Sunday, August 14, 2011

Swallowtail Tale

I stepped up to the fence and saw movement to my left, jumped back expecting something to jump on me
and there he was, sucked fast to the dwarf Poinciana flower pod, wings madly waving.

Giant Swallowtail

 I ran for the camera and clicked away, as the giant swallowtail, just sat there waving his wings at me.
I put the camera on sport mode and this is what I got.


A butterfly's taste sensors are located below their feet and I watched as he touched down again and again on the bright red and yellow flowers.

A butterfly can see the colors red, green, and yellow, I found this fact on www.funfacts.com
We have many red, yellow and purple flowers and they seem to love the purple also.


The color in a butterfly's wings does not come from pigment. The color is produced prism-like by light reflected by their transparent wing scales.


What do you call a bug dance?
A moth ball!
Why was the little insect crying?
It wanted it’s moth-er!






27 comments:

Christmas-etc... said...

Oh...so special! Just lovely!
happy Sunday!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

the butterfly that lays her eggs on the lime tree is similar to yours. I use to keep lime trees just so butterflies can lay their eggs and for children to learn their cycle.

Unknown said...

Nice set Sandra what a beautiful butterfly. thanks for you comment looking forward to tomorrow.

From the Kitchen said...

We are seeing more butterflies this year. Someone said it's a good sign--of what? My husband saw a brilliant blue one a few days ago in the garden. Great photos!

Best,
Bonnie

Ruth Hiebert said...

Love,love,love these shots.

Ann said...

Wonderful shots of the butterfly. Whenever I run for my camera whatever I wanted to take a picture of high tails it out of there before I can get back.

S. Etole said...

Beautiful fluttery series.

The Brown Recluse (TBR) said...

LOVE the butterflies! and the jokes lol

Anonymous said...

LOL! You made me smile. :)) Have a great week.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hi Sandra, hope your shoulder is feeling better. Thanks for the info on butterlies. We are seeing less this year, despite having a larger wildflower area and wonder if the heat is a factor. Here's a great butterfly site
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/gallery

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

What a photo op you have there, each photo a work of art. I know how hard it is to capture a decent photo and you mastered it. Thanks for the info too, I had no idea what colors they are interested in.

God bless you this day and keep you safe.

Christine said...

A beautiful set of photos for a Sunday morning!

photowannabe said...

I didn't know their sensors were in their feet pads. I think that's fascinating.
Never thought of putting the camera on sports mode to capture the fluttering. Terrific advice.
Adore your "groaners" Sandra. Love the Moth Ball.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

What a pretty butterfly, the colors are spectacular.
Such gentle creatures....
~Jo

Ginny Hartzler said...

Wow!! I like the first picture best of all!! You got amazing pictures, even his eyeballs!! I didn't know about the feet! I wonder why they don't fly away from us like birds do?

SquirrelQueen said...

What a gorgeous butterfly, he is really enjoying the nectar of the poinciana. You got some really great photos of him, I love that first one.

I am seeing lots of butterflies now but they are not staying on a flower for more than a second, it has been impossible to get a good shot. I have lots of blurs even in action mode.

Chatty Crone said...

You need to send in some pictures to NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC - I am not kidding. Those are GORGEOUS! Love them. So pretty and those colors...

George said...

These macros of the butterfly are excellent.

Anonymous said...

How wonderful, I just posted a swallowtail picture today too! Loved your info, I was much lazier and just put up one pic, your pictures were great, loved the colors:)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Excellent pictures of the butterfly, Sandra. Your macros are fabulous... Thanks so much!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

SUGAR MOON said...

Great butterfly pictures!!!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Stunning series of photos, Sandra!

Tipper said...

Love the contrast in colors!

EG CameraGirl said...

Great shots of the swallowtail! WOW!

Deb said...

great photos Sandra...I'm playing catch up on visiting....love your jokes they make me smile....

DawnTreader said...

Beautiful butterfly on likewise beautiful flower!

lioneagle said...

Hi Sandra -

I'm Sandra,too.

I adored looking at these butterfly shots and the facts that you posted about them.

The photos are splendid beauty indeed. I love the views of our Lord's graceful butterfly creatures.