Fall colored wings
I saw this Goatweed leafwing butterfly land and timed a shutter for its wings to open. I didn't notice the feeding object until it was on the big monitor. The MO Dept. of Conservation has this to say: "The caterpillars feed on the leaves of goatweed, hogwort, and other plants in the genus Croton. With their rather short tongues, the adults do not visit flowers, but they often absorb nutrients from damp places, tree sap, decaying fruit, and animal droppings." As Valley Water Mill Park allows dogs, I think that's the animal of origin.
Fall colored wings
I saw this Goatweed leafwing butterfly land and timed a shutter for its wings to open. I didn't notice the feeding object until it was on the big monitor. The MO Dept. of Conservation has this to say: "The caterpillars feed on the leaves of goatweed, hogwort, and other plants in the genus Croton. With their rather short tongues, the adults do not visit flowers, but they often absorb nutrients from damp places, tree sap, decaying fruit, and animal droppings." As Valley Water Mill Park allows dogs, I think that's the animal of origin.