The Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly
I was fortunate yesterday to capture photos of this Red-Spotted Purple butterfly in a sandy area near the porch. I have tried on a number of occasions to photograph this beauty, but it has eluded me for two years. Finally I was able to get the photos. Florida has so many wonderful butterflies!
The red-spotted purple is a beautiful suburban woodland and forest butterfly. Also known in fancy terms as the Limenitis arthemis astyanax. Once thought to be quite rare in North central Florida, they began mating with a butterfly in Georgia known as a Viceroy butterfly. The result was a hybrid which resulted in increased populations of this beauty.
Adults like to feed on tree sap, fermenting fruit, or “dung”, but they do occasionally take nectar from flowers, and drink from mud puddles.
Source for additional information
Guess why I was able to get such great shots of this elusive red-purple, it was feasting on chicken poo. I got lots of that here at “Fuss & Feathers” homestead!
Photos taken by @mother2chicks 2018
Fantastic photos! I'm so glad you got to take some pictures this year! I saw one of those last year in Dallas and took some pictures!
I love blue butterflies 🦋 💙
That is a beautiful butterfly :)
Beautiful!
there she is! howdy back mother2chicks! howya doin?
well, I think this butterfly photo may be worth the wait because it's stunning!
A goal realized after two years is quite the accomplishment! It is a beautiful butterfly too! I love the red spots on the tips of the wings. It's awesome your chickens are bringing other types of nature around.
Awesome Butter fly pick .
I love this pick thank for amazing click
Wow i have never seen one yet. I too live here in Florida, and i love butterflies so much that i make wings out of polymer clay and hand paint them, to make my jewelry. You have inspired me to try and mix up some colors. Thank you. Here is what ive made in the past from other real butterflies.
She's absolutely gorgeous... curious enough I found you through @poeticsnake and I'm writing a post about the symbolism of blue butterflies, kind of synchronicity so followed, you are obviously a Nature lover... :) She's gorgeous, real life fairy, makes me want to paint her
Abbi and I got lost for a bit. We are back under this new handle. I messed up and could not get password to work. Starting from scratch.
Love
Love the photo