Month: May 2013 (Page 3 of 5)

Bug of the Week: Checkered White Butterfly

It is time for the spring butterflies, like this checkered white.

checkered-white

Although common some years in the Southwest, checkered white butterflies are found throughout the United States, and are thought to move north through the summer.

checkered-white-2

Here in the desert, the adults visit the seasonal wildflowers for nectar.

Checkered_White_larva

(Photograph by Megan McCarty at Wikimedia)

The larvae (caterpillars) have black and yellow spots and speckles. They feed on plants in the mustard family, which are only abundant after sufficient winter rains.

Have you seen any checkered white butterflies yet this year?

 

 

 

Mystery Seed of the Week 158

Our mystery seeds this week are also from a southwestern plant.

mystery-seeds-158

It wasn’t the seeds or flowers that caught our eye, but the seed cases.

mystery-seed-158-2Does this help?

Please leave a comment if you recognize these mystery seeds.

Edit:  The answer is now posted.

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