iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Parnassius butterflies are simply extraordinary! I've been so lucky to have them in my life for as long as I can remember... It makes watching their habitats being destroyed for more and more homes so very, very painful...

Two mating butterflies perched on a succulent plant, against a rocky background. The plant, Sedum lanceolatum is the caterpillar's foodplant. The female (above) will loose her yellowish coloration in the hours after mating as her wings dry and harden. These are from a low-elevation site for Parnassius smintheus sayii east of Castle Rock, Douglas County, Colorado, USA, which is sadly being converted into 525 more homes- the future residents of 'Bella Mesa North' will live here instead. As I painfully watch the habitat become degraded and destroyed, my memories of these magnificent butterflies and their landscape become more and more cherished.....

0373

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Can you believe these illustrations are 154 years old? They're from W. H. Edwards' 'The Butterflies of North America', Part 1, published between 1868-1872. These remain some of the finest illustrations showing variation in Colorado's Parnassius butterflies- which I'll be posting more about soon!

These extraordinarily detailed illustrations published by W. H. Edwards in 1972 depict variation in Colorado Parnassius butterflies that were collected by Theodore Mead in 1871. The paler individual on the upper right is a male, all others are females. Females from lower elevations (on the left: east slope above, west slope below) are larger and paler than females from the highest elevations (lower right). The high-elevation individuals have essentially always been considered an elevational "form" of the larger ones at elevations below, but after studying these for a very long time now, it appears clear to me that they are separate species. I'll be rambling a lot more about "Parnassius smintheus" (on the left) and "Parnassius hermodur" (on the right) in future posts...

1213

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

This is just a vicious little jumping spider- ready to leap if I get any closer!!! Western Pygmy Blue Brephidium exilis Pueblo County, Colorado, USA

One of North America’s tiniest butterflies, Western Pygmy Blues have black and metallic greenish scales that resemble the eyes of a jumping spider… The whitish markings below vaguely resemble spider legs…. This one hadn’t become active for the day yet and was quietly perched near the larval foodplants- the time when such a strong resemblance to a spider is likely most important.

0231

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Got the first batch of these fine friends into the fridge for 2-3 months today. They are on a saturated bed of sterilized sand among pieces of sterile gauze… Will be checking on them often… Good Luck!

This plastic container has 2 inches of saturated, sterile sand below sterile gauze strips on top. Four ventilation holes in the container, one on each side. This has been a successful overwintering setup for pupae in the past- first time trying this with larvae. The larvae are all curled up in a defensive posture since I just placed them there…

0262

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The caterpillars have apparently decided to overwinter- seems I still have much work to do……..

This caterpillar is curled up in the palm of my hand. The bristles are hairs-not spines- and are soft in the hand… I think it’s done feeding for the season so it’s going in the fridge for a few months…!

2180

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Had such an insightful day studying two adjacent side canyons off Glenwood Canyon, near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA. The first two pics show a forested canyon that barely got spared from the Grizzly Creek Fire of 2020. The second two pics are of Grizzly Creek Canyon, 6 years after the fire.

Forested canyon with creek near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA. Walking path at lower right.

Rocky, forested canyon near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA. This canyon barely got spared from the Grizzly Creek fire of 2020 just to the east.

Grizzly Creek Canyon 6 years after it burned. Some trees were spared, but most vegetation here is growing back anew. The butterfly fauna here is not as rich now as it was before the fire, but a lot of species are doing great here now.

Canyon wall of Grizzly Creek Canyon, a side canyon off Glenwood Canyon, near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA. The burnt trees are still standing from the Grizzly Creek Fire in 2020. The low, green, mat-like shrubs on the steep slope are Gambel Oaks coming back up from the roots.

090

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The best way to start the day- with a lovely two-tailed swallowtail…!

0130

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

So, know it or not, today is your lucky day! You are one of the first humans to see the fully-grown caterpillar of the undescribed Hypsocompe species! They have been happy feeding on a lot of plants, but at the moment seem to prefer the organic romaine from Whole Foods… 🐛😁

Bristly blackish caterpillar with orangish highlights, in the palm of my hand. This is an undescribed species… I’ve been rearing this and its ~200 siblings, with good success so far. I hope they beef up and make cocoons soon, otherwise I might have to figure out how to overwinter them…

17315

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

It was a long hot day, but in a majestical place that is poorly surveyed for butterflies. AND we found our target: a very poorly known metalmark (Apodemia sp.)!

0170

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

This anglewing butterfly is very rarely seen because it basically never visits flowers or damp ground- it is a sap feeder. Endemic to Colorado’s Front Range: Polygonia oreas nigrozephyrus Douglas County, Colorado

27721

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Found a new favorite place! Actually found it last year, but a bit too late in the season to see it at its summertime best. It’s in the greater Sangre de Cristo range of southern Colorado… It was a butterfly paradise!

Mountain meadow looking up to 14,000’+ peaks.

Wet part of a flower-filled meadow, surrounded by giant spruce and aspen trees.

Wet meadow full of yellow composite flowers, surrounded by towering aspen and spruce trees. The flowers were infested with butterflies!

2292

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Don’t bother going up into the Wet Mountains. Ugly terrain, no good views at all. Just stay away, ok thanks!

2251

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

West Spanish Peak in southern Colorado is one of the most breathtaking features in the southern Rocky Mountains. Planned for a week around the weather forecast, for the perfect day up there, and got it yesterday!

View of West Spanish Peak- blue sky forever and a mountain of rocks

View of West Spanish Peak from a nearby ridgeline.

Talus slopes on the flanks of West Spanish Peak. Blue sky above…

Slopes leading down from West Spanish Peak, leading to the Cucharas River below…

2152

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

The worms have run out of space in their baby skins and head capsules- they’re about to molt to the second instar! These are happy worms!!!!

These tiny, hairy, pinkish caterpillars are stationary, and not feeding at the moment- all are about to shed their head capsules and skin and turn into bigger, far more efficient eating machines! It’s so exciting to see the immatures of this undescribed species, still new to science!

1160

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

This absolute stunner is an undescribed species of Hypsocompe, known from just a few specimens. There is only one other record from Colorado (Baca Co.), thus, this is the northernmost record for the species (see alt text). Found under the sheet this morning by @nunesnaturalist.bsky.social !

The pattern of black markings on the white background of this moth give it a remarkably cryptic and unique appearance. This undescribed species is known as "Hypsocompe extrema of authors" on the Moth Photographers Group website, where it is acknowledged as an undescribed species known from Arizona and Texas. There are known specimens from New Mexico as well, and in 2022, Christian and I found the first record in Colorado- in Baca County. This one, from Huerfano County, pushes the known range of this rarely encountered moth even further north... Huge thanks to Chris Pague and Michael Figgs for arranging access to the site!

516533

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Southeastern Colorado remains absolutely parched, with almost no butterflies at the moment, but we’ve been finding a lot of really cool moths!

Old schoolhouse on shortgrass prairie at the junction of Huerfano County roads 120 & 103, with the Spanish Peaks in the background.

092

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Look who showed up at my lights last night- a full SEVEN WEEKS earlier than the previous early date I have found it here...!!! Spring is springing way too early here along Colorado's parched Front Range... Glover's Silk Moth- Hyalophora gloveri

Large colorful moth with a maroon-and-white striped body at rest below UV lights, on a cool morning in Castle Pines, Colorado. The season is WAY ahead of schedule!

3405

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

… as you can see from last night’s screenshot…

000

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

So cool! photographed the same old schoolhouse from another angle on May 30!

Old schoolhouse in Huerfano County, Colorado, northeast of Walsenburg. Wet Mountains in the background.

140

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Oh to be a moth that cannot fly... Meet the newly described genus/species Coloradactria frigida, a moth with females that don't fly- they scurry around on the ground like a spider or silverfish... lepscience.com/wp-content/u... @inaturalist.bsky.social observations helped us locate populations!

This female moth cannot fly. She has wings, but they are not fully developed (called brachypterous). Females of this species require warm bare ground and stubby grass to be active during their late October-late November adult emergence. Currently known habitats are regularly mowed. Before the evolution of lawn mowers, we speculate that their specialized habitat was maintained by grazing and movements of large mammals such as bison, pronghorn, elk, deer, and prairie dogs. Females lay 250-400 eggs near the bases of highly disturbed Sand Dropseed grass. When larvae eclose in the spring, they immediately burrow down into bases of the grass clumps, and they apparently develop underground feeding on the roots of Sand Dropseed. While described from and currently only known from Colorado, we suspect this species will be found to occur elsewhere once targeted searches are conducted. Perhaps additional species in this genus will be found? Unidentified observations at iNaturalist helped us find additional populations once we knew what to look for. Several males and one female were found there, as cited in the paper linked in this post. They are now identified at iNaturalist as Coloradactria frigida.

This male moth spends all of this time looking for females in highly disturbed (= mowed, trampled) patches of Sand Dropseed grass. The late October to late November flight time of this moth is unusually late for its known habitats in Colorado. The other moth that is common during this period is the geometrid Alsophila pometaria, which also has flightless females. Why do late-season moths evolve flightless females? We talk about this near the end of our paper linked in this post.

5355

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

The photo of the Mountain Ball Cactus I originally posted was in full sun. I took this photo of the same cactus once it had clouded over- interesting how different the colors are...

Mountain Ball Cactus, Pediocactus simpsonii, in dappled light from full cloud cover. Pink and Yellow flowers appear in a different hue than in full sun, as was the original photo. E of Castle Rock, Douglas County, Colorado, 28 March 2025.

080

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

I stumbled upon this most extremely perfect Mountain Ball Cactus last week, and realized it would be rude not to share this incredible beauty with you! Pediocactus simpsonii Douglas County, Colorado, USA

The Mountain Ball Cactus is widespread in Colorado at elevations above 6000'. They bloom very early in the spring. This one, with bright pink and yellow flowers, was found on March 28, 2025, east of Castle Rock, Douglas County, Colorado. These cactus don't usually bloom quite this early in the season, but we had very warm weather in late March. Spring is here!

39614

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

From north Africa and Europe to Siberia and North America, The Swallowtail thrills and inspires everyone who is lucky enough to see it! Papilio machaon aliaska Brooks Range, North Slope, Alaska, USA

Yellow and black butterfly with blue and red spots on the hindwing, basking on the arctic tundra of Alaska's North Slope. Papilio machaon is called "The Swallowtail" in Britain, where it is the only resident swallowtail species. In North America, it is usually called the Old World Swallowtail.

1423

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

This is one sneaky little moth! The caterpillars live in a Polistes wasp nest, creeping around at night eating the wasp larvae and pupae while the parents are asleep! 😱 Chalcoela iphitalis Douglas County, Colorado, USA

Small brown moth with irregular grayish and white markings, at rest on a wall near a Polistes wasp nest. The carnivorous caterpillars can completely decimate a wasp nest over the course of the summer.

514423

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Despite sporting some pretty loud warning coloration, the Red Peacock is not known to be toxic. Anartia amathea Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Brown butterfly with white spots and irregularly-shaped red patches near the center of the wings. This butterfly is thought to be a Batesian mimic of toxic butterflies such as Heliconius.

0230

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

This female Zebra Swallowtail spent 10 minutes searching for the perfect place to deposit an egg on this young Pawpaw. She ended up flying away without ovipositing- something about this plant was just not quite right... Eurytides marcellus Levy County, Florida, USA

1343

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

If I told you this is a caterpillar, would you believe me? Spun Glass Slug Moth (Isochaetes beutenmulleri) Gainesville, Florida, USA

This slug-like caterpillar is covered in irregular tubercles and protuberances covered with venomous hairs and spines that can deliver a painful sting.

1432

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

To avoid males as much as possible, female Rocky Mountain Parnassians don’t fly much. Instead, they spend most of their time running around on the ground! Douglas County, Colorado, USA

924953

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Just in time: 4 insects from 4 orders (in only 2 photos) for #Hexapodecember Coleoptera: Mycotrupes gaigei (Florida endemic dung beetle) Diptera: Ceroptera longicauda (phoretic kleptoparasite) Lepidoptera: Euphyes pilatka (barely escaped alive) Hemiptera: Ambush bug (Phymatinae).

This shiny black beetle, Mycotrupes gaigei, is endemic to north Florida sandhill habitats, where they make burrows up to 6 feet deep. The tiny flies, Ceroptera longicauda (Sphaeroceridae) are phoretic on the beetles and kleptoparasitize its dung caches. Levy County, Florida, USA

Brown orange and black skipper butterfly, Euphyes pilatka, next to a whitish ambush bug on a yellow flower that was hoping to eat the skipper. The skipper escaped alive...

0245

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

Spent the afternoon picking up trash in the neighborhood and on my adjacent routes. So much trash! I just hope it will help the wildlife, including the greenies that are barely holding on here...

0291

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Happy Holidays everyone! Here are some seasonally appropriate Parides swallowtail butterflies from the New World Tropics!

1432

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Astonished to have found TWO species of butterflies today! A lovely winter-form Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole- in pic), with its vivid greenish underside, and an Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme- no pic). It's the latest in the year that either species has been found in Colorado!

Small greenish butterfly with orange, yellow and white markings. Most of the year the Dainty Sulphur is mainly yellow on the underside, but extreme late-season individuals like this one are mostly greenish instead. This pic is from the same place as today's butterfly but from Dec. 18, 2013; all I got of today's butterfly was a crummy cell phone pic...

1301

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Please enjoy this 'Solstice Swallowtail', likely flying now in S Florida... Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus), Alachua County, Florida, USA

Black and white striped butterfly with long tails on the hindwings, ornamented with red and blue spots, and a red stripe near the middle of the hindwing.

0384

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Check out those spiracles and tracheae! Brazilian Skipper caterpillar here to show us how insects breathe... Alachua County, Florida, USA

Greenish caterpillar with an orange head and transparent skin, showing the fine details of the spiracles and tracheae which serve as its respiratory system.

213027

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Move along now... There's nothing to see here... Just a couple of jumping spiders... nothing special... (Mating pair of Gemmed Satyrs, Cyllopsis gemma) Levy County, Florida, USA

Two brown butterflies with red and silver markings on the ventral hindwings that resemble jumping spiders.

720636

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

This is the unique form of the Anicia Checkerspot in Colorado's Front Range- subspecies capella- and they are absolute stunners with their mainly orange-red upperside coloration! This one is feasting on the nectar of Spearleaf Stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum). Douglas County, Colorado, USA

Orange-red butterfly with black and pale markings, perched on and feeding on the nectar of the bright yellow flowers of Sedum lanceolatum.

0355

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

Be careful! If you stare at this Ruddy Copper for too long, it could damage your retina... 😂 Vail Mountain, Eagle County, Colorado, USA

Bright orange butterfly perched on white and yellow flowers.

0222

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

The African Map Butterfly is very unique, being the only member of its subfamily in Africa. It is also super cool and breathtakingly beautiful! Cyrestis camillus camillus, Kakamega Forest, Kenya.

White butterfly with orange and black stripes and short tails on the hindwings.

0494

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

This perfect little gem is North America's tiniest skipper! It takes some effort to see them, and a lot of patience to sneak up on them, but it is well worth it! Southern Skipperling (Copaeodes minima), Marion County, Florida, USA

Tiny orange skipper butterfly with vague white streaks on the hindwing and a whitish belly.

05810

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Here's an exotic Metalmark to help get you though the week... Anteros formosus, Parque Estadual do Guartelá, SW of Tibagi, Paraná, Brazil

Yellow butterfly with metallic patches of scales surrounded by dark red blotches. Greenish eyes...

39111

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

So...., you think you're tough? I bet you don't eat wasps for breakfast! 😉 Chonky robber fly snacking on a yellowjacket wasp (Vespula sp.), Douglas County, Colorado, USA

Large grayish robber fly (above) with mouthparts inserted into the thorax of a yellow-and-black yellowjacket wasp (below).

0192

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

So they call these things bee killers for a reason......! Mallophora bomboides (and unlucky bees), Levy County, Florida, USA

large black and pale yellow robber fly feasting on a bee. Robber flies feed by ramming their mouthparts into whatever they can catch, then sucking them dry like a vampire...

large black and yellow robber fly feasting on a honey bee.

2554

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

This bee's stinger is on the front end 😂 Super-cool robber fly, Laphria saffrana Levy County, Florida, USA

617530

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Male Blepolenis bassus, just waiting for a female to fly by... Which spot is his real eye? São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil

Large, cream-colored butterfly with dark wavy patches, brown-black stripes, and three large eyespots- one on the forewing and two on the hindwing.

0275

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Here is a swarm of Painted Lady butterflies to make your day complete! (Vanessa cardui), Douglas County, Colorado, USA

1529643

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

While people generally hate thistles- even the native ones- butterflies and other pollinators often find them to be irresistible! Palamedes Swallowtails (Pterourus palamedes), Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan), & a photo-bombing Twin-Spotted Skipper (Oligoria maculata). Levy County, Florida, USA

Large brown butterfly with yellow, blue and orange spots- the Palamedes Swallowtail (Pterourus palamedes)- to the left, with an orange Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan) to the right and a brown with white spots Twin-spot Skipper (Oligoria maculata) coming in at the far right.

Two large brown butterflies with yellow spots and stripes and a few blue spots on the hindwing - Palamedes Swallowtails (Pterourus palamedes) sharing a thistle flower.

Three large brown butterflies with yellow spots and stripes - Palamedes Swallowtails (Pterourus palamedes) briefly sharing the same thistle flower.

Two large brown butterflies with yellow spots and stripes - Palamedes Swallowtails (Pterourus palamedes) sharing a thistle flower, after successfully nudging the third swallowtail away...

1381

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Orange Sneezeweed (Hymenoxys hoopesii) is an absolute butterfly magnet! Anicia Checkerspots (Euphydryas anicia) enjoying an all you can eat buffet in Colorado's Wet Mountains, at 10,700'. Big thanks to @frwildflowers.bsky.social for the flower ID!

Bright yellow and orange flowers attracting 4 Anicia Checkerspot butterflies which are red, black, and white.

610116

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Giant Swallowtail enjoying the sweet, sweet nectar from Florida Paintbrush.

The Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides cresphontes) is a large yellow and black butterfly with red and blue spots on the ventral hindwing. This male is feeding at flowers of Florida Paintbrush (Carphephorus corembosus). Florida, USA

1272

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

When lunch consists of some yummy salty sweat from some nasty human's hand... Catagramma pygas thamyras Parque Nacional do Iguazú, Paraná, Brazil

Vibrant yellow butterfly with black stripes and bluish spots, with proboscis fully extended. This is a popular handrail for tourists, and the butterflies just love feeding on the salts from people's hands...

0304

Andrew Warren @andybugguy.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

There's just something about green butterflies that stops me in my tracks every time! Malachite (Siproeta stelenes) Parque Nacional do Iguazú, Paraná, Brazil

Green and black butterfly, called the Malachite, resting on leaves in a tropical Brazilian forest.

0309