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Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
ORCA volunteers walk
7 November 2009
Photos and Text by Janice Broda & Bob Montanaro
Page 2 of 3

LEFT: Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) butterfly. The upper side of the wings, not seen here, are a striking shade of blue though the minute size and fast flight of this butterfly made it difficult to observe in detail on this trip.

BELOW: Close-up of a White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae) butterfly and its tattered wings.
ABOVE & BELOW: The Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia genoveva) was one of the most ubiquitous butterflies seen along the trail during the walk. Below is a close-up of the Buckeye's hind-quarters showing some of the intricate structure and coloration of the wings.
RIGHT: A female Cow Killer (Dasymutilla occidentalis) is distinguished from the male by being wingless. Also known as the Velvet Ant. According to the University of Nebraska, "Velvet ants are not aggressive and will try to escape from you. The females have a very painful sting if handled. The name "Cow Killer Ant" was given to the velvet ant because of the reputation of the female's sting. It is said that the sting is so painful that it could kill a cow."
Immature Golden Silk Spider (Nephila clavipes). Here is an interesting note about this scary looking but relatively harmless spider from University of Florida/IFAS: "The natives also relish the gravid females as a protein supplement, eating them either raw or roasted. Different reports say that the flavor is somewhat like mixed raw potato and lettuce mixed, or nutty flavored like peanut butter with a sticky consistency (Robinson and Robinson 1976)." Learn more about the Golden Silk Spider.

ABOVE: A Winged Walking Stick makes its ungainly way across the grass of the trail.

LEFT: A Rattlebox Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix), also known as a Bella Moth, keeps a firm grasp on a leaf swaying rather forcefully back and forth in the wind making photography very difficult.

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