For fifteen minutes or so, this lovely female silvery blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) was nicknamed Buddy. Then she flew away.Silvery blues are common in May and June in clearings, meadows, roadsides and near streams across Canada. This silvery blue was hanging out at a local gardencentre. Smart butterfly, eh?
One reason silver blues are prolific is they lay their eggs on the flower buds and young leaves of various members of the pea/bean family, which includes sweet peas, lupines, clover and vetch – the third largest plant family on earth. The emerging caterpillars feed on the flowers, seedpods, and young leaves and are tended by ants until the chrysalids form. The adults feed on yummy nectar from plants of the the aster family (daisies, asters, Echinacea).I'm not sure if this butterfly was looking for a plant to lay eggs or for a flower loaded with nectar. Ha! The finger on which she's perched doesn't look like a sweetpea or an aster!
Aren't butterflies just wonderful--I love the variety of them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe she had cold feet and the finger was a place to warm up. I like to see butterflies but it will be another 20 to 30 days before we get to see the really large ones here in Ohio. It is still cold at 47 F this morning.
ReplyDeleteThe name sure suits it. It's such a pretty color.
ReplyDeleteI do not seem to be having any luck getting near to butterfly's.. so I will enjoy the beauties such as this I come across on the blogs of friends such as you :O)
ReplyDeleteI've never had a butterfly land on my finger like that. Lucky person who was holding out the finger.... was it you?
ReplyDeleteYou guys are just so sweet. Ilke buddy too. MB
ReplyDeleteThat silvery blue butterfly is incredible! It seems to glow! Lovely! :D
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