Leps-talk "Good for the Soul"

Wed Oct 27 02:10:41 EDT 2004

 Hmmm.  I'm gonna guess Lasaia sula, but they look kinda small (and you're
right, I am going to drool - but not weep).  They're too grey to be walkerii
 no?

I'm hoping to come and visit soon.  Perhaps even before the end of the year!

MetalMarco.

-------Original Message-------

From: MexicoDoug at aol.com
Date: 10/18/04 20:04:01
To: walkerm at gat.com; Leps-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Leps-talk "Good for the Soul"

OK Metal Marco walkerii (please forward to leps-talk for me, I take full
responsibility for content), here's the photo I promised.  Too bad it was
taken with an economy camera and scanned on an economy scanner...

http://www.diogenite.com/mark2.JPG

But that adds to the challenge:  Properly name those butterflies (not
talking about the prints on my T-shirt) perched on me and weep!  The pose is
unmistakable.  Or just come on down, I'll find a better place for you to get
lost.  As customary, a dorsal and ventral in the same shot, Bahhh!! who
needs binoculars to see the end of their nose!  Who would want to do that
anyways?  Disgusting!   And you only need the camera to show off:)

Next to come: My new book, "Butterflies Through Eyeballs - AND ON THEM". 
Maybe my colleague I hold in high esteem, Bob Pyle, will consider
collaborating with me on this one...  BTW, these pics aren't for the
socialite city crowd's pleasantries.  We're just getting over the wicked
tick larva from the 11th.  Is that how you say pinolillos "wicked tick
larvae" in English, Alejandro, lo sabes tú, güey?

Getting High on Butterflies :)
South of the Río Grande & Bravo,
Doug
http://www.diogenite.com/bugs.JPG
http://www.diogenite.com/jardin.JPG
http://www.diogenite.com/D-plex.JPG

En un mensaje con fecha 10/18/2004 4:02:27 PM Mexico Daylight Time,
MexicoDoug escribe:
Hola Amiguillo Marco ! (can you forward to Leps-talk for me, please...)

That would be my fingernail you're looking at, I have no flies painted on my
fingernails nor body perforations of any sort!  The little green fly was
walking around my thumbnail and was rather photogenic I think:)  One of the
benefits of being a sweaty campesino guy - the chicas think your great when
you attract butterflies like magic (and cute green micro-flies, but not
their bigger domestic cousins)...

As for the big blue Beatle, good eye, not that you wouldn't miss.  I'll have
to stray in to US one of these days to give the young generation a lifer. 
You know, I wouldn't want to kill more bugs than necessary driving around
such nice habitat, nor get the ire of any list members for that...

I'll take this as a yes, to me scanning the other picture, which of all
people you probably will relate to maybe most of all...later tonight...

Now, on the big mud puddle feast, I think you are just imagining a couple of
species - no fair, but they were all there that you mention, including not
two, but three species of _Chlosyne_.  There were also not one but two
Anartia's around, but you must be able to see into the out of focus zones
for either,  Ahhh, and my favorite butterfly, _Siproeta stelenes_.  I played
a new game called "catch", unfortunately the film ran out by then.  We
passed two Malachites for over a half hour back and forth.  The butterflies
came and went of their own free will, creatively, though positioned by us. 
Soon they came to prefer me, and get this - one even landed on my tongue. 
Nothing kinky here, I promise, but I hadn't the heart to deny stelenes a
feast on top of my tongue, and the proboscis tickles, but the brush feet
were a bit harsh.  Now who can beat that for loving Leps?  It must have
really been a sight to see...  I won't mention the "Blue-eyed Sailor". nor a
certain Metalmark of the four species observed, as the Metalmark is at the
center of the missing photo to be posted...

Now why didn't you mention the _Libytheana carinenta mexicana's_ all over
there, look at their "noses" in flight...

And one comment on the _lisa_, as you quickly observed caught in flight. do
you notice how the abdomen is pointed upwards and the wings far down?  Think
about it ... what a lucky instant to capture.  _lisa_ is demonstrating how
she moves her body and flies ... just like a little child conserving angular
momentum on a swing by extending and retracting legs... Boy those are big
wings for such a little body when you think about it...

I only saw one Longtail Skipper all day, where do you see him in the pic????
 You cabrito you!  Anyway you win the great puddle challenge!!

Saludos, Doug

En un mensaje con fecha 10/18/2004 3:26:20 PM Mexico Daylight Time,
walkerm at gat.com escribe:
Mi amigo challenged:

And if that still doesn't bring some peace (who am I to speak:) ), how about
this with Lepsters a little further South a week earlier (October 11)
interacting with bugs.  The first person to point out and identify all four
bugs visible in this photo wins today's mention... 

[Mark Walker] Well, besides the Biblis, I'm struggling to identify that
Diptera species, but I'm guessing that it's really just painted on the gente
s fingernail (pretty stylish, I might add, though I might have added some
color).

And what is that large blue beetle in the background?  Seems like I remember
seeing them once in my youth, but they have not been reported for many years
north of the border.  Perhaps with the way the season is progressing, we may
start having similar sightings from down near the Rio Grande - a great place
for strays from Mexico.

http://www.diogenite.com/bugs.JPG

And for good measure, how about this one, Also on October 11, drink time in
nature's wild "butterfly garden"?  I can see five species...anyone see more?

http://www.diogenite.com/jardin.JPG

[Mark Walker]  Wow - there's a lot more than five.  I can see Eurema (lisa?
- caught in flight), at least two different Phoebis, Zerene, Anartia, at
least two different Chlosyne, surely some Nymphalids, Riodinidae, and what
looks like several spread wing (Eantis?) skippers (ooh - and a longtail). 
Cool.

Wish I were there...

Marcos

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