Female and male Sonoran Blue (Philotes sonorensis) butterflies on Mugwort
Here are female (left) and male (right) Sonoran Blue (Philotes sonorensis) butterflies on last year's dead stem of native Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana, Asteraceae). The lady has orange spots on both forewing and hindwing, but the tattered male only has spots on its forewing. She seems to be leading him on, and a moment later they were mating. *Sigh* I'll save that photo for a few days for the Insect Hump Day group. It's interesting that I've found these butterflies on dead Mugwort stems before, see this photo and this photo. There is some attraction. (San Marcos Pass, 13 April 2019)
It's good to be back at Flickr after missing yesterday because of power maintenance and an evening event with good friends. Yesterday was still pretty windy, but today wasn't bad - some breeze from the south, probably an eddy circulation from winds moving around Point Conception. It was pleasantly warm today, up into the 70s. Hah, now there is a chance of a shower on Monday night! One of these little storms will be our last for some time.
Female and male Sonoran Blue (Philotes sonorensis) butterflies on Mugwort
Here are female (left) and male (right) Sonoran Blue (Philotes sonorensis) butterflies on last year's dead stem of native Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana, Asteraceae). The lady has orange spots on both forewing and hindwing, but the tattered male only has spots on its forewing. She seems to be leading him on, and a moment later they were mating. *Sigh* I'll save that photo for a few days for the Insect Hump Day group. It's interesting that I've found these butterflies on dead Mugwort stems before, see this photo and this photo. There is some attraction. (San Marcos Pass, 13 April 2019)
It's good to be back at Flickr after missing yesterday because of power maintenance and an evening event with good friends. Yesterday was still pretty windy, but today wasn't bad - some breeze from the south, probably an eddy circulation from winds moving around Point Conception. It was pleasantly warm today, up into the 70s. Hah, now there is a chance of a shower on Monday night! One of these little storms will be our last for some time.