A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
I`m not sure what kind of butterfly this is, but I do know it was flying around the garden in my front yard. It land on a pink flower (vinca) to get some nectar. This creature was very small (probably about the size of a skittle) and had 6 legs. It had 2 short antennas and and a predominalty black body. It is also evident that it had just finished raining based off of the beads on the pedals.
Most species thrive in warmer temperatures, but they can survive fall and winter. Many of them are found in garden such as the one in my front yard. They are found in places that have vegetation and plants with useful nectar. They can also be found in different habitats, including mangroves, salt marshes, lowland forests, sand dunes, wetlands, mountainous regions and grasslands.
Spotted on Sep 24, 2016
Submitted on Dec 13, 2016
5 Comments
Thanks for the insight!
A full list with links to pictures of all NC butterflies can be found here: http://www.carolinanature.com/butterflie...
There are about 80 Skipper species to go through.
Skipper butterflies, have the antennae clubs hooked backward, like a crochet needle. Most Skippers, have the antenna tip, modified into a narrow hook like projection. I looked at your first and third photo, with a magnifying glass, and I saw the tips of each antenna, was hooked backwards, like those of a Skipper. Your third photo was the best. With my magnifying glass, I could see very clearly, that the tips of each antenna, was hooked backwards, like a Skipper. In my opinion, this is a Skipper...... I made an error before. This is not a Moth....
I've added a third picture, which is a crop of the original first picture you posted and shows more detail. The trailing edge of the forewing is in better focus and may provide a clue. The clubbed antennae confirm it as a Butterfly and not a moth and yes, it could be a Skipper, but no doubt you have lots over there, like we have lots over here in Europe. If you could crop your pictures before posting it would make them easier to examine as our program automatically downsizes them to fit small screens.
A skipper?