An unusual event: Atala attack

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Paul on 21:35:25 07/11/04

Since the summer is slow let me relate an unusual event we are experiencing at Hoechoka Hammock. About 5 weeks past we began to see daily a very unusual blue butterfly that had blue spots on dark black/blue wings and a very orange abdomen. They were slow flyers, quite easy to approach (within 3 inches). These little guys have never been seen before in our area. Now they are everywhere. It turns out that they are Atala hairstreak Eumaeus atala. The history seems to be that Roger Hammer has some responsibility for releasing these bugs into Broward. (Good show Roger!) They were considered to be extinct for several decades but have made a slow recovery. They feed on Coontie, Zamia floridana. And that is the truth. The Hammock is virtually denuded of coontie thanks to these bugs.

So if your life is incomplete without seeing an Atala hairstreak, come on up, you can see them by the hundreds...maybe take some back home with you.

Follow Ups:

Re: An unusual event: Atala attack <a href=http://rape.pics-porn.org/ - free rape pictures 19:58:05 08/21/04 (0)
Re: An unusual event: Atala attack - Vince 12:39:54 07/12/04 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
Comments:	: Since the summer is slow let me relate an unusual event we are experiencing at Hoechoka Hammock. About 5 weeks past we began to see daily a very unusual blue butterfly that had blue spots on dark black/blue wings and a very orange abdomen. They were slow flyers, quite easy to approach (within 3 inches). These little guys have never been seen before in our area. Now they are everywhere. It turns out that they are Atala hairstreak Eumaeus atala. The history seems to be that Roger Hammer has some responsibility for releasing these bugs into Broward. (Good show Roger!) They were considered to be extinct for several decades but have made a slow recovery. They feed on Coontie, Zamia floridana. And that is the truth. The Hammock is virtually denuded of coontie thanks to these bugs. : : So if your life is incomplete without seeing an Atala hairstreak, come on up, you can see them by the hundreds...maybe take some back home with you.
Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]