Summertime Jewels

Each and every summer we’re treated to flying jewels in the form of a group of the Lepidoptera called butterflies. Butterflies of northeastern North America run the gamut from drab brown to the brightest of reds, oranges and yellows and in size from less than an inch to a bit over six inches.

Some species of moths fly during daylight, apparently as a means of evading moths’ principle predators – bats. Butterflies apparently evolved from a group of those day-flying moths about 100 million years ago.

In any event, butterflies are beautiful and are a treat to the eyes. Here’s just a sample of the butterflies found in the northeast –

 

Take a look in any extensive flower garden or “overgrown weedy” field on a warm sunny day and you’ll find some of these flying jewels. But don’t bother looking in a sprayed manicured lawn maintained by “recreational mowing” for you probably won’t see any.