This view shows how skillfully the butterfly can camouflage itself in the blossoms of the black sage. Although it shows a completely different color when its wings are spread and you can see the upper side, it blends right in when it's wings are closed like this.
I finally was able to capture this butterfly with its wings spread, and that helped me identify it as a Painted Lady. It may be an American Painted Lady. But it's definitely not the Monarch I had thought it was before I looked it up.
What butterflies are you seeing this spring?
Makes me think of the Elton John song, Sweet Painted Lady:). Amazing how well it camouflages itself. Initially I thought it was just getting out of its cocoon. In the Philippines, we believe that if a relative dies, then a butterfly shows up, it's the relative visiting us.
ReplyDeleteThat camouflage surprised me, too, since with its wings open the butterfly is hard to miss.
ReplyDelete