Tag Archives: fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus)

A rose by any other name

In mid April I watched a black swallowtail (a.k.a. eastern black swallowtail, American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail; Papilio polyxenes) as it flitted through a clearing laden with white vervain (Verbena urticifolia).

A black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) feeding on white vervain (Verbena urticifolia) flowers (IMG_1382)

Not once did I get close to the butterfly, snapping photos for several minutes from some distance away, but even my remote view made clear the insect rather enjoyed the verbena flowers.

A black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) feeding on white vervain (Verbena urticifolia) flowers (IMG_1376)

By early May I noticed a similar plant flowering near the house, one easily viewed from the door, and all about this shorter plant—weather permitting of course—dozens of butterflies billowed and churned, dashing here and flying there, each vying for a position upon this rather ordinary looking plant, something most would consider a weed.

A variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) feeding on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) flowers (IMG_1929)

Variegated fritillaries (a.k.a. hortensia; Euptoieta claudia) abounded, as did a laundry list of butterflies both large and small, all drawn to Texas vervain (a.k.a. Texas verbena or slender verbena; Verbena halei).

A variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) feeding on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) flowers (IMG_1839)

From spring through summer right into autumn, the plant served as a lightning rod for butterflies, and this I pointed out to my family much to their profound enjoyment.

A dainty sulphur (Nathalis iole) feeding on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) (IMG_2753)

So long as the weather didn’t turn inclement, it was easy to find dainty sulphurs (a.k.a. dwarf yellow; Nathalis iole), North America’s smallest sulphur.

A larval pinion (Lithophane sp.) feeding on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) (20121103_04886)

And it was easy to find young and old alike, such as this larval pinion (Lithophane sp.), a butterfly in another form.

A Reakirt's blue (Echinargus isola) feeding on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) (20121103_04952)

It wasn’t at all unusual to find startling beauty just a few steps away, like this Reakirt’s blue (Echinargus isola).

A eufala skipper (Lerodea eufala) feeding on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) (20121103_04921)

Similarly, it wasn’t difficult to find subtle beauty like this eufala skipper (a.k.a. rice leaffolder; Lerodea eufala).

Fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) feeding on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) (20121103_04890)

Fiery skippers (Hylephila phyleus) remained plentiful—remain plentiful, I should say, for that photo was taken just the other day—going into mid November!

A beet webworm moth (Spoladea recurvalis) feeding on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) (20121103_04883)

The plant doesn’t just accumulate butterflies though, as indicated by this beet webworm moth (a.k.a. Hawaiian beet webworm moth or spinach moth; Spoladea recurvalis).

A sphecid wasp (Prionyx parkeri) feeding on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) (20121103_04897)

Like the moth, this sphecid wasp (Prionyx parkeri) shows how varied the host’s visitors are, from a plethora of bees and wasps to a small variety of flies to a few grasshopper species to moths and beyond, each joining dozens of butterflies each day to visit and enjoy the sweet nectar these flowers offer.

Close-up of blooms on Texas vervain (Verbena halei) (IMG_3147)

Everyone asked me when pointing out this verbena plant if it was in fact a butterfly bush.  Though this vervain grows only a foot or two high—hardly a bush—and though it’s not closely related to true butterfly bushes (Buddleja sp. [or Buddleia sp.]), it needn’t be called a butterfly bush in order to serve the same purpose, perhaps even to a superior degree.

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Other butterflies seen on this plant but not photographed (or, at least, not photographed well):

  • Gulf fritillary (a.k.a. passion butterfly; Agraulis vanillae)
  • common buckeye (Junonia coenia)
  • cabbage white (a.k.a. small white, small cabbage white or white butterfly; Pieris rapae)
  • question mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
  • American snout (Libytheana carinenta)
  • sleepy orange (a.k.a. sleepy sulphur; Abaeis nicippe)
  • common checkered-skipper (Pyrgus communis)
  • clouded skipper (Lerema accius)
  • funereal duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)

A million fluttering wings

There is a quiet that only butterflies know.  It’s in the whisper of flight that they alone can hear, the fluttering of a million wings that passes unnoticed by most.  It is a sound like soft rain penetrating the canopy of a tropical forest, a rain made of shadows and colors and creatures who ride on the air.

Little glassywing (Pompeius verna) perched on a leaf (2009_04_11_015026)

There is a beauty that only butterflies possess.  It’s in the chalice of wings that contains hues of fire and ice, patterns both simple and complex, exquisite paintings nature alone can produce.

Fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) feeding on white clover (2009_06_06_022575)

There is a strength that only butterflies show.  It’s in their flight on weightless wings held steady, their headlong travel against winds tossing them to and fro but which fail to stop them.

Hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis) perched on a leaf (2009_06_07_022755)

There is a serenity that only butterflies feel.  It’s the calm that rests upon a leaf, wings folded, eyes watchful.  It permeates the air surrounding them and infiltrates the soul that sets eyes upon them.

Variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) in shadow and light (2009_06_07_022743)

There is a power that only butterflies hold.  It’s the flame that burns from within, the light captured and set free in patterns unimaginable and dizzying.

Cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae) feeding on nectar (2009_06_14_023522)

There is a world that only butterflies see.  It’s the jungle of freshly mowed grass, the enticement of colors rich and rare that blossoms hold high, the mystery of daylight and long shadows.  It is a world we can only imagine.

Orange sulphur (a.k.a. alfalfa sulphur; Colias eurytheme) perched on a blade of grass (2009_06_21_024649)

There is a magic that only butterflies wield.  It’s in the spell cast by a million fluttering wings.

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Photos:

[1] Little glassywing (Pompeius verna)

[2] Fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus)

[3] Hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis)

[4] Variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)

[5] Cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

[6] Orange sulphur (a.k.a. alfalfa sulphur; Colias eurytheme)

I shall not douse your flame

“If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.”

— Leo Tolstoy, The First Step

When I came across this grass skipper during my walk Sunday, it rested ever so gently upon a blade of grass still wet with morning’s heavy dew.  There it perched, sometimes with wings spread for the world to see, sometimes with them held closely, as if guarded against some unseen foe.

A male fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) resting upon a blade of grass covered with dew (203_0341)

I studied the gentle butterfly with eyes wide, and I watched as it drank from nature’s tears.

A male fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) resting upon a blade of grass covered with dew (203_0343)

And when I intruded upon its solitude by moving too near, it turned to look at me, as if questioning whether I meant to harm it.

A male fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) resting upon a blade of grass covered with dew (203_0346)

I promise, my dearest fiery skipper, I shall not douse your flame.  Burn bright, burn hot, and burn as you see fit.  I ask only that you let me share this brief experience with you.

[a male fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus), or so I think, for so many grass skipper species share similar appearances]