Dangerous Habits - _TNY_2498
The gold rim swallowtail (Battus polydamas), also known as the tailless swallowtail and Polydamas swallowtail is one of two Battus species in the USA. This particular one was as usual shot at my local butterfly house and not in the wild.
One thing I have noticed about these is that they seem quite fond of landing on the ground. And the ground at a butterfly house really isn't that great a place to hang out when you're a butterfly.
Way too many visitors walk around looking up after butterflies, not only not seeing the ones on the ground, but also accidentally stepping on them.
This one had managed to soak its wings in the water on the floor so the wings were kind of sticking to the stone which certainly didn't make it more mobile.
Now, I gently moved it to a rock next to the path where it was out of the way for large shoes, but five minutes late when I passed again, it had moved back to the same dangerous spot.
For a shot of one which isn't so scuffed up, please have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51938827468/
Dangerous Habits - _TNY_2498
The gold rim swallowtail (Battus polydamas), also known as the tailless swallowtail and Polydamas swallowtail is one of two Battus species in the USA. This particular one was as usual shot at my local butterfly house and not in the wild.
One thing I have noticed about these is that they seem quite fond of landing on the ground. And the ground at a butterfly house really isn't that great a place to hang out when you're a butterfly.
Way too many visitors walk around looking up after butterflies, not only not seeing the ones on the ground, but also accidentally stepping on them.
This one had managed to soak its wings in the water on the floor so the wings were kind of sticking to the stone which certainly didn't make it more mobile.
Now, I gently moved it to a rock next to the path where it was out of the way for large shoes, but five minutes late when I passed again, it had moved back to the same dangerous spot.
For a shot of one which isn't so scuffed up, please have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51938827468/