August 11, 2010
Abundant Yellow Butterflies This Summer
We have had calls and messages from around Iowa the past 2 weeks asking about large numbers of yellow or yellowish-orange butterflies resting on gravel roads or flying along roadsides. Most specimens and photos viewed were the orange sulphur butterfly (Colias eurytheme). This species is also called the alfalfa sulphur or alfalfa butterfly (and yes, "sulphur" is the preferred spelling, though "sulfur" is also used).
Tiny Crickets on the Ground are Called Ground Crickets
Several people have recently reported noticing an abundance of small (3/8 inch long) crickets. These runts of the cricket world are called ground crickets, or pygmy field crickets.&nb