Eastern Tiger Swallow tail (Papilio glaucus) in the "pale phase".
Its proboscis is reaching down into the orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) flower. This plant's Genus name is derived from a Greek word for the god of medicine, Asklepios. Some Milkweeds have medicinal qualities -- most are highly poisonous if ingested!
The Milkweed's poisons (cardiac glycosides) impart their toxicity to the caterpillar (larvae). So, in return for the adult's (butterfly) pollination services some species are given a toxin which protects them from the ravages of hungry birds. Once a naive bird ingests a Monarch butterfly it is not long before it begins retching !
The bird soon learns to avoid this prey item (orange butterflies). Only one or two butterflies are lost in the bird's education and the overall survival of the orange colored monarch butterflies is enhanced.
Notice those little orange spots on the underside of the hind wing.
Notice that this butterfly has "false" antennae and "false" eyes on the posterior (left) end.
The true antennae and compound eyes are on the anterior end. Can you distinguish them?
Would a predator easily distinguish them ? Do you think this enhances survival ?
Great Spangled Fritillary and Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) on Butterfly Weed in Arkansas
This butterfly is one of the Lycaenidae family (Blues, Coppers and Hairstreaks).
Red Spotted Purple Butterfly (Limenitis astyanax ) Big Bend National Park, Texas
The Queen Butterfly (Danais gilippus gilippus) Big Bend National Park, Texas
What is the population of butterflies in the immediate vicinity?
What is the limiting resource?
This behavior is sometimes called "puddling".
In a very wet environment such as a rainforest, what resource (that butterflies need) might be limiting?
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