Posts Tagged: alfalfa butterfly

The Butterfly and the Bee

It's a strikingly beautiful insect. But in its larval stage, the alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme--also known as the orange sulphur butterfly--is a pest. If you grow alfalfa, you're not a fan of this butterfly, and rightfully so. "Alfalfa...

An alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, sips nectar from an African blue basil blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, sips nectar from an African blue basil blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee shadows an alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, on African blue basil. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee shadows an alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, on African blue basil. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two can get along: the alfalfa butterfly and the honey bee. In its larval stage, this butterfly is a pest. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two can get along: the alfalfa butterfly and the honey bee. In its larval stage, this butterfly is a pest. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Seeing Yellow: Why? Outbreak of Alfalfa Butterflies

If you've been driving near alfalfa fields in Yolo County and other Central California counties lately, you've probably noticed them. Splat! Splat! Splat! What was that? A squadron of flying insects? No, more like multiple squadrons of flying...

Alfalfa butterfly trapped in a spider web and doused by a sprinkler. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Alfalfa butterfly trapped in a spider web and doused by a sprinkler. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Alfalfa butterfly nectaring on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Alfalfa butterfly nectaring on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

These Colors Didn't Run

We've seen bumble bees, honey bees, sweat bees, wool carder bees and syrphid flies topple into our  swimming pool, but never an alfalfa butterfly until now. This male alfalfa butterfly--the gender identified by noted butterfly expert Art Shapiro,...

Alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, lands in a swimming pool. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, lands in a swimming pool. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Fished out of the pool, the alfalfa butterfly rests on the net. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Fished out of the pool, the alfalfa butterfly rests on the net. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Placed atop a flowering artichoke, the alfalfa butterfly dries its wings. Several minutes later it fluttered away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Placed atop a flowering artichoke, the alfalfa butterfly dries its wings. Several minutes later it fluttered away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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