South Texas, America’s Butterfly Capital Introduction to the Butterflies of the Rio Grande Valley by Gil Quintanilla

Contents Purpose History Binoculars Butterfly Biology Finding and Identifying Valley Butterflies Butterfly Families

Purpose

History

Binoculars

Butterfly Biology

Finding and Identifying Valley Butterflies

Butterfly Families

Presentation Purpose How to find and identify butterflies in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

How to find and identify butterflies in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

History Throughout history butterflies have been associated with : Freedom Spiritual Growth Human Soul Ancient Warrior

Throughout history butterflies have been associated with :

Freedom

Spiritual Growth

Human Soul

Ancient Warrior

Butterflying Perks Your involvement with butterflies can improve your well being: Physical Mental Spiritual

Your involvement with butterflies can improve your well being:

Physical

Mental

Spiritual

Binoculars Binoculars greatly increase one’s ability to see: Larger Image Colors Sheens Intricate patterns

Binoculars greatly increase one’s ability to see:

Larger Image

Colors

Sheens

Intricate patterns

Biology - Structure Antennae Clubs Forewing Hindwing Tails Abdomen Thorax

Antennae

Clubs

Forewing

Hindwing

Tails

Abdomen

Thorax

Biology - Life Cycle LARVA ADULT EGG PUPA

Finding Valley Butterflies Backyard NABA Butterfly Park & World Birding Centers Butterfly Concentrators: Flowers Hilltops Mud puddles Sunshine

Backyard

NABA Butterfly Park & World Birding Centers

Butterfly Concentrators:

Flowers

Hilltops

Mud puddles

Sunshine

How to Identify Butterflies Is it a Butterfly or Moth? Size, Shape and Color Give it a Family Name Swallowtails Whites and Yellows Gossamer-wings Metalmarks Brushfoots Skippers

Is it a Butterfly or Moth?

Size, Shape and Color

Give it a Family Name

Swallowtails

Whites and Yellows

Gossamer-wings

Metalmarks

Brushfoots

Skippers

Moth or Butterfly

Monarch vs. Queen

Swallowtails Family

Giant Swallowtail

Ornythion Swallowtail

Pipevine Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Whites and Yellows Family

Florida and Great Southern Whites

Giant White

Orange Sulphur

Large Orange & Scarlet Musk Flower

Southern Dogface

White Angled-Sulphur & Texas Wild Olive

Gossamer-wings Family (Hairstreaks and Blues)

Gray Hairstreak

Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak

Great Purple Hairstreak

Dusky-blue Groundstreak

Ceraunus Blue (underside)

Ceraunus Blue (topside)

Metalmarks Family

Red-bordered Pixie

Fatal Metalmark

Red-bordered Metalmark

Rounded Metalmark

Blue Metalmark

Brushfoots Family

Thick-tipped Greta (Rare Stray from Mexico) 1 st U.S. Record - Greta Morgane

Malachite

Mexican Bluewing & Anacua Berries

Mexican Bluewing & Vasey Adelia

Theona Checkerspot

Queens Roosting on Granjeno

Queen and her Soldier BRUSHFOOTS BRUSHFOOTS

White Peacock

Zebra Heliconian, Violet-banded Skipper at Mexican Trixis

Skippers Family Spreadwing Skippers Grass Skipper

Spreadwing Skippers

Grass Skipper

Guava Skipper

Mournful Duskywing

Emerald Aguna

Fiery Skipper

Whirlabout

Sachem

Common Mellana

Southern Skipperling

Other Butterflies

Checkered White

Bordered Patch

Lyside Sulphur

Reakirt’s Blue

Recap 6 Butterfly Families Swallowtails Whites and Yellows Gossamer-wings Metalmarks Brushfoots Skippers

Swallowtails

Whites and Yellows

Gossamer-wings

Metalmarks

Brushfoots

Skippers

Stop and See the Butterflies

Visit and Explore Gil Quintanilla Nature Photography www.gilquintanilla.net

Gil Quintanilla Nature Photography

www.gilquintanilla.net