Tag Archives: Butterfly

The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

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The colourful wings of the Monarch butterfly........wings have white spots on the outer margins, and have orange patches.

The colourful wings of the Gulf Fritillary........wings are a brilliant orange and the undersides have large silvery spots.

I was wandering along the road side by Harbour Club Villas and spotted this pretty Gulf Fritillary Butterfly also called a Passion butterfly. It wasn’t the least bit concerned that I was there and seemed almost to pose for the camera. I had never before noticed that butterflies have a coiled proboscis by which they sip liquid food. This tube-like proboscis is a long, flexible “tongue.” It uncoils to sip food, and coils up again into a spiral when not in use. Gulf Fritillaries’ favourite nectar is provided by the passion flowers and the vine’s leaves are the caterpillar’s preferred food.

Here's a close up shot of the Monarch Butterflies' coiled proboscis.

Here's a close up shot of the Gulf Fritillary's coiled proboscis.

The Monarch butterfly stayed still for quite a long time and I was able to get up very close without it flying away.

This magnificent butterfly stayed still for quite a long time and I was able to get up very close without it flying away.

The Gulf Fritillary is the most common large butterfly in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Gulf Fritillary is the most common large butterfly in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands have some 35 species of butterfly.

 

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

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Saw and photographed this colourful and lovely looking butterfly the other day

Saw and photographed this colourful and lovely looking butterfly the other day

This is a Gulf Fritillary and it is one of the most frequently seen butterflies in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Not only is it beautiful with its rich orange with black markings but on the underside, it is even more spectacular.

Intricate patterns on the underside of the butterfly's wings.

Intricate patterns on the underside of the butterfly's wings.

This butterfly is also known as the Passion butterfly as the caterpillars feed on the many passionflower vines found here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The side view shows the patterned wing which has silvery spots.

Colourful head markings on a Gult Fritillary

Colourful head markings on a Gult Fritillary

Close up of the beautiful markings found on the underside of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Close up of the beautiful markings found on the underside of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

We encourage you to keep your eyes open so that you can spot these butterflies as you travel about our islands. The Turks and Caicos has some 40 species of butterflies that have been recorded.  

 

Look out for those butterflies!!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Blind Eye Bush

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One of the most unique looking flowers that I've seen here in the Turks and Caicos

One of the most unique looking flowers that I've seen here in the Turks and Caicos

Yesterday was a rainy and over cast day and in the late afternoon the skies cleared a little. I took my camera and headed out into the bush to see what I could find. The rains had made all the difference and wildflowers were blooming all over. I found this strange looking bush with the most unique flowers and seed pods and with an even more curious name………… Blind Eye Bush.

The creamy flower of the Blind Eye Bush has a long, elongated column that curls back up into the flower.

The creamy flower of the Blind Eye Bush has a long, elongated column that curls back up into the flower.

This bush had flowers in different stages of development along with unusual screw like seed pods a little like cones.

Here are the brown twisted seed pods.

Here are the brown twisted seed pods.

This was a shrub about 5 foot tall and it grows throughout the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands in coastal and marshy areas. The leaves are in an elongated  heart shape often with jagged edges. The reproductive parts of the flowers are at the end of the elongated column.

The long column coming from the centre of the flower, carries the reproductive parts.

The long column coming from the centre of the flower, carries the reproductive parts.

I must say that this Blind Eye Bush is one of the most unusual plants I’ve seen. I also saw some beautiful flowering vines…..Jaquemontia, Cynanchum, Wild Alamanda, Milk Pea and Urechites or Devil’s Potato along with Jamaican Trash, Jack Switch, Mosquito Bush, Wild Senna and I also managed to get some close up photos of a Gulf Fritillary butterfly.

Blind Eye Bush with it's showy flowers.

Blind Eye Bush with it's showy flowers.

How lucky we are to be surrounded with all this natural beauty. Everywhere I go there’s a photo just waiting to be taken or in my case, hundreds of  potential shots!

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wild Ipecac

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My mystery plant bloomed today and what a colourful flower it has.

My mystery plant bloomed today and what a colourful flower it has.

It’s been a few weeks now that I’ve been watching and waiting for this plant to bloom. I had thought it was a purple ruellia but when the red balls opened and flowers started to appear, I realized it was something else. Well, today there were five flowers that opened and what a treat. Bright red petals around a central yellow flower. I looked it up and it is called a Butterfly Weed or Wild Ipecac and is much loved as a food by the Monarch butterfly. It grows throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands and has been used for medicinal purposes.  You can make a poultice from the crushed leaves that emit a white milky latex and apparently the plant has antifungal, antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties.  Poultices have been applied to warts, ringworm and tumours and a powder made from the crushed roots of the Wild Ipecac is said to induce vomiting.

Closeup of the vibrant red-orange and yellow flowers of the Wild Ipecac

Closeup of the vibrant red-orange and yellow flowers of the Wild Ipecac

The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands have some 1400 different plant species and approximately 120 of them are unique to the region.
Enjoy the flowers of the Turks and Caicos when you come for your vacation.
Marta
www.harbourclubvillas.com