Great shots! Sure startled me the first time I saw one a few years ago sipping nectar from a lily not long after I got my first digital camera. Now when I see them, I just watch and enjoy. They've been on my meadow sage and mallow this year so far but even with camera in hand, they moved too quick for me to catch a clear shot. I WS monarda/bee balm last year so I'll have to keep a close eye out for those little guys.

I've been reading more about mosquito abatement programs & the dangers of insecticides since I wrote the original email, and frankly, it scares the bajeebers out of me. And then, of course, I got the old "Nothing is wrong. The insecticides only kill mosquitoes." (That from the mosquito abatement people.) And, "Insect populations vary from week to week, and year to year." Okay, that made me mad. Will you forgive me if I climb on my soapbox again, for just a little while? I'm worried over here! "Insect populations vary from year to year" is an excuse used by people who promote pesticides. Oh, it's true - the populations DO vary from week to month to year to year. But they're using it as a temporary cover-up for something that they don't want us to see. It silences us. It makes us feel unqualified - our observations aren't worth anything, because we're not scientists. We haven't conducted a long-term scientific study, we could be wrong. It makes us doubt our own observations. And maybe it stops us from worrying. Makes us think, okay, if something was really wrong, SOMEBODY would notice and do something. Until we see the same problem repeating itself. We see the population continue to decline. Sure, they can tell me that the Gulf Fritillary butterflies just aren't here yet this year. But when they never turn up in their former numbers? The next year, either? This is the 4th year - where are they? We need to quit listening to the pesticide promoters, and start believing our own eyes. Our own instincts. This really is a problem. And it's not just the butterflies that are in trouble. I've learned that many mosquito abatement programs are over-spraying with chemicals that are toxic to us, too. AND - there are safer larvacides (to kill the juvenile mosquitoes), and alternative methods of control. Those aren't being used very often at all. The really sad thing is that the pesticides are working very well. Just not on mosquitoes. Leslie

Tally, I think I posted in the wrong forum yesterday. I didn't know we had any bird watchers here. I can recognize hummers, cardinals, robins, blue jays, and mockingbirds, but the rest I have to search through books to I.D. Would you or anyone here be interested in writing an article about bird watching? Here is a link that might be useful: Cross post looking for bird watching article

I must respectfully disagree, Jean. I do understand that insect populations vary from year to year, and within an individual year. But I'm not the only person who has noticed the dramatic decrease. I'm not referring to the average person on the street, who might not notice a butterfly until it smacks into his windshield. I'm referring to butterfly gardeners, amateur naturalists. People who watch. People who pay attention, week by week, season by season. I'm not a scientist. And I didn't count the butterflies. But I noticed them. I fed them. I gardened for them. And for many bugs. I spent time almost every day observing. Sitting. Watching. Noticing. In several locations. I have observed the decline for several years now. Not for just one species, but for many. Not for a day, or a week. But over months. Years. And they're real. Sure, you can tell me that the Gulf Fritillary butterflies just aren't here yet this year. But when the normal numbers never turn up? The next year, either? This is the 4th year - where are they? "Insect populations vary from year to year" is an excuse used by people who promote pesticides. Don't let them fool you. Oh, it's true - the populations DO vary from week to month to year to year. But they're using it as a temporary cover-up for something that they don't want us to see. It silences us. It makes us feel like novices. Like our observations aren't worth anything, because we're not scientists. And maybe it stops us from worrying. Makes us think, okay, if something was really wrong, SOMEBODY would notice and do something. Until we see the same problem repeating itself. We see the population continue to decline, despite their glib assurances that everything is alright. We need to quit listening to the pesticide promoters, and start believing our own eyes. Our own instincts. This really is a problem. And it's not just toxic to bugs. I've done some reading since I posted the first email - many of our mosquito control persons are over-spraying toxic chemicals. And It's not working - we still have mosquitoes. There are alternatives, but they're not being used. And the really sad thing is ... these pesticides ARE working. Just not on the mosquitoes. Leslie