~An Arizona Red-Spotted Purple~

~Limenitis artemis astyanax~

This Red-Spotted Purple is taking nectar and collecting pollen from the last flowers of the season for the Redbird of Paradise plant. Apparently this beautiful creature never stops beating its wings, even while feeding. Soon all that will remain of this desert plant will be the seedpods, which are of little use to this arid region butterfly. It will have to find other sources for its life giving nectar. Fortunately in the desert, when one plant ceases to produce flowers another type of plant or cactus will start to bloom. This continuing process affords all animals and insects that require nectar an uninterrupted food source.

I'm going to be leaving for California on Sunday morning, so I will be posting one more blog before I leave. I will as usual try to post while I'm on the road, but personal and internet conditions always dictate if that will happen.

See ya tomorrow, TucsonJim ;o)


Bigger Flower and Butterfly