Labor Day signifies the end of summer for many, but the calendar and the thermometer beg to disagree here in Central Florida. We’re still right in the middle of hurricane season, and high temperatures continue to soar into the 90s, barely dipping below 80 degrees most nights. All that warm weather means that it continues to be peak time for butterflies here in the gardens, including:
Other Common Species:
- Long Tailed Skipper
- Blues (Cassius and Ceranus)
- Fiery Skipper
- Cloudless Sulphur
- Spicebush Swallowtail
- White Peacock
- Duskywings
- Phaon Crescent
Tropical Checker Spot
- Barred Yellow
- Giant Swallowtail
- Sleepy Orange
Occasional Spottings:
- Black Swallowtail
- Silver-Spotted Skipper
- Gray Hairstreak
- Pipevine Swallowtail
- Queen
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Notes From the Field:
- Temperatures continue to be high, but afternoon showers will start to diminish as the month of September continues, meaning we’ll need to hand-water some of the less drought-tolerant plants from time to time. The puddles left after these waterings often bring butterflies seeking some extra water as well, especially sulphurs and tiger swallowtails, two species known for spectacular group puddling.
- Monarch migration is beginning up north. Monarchs in Central Florida do not migrate, but we may see a small surge in population as those in the northern part of the state begin moving south for the winter season.
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