pieris rapae

identification details:
family: Pieridae (whites + sulphurs)
subfamily: Pierinae (whites)
species: Pieris rapae
common name: Cabbage White (european cabbage butterfly)
sex: male (only one black spot on dorsal forewing)

collection details:
date: 6.14.07
location/habitat: patterson ave. meets forest (franklin county)
time: approx. 1:28 pm
flight pattern: slow and very awkward. it almost seems drunk.

remarks:
this is one of the most abundant butterflies in the area. it was accidentally introduced from europe around 1860 or so. the ventral side is shaded with yellow: near the apex on the forewing and the hindwing is yellowish.

epargyreus clarus

identification details:
family: Hesperiidae (skippers)
subfamily: Pyrginae (spread-wing skippers)
species: Epargyreus clarus
common name: Silver-spotted Skipper
sex: too similar to differentiate

collection details:
date: 6.12.07
location/habitat: near the bank of the olentangy river (franklin county).
time: 1:33 pm.

remarks:
In addition to the gold patches on the dorsal forewing, there is a clear/silver-white patch on the ventral hindwing which helps to distinguish from other similar species. Note the hooked antennae, the elongated, narrow forewings and, the hindwings taper into a lobe-like tail.

colias philodice (white form)

identification details:
family: Pieridae (whites + sulphurs)
subfamily: Coliadinae (sulphurs)
species: Colias philodice
common name: Clouded Sulphur
sex: female (this is the white form variety)

collection details:
date: 6.12.07
location/habitat: sunscorched meadow with equally scorched clover (frankin county).
time: approx. 2:00 pm.
flight pattern: very quick and erratic.

remarks: this is a very close relative of colias eurytheme. Both species have a white form female which are almost indistinguishable. This specimen could be the white form of colias eurytheme, but the postmedian row of submarginal darkspots on the ventral is very faint, where it is more pronounced on the colias eurytheme. There is also a faint black dusting on the ventral hindwing.

vanessa atalanta

identification details:
family: Nymphalidae (brush-foots)
subfamily: Nymphalinae (true brush-foots)
species: Vanessa atalanta
common name: Red Admiral
sex: too similar to differentiate.

collection details:
date: 6.10.07
location/habitat: near the bank of the olentangy river (franklin county).
time: 1:15 pm.

remarks:
unique coloration, the reddish-orange forewing band distinguishes it from other butterflies.

danaus plexippus

identification details:
family: Nymphalidae (brush-foots)
subfamily: Danainae (milkweed butterflies)
species: Danaus plexippus
common name: Monarch
sex: female (lacks black scent patch).

collection details:
date: 8.?.06
location/habitat: coneflower near a parking lot (franklin county)

remarks:
my field notes from last year have been lost, so some collection details are missing. this species is easily confused with limenitis archippus (the viceroy), but the viceroy has a black post-median line on its hindwing.

colias eurytheme

identification details:
family: Pieridae (whites + sulphurs)
subfamily: Coliadinae (sulphurs)
species: Colias eurytheme
common name: Orange Sulphur (alfalfa butterfly)
sex: female (yellow spots in black wing border. less vibrant coloration all-round).

collection details:
date: 6.7.07
location/habitat: white clover field amidst the concrete riverways near tuttle park (franklin county)
time: approx. 2:03 pm
flight pattern: rapid and erratic; very close to the ground and clover.

remarks:
this species is very abundant in the area. it can easily be confused with colias philodice (clouded sulphur). the burst of orange scaling among the yellow on the dorsal is a subtle difference. the silvery spots on the ventral are outlined with a red rim.

exordium

the urban sprawl is ever increasing: seas of concrete are endless, spires of gigantic buildings loom overhead, power-lines weave throughout the landscape. our world is defined by engineered structures; they are the products of our innovation, they have become the new boundary, the new landmark, the new habitat. things are alive amidst these structures, things so small they go on living in our constructed world unnoticed by us. Their beauty is eclipsed by their size; the small things make all the difference, one just has to take the time to notice them. Pay attention the next time you walk down the street. Forget about the seemingly "bigger picture" you've created and imposed upon yourself. Look beyond what's been constructed to see what's been there all along: things as they really are.