I spotted this checkerspot butterfly while hiking the Big Rock trail in Lucas Valley, Marin county, with my friend Jean in May. A few days later I spotted another — just like it? — outside my kitchen window, but it disappeared before I could grab the camera. There are several kinds of checkerspots in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’m thinking this one is the bay checkerspot, which is listed as endangered.
And . . . that’s a blue dick serving up nectar to the butterfly.
I notice that I’ve been photographing a lot of insects lately.
- A humongous dragonfly, spotted in my front yard, about 3 1/2 inches long, feasting on lavender and coexisting with a bee just inches away.
- Houseflies caught between the screen and window in my kitchen.
- Gnats (fruit flies?) on a blousy white poppy.
For another nature story, go to “The Trouble With Daffodils.”
I enjoy seeing bugs turn up in my flower photos, especially camouflaged spiders. It’s nature.
So far I haven’t seen a camouflaged spider on any of my flowers. But . . . maybe they have all been camouflaged!