Butterflies on Fuerteventura

[Tardis]

New crop of caterpillars on the milkweeds but also an army of Oleander Bug 


spent several hours squashing by hand every one I could find, there'll probably be a fresh army tomorrow.

It's a full time job!  They seem to prefer the yellow milkweeds.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Plenty of Monarch caterpillars in the garden, eating me out of house and home 


During the day we've had loads of dragonflies but they were too quick for me to get any pics. Shrek the shrike caught several in flight for a snack, keeping watch from his perch in the bougainvillea:


Around sunset the garden was invaded by Hummingbird Hawk Moths - I've never seen so many at once. They fed on anything that was in bloom but the favourites were Wintergreen, Rosemary and Mexican Petunias. Their wings beat so fast they are very difficult to capture with a phone camera - it's just a blur. First pic mine, second pic courtesy of wiki:
 

[Tardis]

Plenty of Monarch caterpillars in the garden, eating me out of house and home 


During the day we've had loads of dragonflies but they were too quick for me to get any pics. Shrek the shrike caught several in flight for a snack, keeping watch from his perch in the bougainvillea:


Around sunset the garden was invaded by Hummingbird Hawk Moths - I've never seen so many at once. They fed on anything that was in bloom but the favourites were Wintergreen, Rosemary and Mexican Petunias. Their wings beat so fast they are very difficult to capture with a phone camera - it's just a blur. First pic mine, second pic courtesy of wiki:
 

It looks like that caterpillar might have sets of 3 sets of antennae.  If it does, it might be a Queen butterfly which is very similar to a Monarch.  I've attached a photo of one we had in our garden in July.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Thx Tardis, interesting! 
I think mine is Monarch as stripey rather than blobby, but certainly looks like 3rd set of antennae! No sign of it now, guess it's gone to pupate. I'll keep looking though as Queens have slightly different pupa so may ID through that.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Several Painted Ladies around today:

 

Looking back on previous sightings reported here we've seen them: Feb, Mch, Aug, Sept and Dec.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

This little caterpillar chose yesterday's gales to wander off to pupate - his glue must be pretty sticky stuff!



Overnight:


Only 1 of the current brood still feeding. Plenty of bloom on the milkweeds:

 

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Today I found an enormous Deaths-Head Hawkmoth caterpillar in my garden, taking a walk over the grava. It was approx 6 inches long and thicker than my thumb, very bright colouring. I kept an eye on it for a while, worried that Shrek the Shrike would strike, and feared the worst when it disappeared. Later I found it in a nearby shrub 

 

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

A monarch emerged yesterday, the only one of that brood to reach the end stage. A female has been feeding and egg laying so more on the go soon.

  

  

 

[windermeregolfer]

WOW what fantastic photos Tamara.

[Tardis]

Great shots Tamara.  They emerge so quickly.