Post by bflyjoe74 on Mar 6, 2021 15:32:30 GMT
Hi, names Joe, glad to find this place. I got something I've been anxious to tell somebody! I've told my friends but it had no impact with them, they love MY passion for lepidoptera but the finer points don't excite them. Anyway, it was in Elgin TX an I had never seen a better year for butterflies. I know they come in cycles, but this was crazy! Id nevwr seen so many HUGE Painted Ladies before, an NEVER this many Mourning Cloaks, but the star of the show was the Halesus. I saw this with my own eyes. Early in the morning I was out hoping to catch a few,they were actually plentiful for about 9 days. There were a number of thistle patches throughout the cowfield. The ones with the bristley pink flowers at their tips,5-6 feet tall,200-300 flowers per patch. I got in my knees an tried to creep into the center of the thistle patch, an lo an behold- there the little guys were. Down at the base of the stalks, they were head down, an their wings tucked in tight. They looked exactly like the thorns! With very little light penetrating they were perfectly camouflaged as harmful thorns! But it was Halesus!! Of course I was amazed, an none of my friends thought it was a big deal, but I saw it!
