on going to Borders for at least a little while on Friday but not buying my HP book there, I think I will treat myself to a butterfly book while I am there.
I found a website that attempts to explain the differences between butterflies, skippers, and moths, but every single section reads something like, “Moths do not ______________. Exception: Many moths ___________________.” I think the classification is somewhat random. However one interesting thing it says that I did not realize is that moths pupate with a cocoon and butterflies and skippers do not. My favorite explanation of the differences between the two is Perhaps the best answer that matches our current knowledge is just to say that butterflies are "fancy moths."
Also, I thought the same mated pair of white butterflies was revisiting me every year, but apparently that is impossible:
An average butterfly species has an adult life span of 2 weeks or less. For example one butterfly studied in Costa Rica had a life expectancy of about 2 days, and live 10 days at the most. No adult butterfly can live more than a year.
And in non-bug related news, I was in a lot of pain last night, and couldn’t sleep. I was up at 3:30 with the cat looking at me like, “WTF turn the light off I’m tired!! Or play with me!!” Now I am exhausted and have too much to do. Woe!
I think I need to buy a really good, comprehensive book on butterflies and moths. Since I’m planning on going to Borders for at least a little while on Friday but not buying my HP book there, I think I will treat myself to a butterfly book while I am there.
I found a website that attempts to explain the differences between butterflies, skippers, and moths, but every single section reads something like, “Moths do not ______________. Exception: Many moths ___________________.” I think the classification is somewhat random. However one interesting thing it says that I did not realize is that moths pupate with a cocoon and butterflies and skippers do not. My favorite explanation of the differences between the two is Perhaps the best answer that matches our current knowledge is just to say that butterflies are "fancy moths."
Also, I thought the same mated pair of white butterflies was revisiting me every year, but apparently that is impossible:
An average butterfly species has an adult life span of 2 weeks or less. For example one butterfly studied in Costa Rica had a life expectancy of about 2 days, and live 10 days at the most. No adult butterfly can live more than a year.
And in non-bug related news, I was in a lot of pain last night, and couldn’t sleep. I was up at 3:30 with the cat looking at me like, “WTF turn the light off I’m tired!! Or play with me!!” Now I am exhausted and have too much to do. Woe!