Guardian Angel - _TNY_9043
I'm sure this heath fritillary (Melitaea athalia) landed on the tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) purely because it esired the nectar in the flower, but here it looks a bit like it has spread its wings out to protect the jewel beetle underneath it. It isn't a good enough shot of the beetle to tell which exact species it is, but I'm thinking it is either a metallic wood-boring beetle (Anthaxia quadripunctata) or the very similar - and thus aptly named Anthaxia similis.
For a shot showing the beautiful underside of the wings on this butterfly, please have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52202619938/
Guardian Angel - _TNY_9043
I'm sure this heath fritillary (Melitaea athalia) landed on the tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) purely because it esired the nectar in the flower, but here it looks a bit like it has spread its wings out to protect the jewel beetle underneath it. It isn't a good enough shot of the beetle to tell which exact species it is, but I'm thinking it is either a metallic wood-boring beetle (Anthaxia quadripunctata) or the very similar - and thus aptly named Anthaxia similis.
For a shot showing the beautiful underside of the wings on this butterfly, please have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52202619938/