Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life. The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.
Like River I generally run with a theme. Just a couple of photos today. This butterfly was being buffetted around by our wind - but is very, very beautiful. And I hope All Consuming drops by, because I know she has a weakness for them.
I am pretty certain that this is an Orchard Butterfly, not popular with Citrus farmers because the diet of the larvae includes cultivated citrus trees. Another 'fact' which I found amazing is that the males can be territorial and will chase anything black and white that enters their territory - including magpies!!!
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life. The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.
Like River I generally run with a theme. Just a couple of photos today. This butterfly was being buffetted around by our wind - but is very, very beautiful. And I hope All Consuming drops by, because I know she has a weakness for them.
I am pretty certain that this is an Orchard Butterfly, not popular with Citrus farmers because the diet of the larvae includes cultivated citrus trees. Another 'fact' which I found amazing is that the males can be territorial and will chase anything black and white that enters their territory - including magpies!!!
Gorgeous macros EC! That's a brave butterfly if it will chase a magpie.
ReplyDeleteKaren: A brave or a foolish one. I couldn't help thinking that it was likely to end up as magpie lunch if it tried to take one on...
DeleteHow funny! I can't imagine a butterfly chasing any kind of bird. I wonder what they'd do if a person walk toward them wearing black and white? Maybe the perspective would be too large to grasp.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a book once that had man-eating butterflies in it. *shudder* Just creeped myself out...
Laura Eno: Does man eating butterflies answer your own question? And that creeped me out as well.
DeleteChases magpies? Now, that's a brave butterfly!
ReplyDeleteWendy aka Quillfeather: Brave or foolhardy or both. I think DJan summed it up well though.
DeleteFound your blog through Noellene's site. I love the selection of what you are reading in 2013. It's a nice addition!
ReplyDeletewritingfeemail.com: Welcome and thank you. I will be over to visit you shortly.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteCindi Summerlin: Isn't it?
DeleteI have seen this butterfly in my garden, I don't mind if it eats some of my fruit trees everything else does too, but it takes on magpies what a brave butterfly, I would leave them alone magpies can be nasty.
ReplyDeleteMerle.......
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Merlesworld: There is more than enough for it to eat here - and I also don't begrudge it. But I am not an orchardist.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous and courageous butterfly. Or one driven mad by a drive it doesn't understand, just responds to. Just like most of us. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: I think you are probably right. And the concept of an aggressive, territorial butterfly was completely new to me. I DO like it when I learn things.
DeleteBeautiful creatures! We have so few species of butterflies here.
ReplyDeleteAlexia: It is beautiful. I was surprised that you don't have lots of different butterflies though. I wonder why not?
DeleteSo I take it you were not wearing black and white while you took these pictures ... because you were able to get very close and take wonderful pictures. Have never seen this butterfly. I assume it is not native over here.
ReplyDeleteWe are still freezing here plus flooding. The lake is up over our pier and almost on the landing. That is as high as I have seen it since we moved here eleven years ago. We are lucky though ... people on the other side of the lake have it all the way up in their yard and in their basements. The whole Chicago area is experiencing flooding (last I heard we were in a drought ... doesn't sound right, does it :). The rivers are supposed to crest in a few days as long as we don't get more rain. Always something, right? Have a great week EC ... I am hoping you and SP will go on another outing soon.
Andrea @ From The Sol
Andrea: White trousers - hot pink top. Obviously not threatening - to butterflies anyway.
DeleteOur weather is cooling down now. The skinny one has just got up and turned the heater on - which I wouldn't have done (hadn't done). I hope that your rain eases off and that there is no more flooding. And yes, always something is too true. We hope to go on a mini-outing this afternoon (a cruise on the lake to look at autumnal colour.)
Beautiful pics. Butterflies fascinate me! We get some very pretty ones hereabouts....
ReplyDeleteMolly: I am big fan of them too.
DeleteButterflies are beautiful creatures. When I was living and working on Hinchinbrook Island we used to get the Cairns' Birdwing and the Ulysses butterflies there...they are exquisite, too.
ReplyDeleteLee: I looked up those butterflies you mentioned. Yup, equisite covers it.
DeleteWonderful photos. Beautiful creatures. One must always be astonished there!
ReplyDeleteGeo.: Thank you. I spend a lot of my life astonished. Which is probably a good thing (mostly).
Deletenice butterfly
ReplyDeleteAdam: Thank you.
DeleteGorgeous and brave! Things to live up to.
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: Yes, though preferably leaving fool hardy out of the mixture.
DeleteYou've captured him so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI miss butterflies, I've seen two since I moved here and only one in the eight years before that. I wonder where they all are?
I didn't know butterflies could be territorial and taking on a magpie is hard to believe, around here even the cats leave the maggies alone.
River: I didn't know that butterflies could be territorial either. And also found it hard to accept that they would challenge magpies.
DeleteFeisty critters! Have they tried to chase your kitties? :)
ReplyDeletejenny_o: Jazz n Jewel have very, very little white on them. Sadly they chase butterflies rather than the other way around.
DeleteWonderful photos, EC, and aren't they just beautiful? We have them here too, and I don't mind the caterpillars eating the leaves. Perhaps one of the few foragers welcome in our orchard.
ReplyDeleteCarol: We have no citrus (though some of the neighbours do) but they also eat native plants. And yes, they are welcome.
DeleteLove the textures of these shots. And fabulous photos!
ReplyDeleteladyfi: And such a beautiful butterfly.
DeleteThose picture are truly fabulous. What a delightful creature. I doubt we have that species in W.A.
ReplyDeleteI've often thought of joining in Sunday Selection but being so computer illiterate I have no clue as to how to link back to River but then again I probably don't have all that many photos to share that would be of interest to anyone.
Mimsie: It would be wonderful if you joined us for Sunday Selections. And let us judge whether your photos are interesting - I firmly believe they would be. Kakka could help with linking to River - or you could just mention her in your Sunday Selections post, and tell her that you are joining in.
DeletePlease play...
Feisty, fearless and perfectly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAnd such wonderfully clear photos, thank you EC.
Butterflies undergo such amazing changes in life.
Transition, expansion, transformation, surrender.
So fascinating.
Vicki: Feisty, fearless and perfectly beautiful. What a WONDERFUL description of this gem. Thank you.
DeleteLovely pictures, I have a phoboa concerning moths, but tutterflies are a somewhat different, that's what I tell myself when they move. When still, wonderous creatures, when moving, too much like maoths for me. "I wrote a book once that had man-eating butterflies in it." - Your friend here has managed to scare the.....*passes out.
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: This butterfly is perfectly still. And a vegetarian. I promise.
DeleteThat is a gorgeous creature. And I find it so interesting that it is territorial like that.
ReplyDeleteLynn: I didn't know they could be - and found it fascinating (and amazing) too.
DeleteBeautiful! Have never seen one like it. Like others have said, it's so interesting (albeit foolish!) that it will chase magpies. Reminds me of our crows and mockingbirds that will chase off a hawk if it gets too close to their territory. They swoop around in the sky, sometimes pecking at the hawk's head; almost makes me pity the hawk!
ReplyDeleteMs CrankyPants: I have seen magpies here take on eagles. The eagles look bemused as the magpies swoop around them. But being challenged by a butterfly?
DeleteBeautiful! I never knew butterflies could be territorial. We have a lot of them here. The ones I see most are Monarchs, Painted Ladies, and various smaller yellow ones.
ReplyDeleteOh, and swallowtails. Forgot to add that.
DeleteCarol: I have a weakness for butterflies. Beautiful things. And some of yours are stunning.
Delete--She is Beautiful! She is a "she, right?
ReplyDeleteHow are you, dearest?
Can we get more photos of your cats & perhaps, YOU. Xxxx LOVE.
My Inner Chick: Photos of the cats? Yes. Of me? No way, no how, no chance.
DeleteOh, they wig me out. Flying bugs are one of my phobias, usually worsening with increased surface area. I'm sure it's beautiful to canny human beings...
ReplyDeleteJohn Wiswell: I am sorry. I do enjoy them, and playing in the garden as much as I do I am very lucky not to have difficulties with most insects/bugs/creepy crawlies.
DeleteI can't stop chuckling, imagining what thoughts must go through the head of any magpie who finds himself being chased by an enraged butterfly!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what purpose those bright red spots serve? Mate attraction? Disguise? Something else? It certainly adds to their striking appearance, like they're dressed in their formal black-tie or little black dress best with just a simple but classic ruby accessory. :-)
Beautiful photos!
I meant to share this recently-discovered Kiwi blog with you. Thought you'd really enjoy it! (Or do you already know of it?)
DeleteFlaming Petal
Gorgeous photos and lots of info (not sure how useful any of her gardening tips will be here in the northern Rockies, but that doesn't deter me from gazing wistfully and longingly at the gardens and flowers!) :-)
Laloofah: It is a bit reassuring to find that no-one else knew that butterflies could be territorial. I was wondering whether it was yet another example of my ignorance, and was common knowledge. Thank you for the link to the New Zealand blog. I will head over and check it out shortly.
DeleteSuch an intense beauty to this simple composition.
ReplyDeleteTouches my heart....thank you:)
-Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson: It is an intensely beautiful butterfly.
DeleteSo sorry to not have been around much lately. My human is sleeping and our internet connection keeps going.
ReplyDeleteI love butterflies. In my garden, the butterflies chase hedgehogs :)
Gidday from Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar!
klahanie: Penny, neither you nor your human need apologise. You are welcome whenever you drop in.
DeleteI wonder if they'd chase a black and white cat...? These are wonderful pics, EC! Very interesting butterflies.
ReplyDeletePaper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): Our black cats certainly chase them - but I haven't (which is a pity because it would make me laugh) seen the butterflies chasing the cats.
DeleteWhat a shame indeed. The thought of Jazz being chased by an angry butterfly...!
DeletePaper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): It would be a complete hoot...
DeleteA beautiful butterfly! I am rather astonished that it would even chase magpie - quite the little dare devil!
ReplyDeleteCarola Bartz: Completely astonished here. Our magpies are high in the pecking order...
DeleteAs a blog reader, I can see these photos and think, "utterly lovely." As an avid citrus eater, I see 'em and think "evil critter!"
ReplyDeleteKath Lockett: So I hear you saying 'utterly lovely evil critter'. Works for me.
DeleteEven beautiful bugs have their faults. To chase a magpie? Wow.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: Incredible isn't it?
DeleteThis is a real beauty! Thanks for such an interesting post on this Orchard Butterfly.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Isn't he/she gorgeous. And, for a butterfly, quite large.
DeleteHe may not be popular but he sure is pretty!
ReplyDeleteKim @ Stuff could...: Isn't he?
DeleteWe don't have butterflies like this one in Europe...lovely lovely study on a butterfly.
ReplyDeleteunikorna: Thank you - you undoubtedly also have beautiful butterflies that we don't.
DeleteWOW!!! Gorgeous photos. Territorial butterflies.. I had no idea (there's so much I don't know). Stunning "buggerfly" (sorry, that's how the boys used to say it). Thank you!
ReplyDeleteNicky HW: Territorial butterflies was new for me too. And snap on the 'so much I don't know'. Quite frightening.
Delete