Very Territorial, Pt. 2 - _TNY_9343
You know how butterflies flutter and never seem to fly in a staight line? Many people mistake this for them not being able to fly straighter when it instead is a deliberate strategy to avoid being caught by birds and other predators.
When they want to, they can fly both fast and straight like this small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) which is resting on a blue flower.
Right before this he was the aggressor in a dogfight following a painted lady (Vanessa cardui) which he clearly didn't want around.
The other butterfly was flying really fast and making lots of sharp turns to lose this guy, but even though he was less than the length of the wingspan behind he kept following and replicated every maneuver the other one did until the V. cardui bolted altogether.
Pt. 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/48425156877/
Very Territorial, Pt. 2 - _TNY_9343
You know how butterflies flutter and never seem to fly in a staight line? Many people mistake this for them not being able to fly straighter when it instead is a deliberate strategy to avoid being caught by birds and other predators.
When they want to, they can fly both fast and straight like this small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) which is resting on a blue flower.
Right before this he was the aggressor in a dogfight following a painted lady (Vanessa cardui) which he clearly didn't want around.
The other butterfly was flying really fast and making lots of sharp turns to lose this guy, but even though he was less than the length of the wingspan behind he kept following and replicated every maneuver the other one did until the V. cardui bolted altogether.
Pt. 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/48425156877/