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Originally Posted by kai
I'll admit I don't know the difference between types of butterflies (and I don't, at the moment, have time to read the article- tomorrow perhaps)- but I did notice today that my dog was chasing butterflies all over the backyard all day (which tires her out nicely). This is the first butterfly day we've had in a while. I doubt they were monarchs. But the butterflies, in general, seem to be back, at any rate...
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I highly recommend the Kaufman Focus Guide to "
Butterflies of North America" by Jim P. Brock & Kenn Kaufman. I put the guide on my Christmas wishlist because I realized I was completely unable to identify any butterflies except the Monarch. The most startling example of this was while I wrote up my May 2003 camping trip report; I mistakenly referred to a Little wood satyr butterfly as a moth. I wouldn't have caught the error prior to posting my article, had it not been for the coincidence that Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine (which I subscribe to) happened to have an entire story on that particular butterfly in its current issue! "It's a BUTTERFLY?!" was my reaction. My idea of a butterfly seemed limited to only those that were brightly colored and "showy," rather than those that were more camouflagued.
Anyway, the Butterflies of North America guide has a weather-proof cover and is packable -- usable in the field without hassle. Now that the butterflies are making their appearance, I look forward to putting the guide to use and gaining a better understanding of these creatures!