Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
 Insect Art to promote insect development.



The Cabbage White is found in every part of North America, from Northern Canada to Mexico, and in many other parts of the world. Originally an African and Eurasian species, it was introduced into Quebec Province in 1860. In a matter of decades, the butterfly had spread across the continent. The larvae of Cabbage Whites feed only on plants containing mustard oil, principally members of the Brassicaceae family. This characteristic makes them very unpopularwith farmers, since many brassicas are food plants for humans, as well. The mustard oil renders them unpalatable to birds, certainly a reason that these butterflies are so prolific. The adults nectar on a wide variety of flowers, including those of Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Brassicaceae.The adults illustrated here are nectaring on Blazing Star (Liatris spicata).The larvae and a pupa are shown as observed on Tuscan Kale (Brassica oleracea).

Artist: Lanis Monfried
E-mail address: laniswm@optonline.net

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Common Buckeye Butterfly

Common Buckeye (Junonia coeni)
Insect art to promote insect growth and development.


Named for it distinctive eye spots on its wings, the Common Buckeye has a wingspan of 2 - 2.5 inches.  The Buckeye prefers open, sunny areas with some bare ground and low vegetation. It is shown here
with Common Lantana (Lantana camara). During the day males perch to watch for females, flying periodically to chase other flying insects. Females lay eggs singly on the topside of host plant leaves upon which the caterpillar feeds (Depicted here is the Common Broad-leaved Plaintain (Plantago major).The Buckeye is found throughout the southern United States and north along the coasts. Although the Buckeye flies in summer throughout much of North, it is not able to overwinter very far north. In the autumn along the East Coast, there are impressive southward migrations. In places such as Cape May, New Jersey, the October hordes of Buckeyes drifting southward rival those of Monarchs in number and spectacle.

Artist:  Douglas Nieters  
E-mail address:  doug.nieters@credit-suisse.com
Website: http://www.dougnieters.com