Daily Archives: August 16, 2012

Oncopeltus fasciatus (Large Milkweed Bug) nymphs

There are only a few fading flowers left on the Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) in our yard and there are masses of gossamer bejeweled seeds. While taking the previous post’s picture of a butterfly I noticed masses of these nymphs of the large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus). Like many insects that feed on milkweed, they are colored orange, telling would-be predators, “don’t eat me, I don’t taste very good.”

Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady)

I went out to take pictures of skippers on the Verbena bonariensis but ended up with a pretty nice picture of a painted lady (Vanessa cardui) on a black-eyed Susan. It’s a pretty little butterfly, not particularly rare but I’ve found them difficult to get close to. This one let me get a few shots off before fluttering away.