Posts Tagged: fiery skipper

The Spider and the Skipper

This is a a story about a spider and a skipper. Technically, a banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) and a fiery skipper butterfly (Hylephila...

A banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata)--as identified by UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro--waits for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata)--as identified by UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro--waits for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) wraps its meal, a male fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) wraps its meal, a male fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

While the garden spider wraps its prey, two fiery skippers (Hylephila phyleus) prepare to mate on a Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

While the garden spider wraps its prey, two fiery skippers (Hylephila phyleus) prepare to mate on a Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Prayers Answered

Praying mantids are, oh, so patient. They perch on a flower, their spiked forelegs seemingly locked in a praying position, and wait to ambush...

A praying mantis perches on a cosmos. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A praying mantis perches on a cosmos. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A strike! First prey is a honey bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A strike! First prey is a honey bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Second strike! A fiery skipper butterfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Second strike! A fiery skipper butterfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Miss Is as Good as a Smile

Our buddy, the resident praying mantis, appears to be in perfect form. Crouched beneath the Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), he glistens in the early...

Praying mantis hides beneath the petals of a Mexican sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis hides beneath the petals of a Mexican sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Are you looking at me? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Are you looking at me? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A leap and a near miss as a startled fiery skipper spins away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A leap and a near miss as a startled fiery skipper spins away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Gulf Fritillary moves out of the way of the praying matnis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Gulf Fritillary moves out of the way of the praying matnis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Soaking Up Sunshine

In the entomological world, we call that a "two-fer." Two insects in the same photo. Sunday morning we spotted a fiery skipper butterfly (Hylephila...

A fiery skipper and a damselfly sharing the same spot: an artichoke leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A fiery skipper and a damselfly sharing the same spot: an artichoke leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of fiery skipper, Hylephila phyleus, belonging to the family Hesperiidae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of fiery skipper, Hylephila phyleus, belonging to the family Hesperiidae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tongue in Cheek

Have you ever looked closely at a fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) and seen its proboscis, aka tongue or feeding tube?If you stay still and don't...

Proboscis or tongue of a fiery skipper dipped in nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Proboscis or tongue of a fiery skipper dipped in nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Colorful fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Colorful fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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