The Butteflies of Spring: Up Close and Personal

Hmmm, have the early
season species wondered about the lack of human admirers this year?

Spring has returned
after a very unwelcome late blast of winter. COVID-19 restrictions are
loosening. Alas, the conservation areas, now permitted to welcome us, are not
yet ready to open their gates. Such bitter disappointment for the May holiday
weekend! The early season species will have to wait another week before we
arrive to waltz among them.

So let’s get up close
and personal, in virtual fashion once again, with specimens from summers past.

MOURNING CLOAK

Forget about Robins.
Mourning Cloak’s are the definitive first sign of spring. Emerging in the first
thaw in early April or even late March. Enjoying a remarkably long life span by
butterfly standards. The generation born in early summer hibernates through the
winter and emerges again in spring. Quite regal with its chocolate brown cloak
with creamy border and blue spot band.

QUESTION MARK

A charter member of the
Comma butterfly family, named after the comma shaped white mark on the dead
leaf pattern of the outer wing. The dot below the comma, forming a stylized question
mark, gives this species its name. Early season specimens are adorned with this
white frosting on the wing edges. Rumour has it some are migratory.

RED ADMIRAL

A cousin of the Mourning
Cloak. Found almost everywhere from forest clearings, stream sides, fields,
gardens and city parks. Pugnacious little devils – darting out at almost
everything crossing their territory. So common I take them for granted and have
to remind myself of their particular beauty. This specimen displayed its
colours to full effect by perching on the ground.

EASTERN COMMA

Tough to distinguish
from its sibling the Question Mark. Lacks the dot below the curved line that sets
apart that species. Very skittish and camera shy. Dashes off and flies
erratically when approached. But ever so photogenic perched diagonally on a
white wildflower with a sprig of oat grass for perspective.

Beauty can be a
contagion too. No social distancing here. Get up close and personal. It is allowed.

~  Now Available Online
from Amazon, Chapters Indigo or Barnes & Noble: Hunting Muskie, Rites of
Passage – Stories by Michael Robert Dyet

~ Michael Robert Dyet is also
the author of Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel which
was a double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s
website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com .

~ Subscribe to Michael’s Metaphors of Life Journal aka Things That Make
Me Go Hmmm at its’ internet home www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog2 . Instructions for subscribing
are provided in the Subscribe to this Blog: How To instructions page in the
right sidebar. If
you’re reading this post on another social networking site, come back regularly
to my page for postings once a week.