The Other Side of the Giant - _TNY_6509
I have gotten shots of the king swallowtail (Papilio thoas) before at the Haga Ocean butterfly house, but only of the dorsal side of the wings (like this one: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53439754317/ which is from the same day and could be the one in the foreground on the left here).
This however is the first one I've managed where the ventral side is clearly showing. Do zoom in on those rows of scales - looks olmost like cloth, doesn't it?
This is a "brand new" butterfly that has just crawled out of its chrysalis, unfolded its wings and is in the process of waiting for them to harden so it can take its first flight. This also means that the wings are in as pristine condition as they will ever be.
The Other Side of the Giant - _TNY_6509
I have gotten shots of the king swallowtail (Papilio thoas) before at the Haga Ocean butterfly house, but only of the dorsal side of the wings (like this one: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53439754317/ which is from the same day and could be the one in the foreground on the left here).
This however is the first one I've managed where the ventral side is clearly showing. Do zoom in on those rows of scales - looks olmost like cloth, doesn't it?
This is a "brand new" butterfly that has just crawled out of its chrysalis, unfolded its wings and is in the process of waiting for them to harden so it can take its first flight. This also means that the wings are in as pristine condition as they will ever be.