Dragonflies and another new butterfly species today. Also most likely a Laughing Gull in flight. The butterfly is an interesting one, it is most likely a red-spotted purple which is actually a different form of the white admiral butterfly. They were originally thought to be two different species but now are considered different morphologies of the same one and will “hybridize” creating intermediate forms where the two forms overlap. I put hybridize in quotes because typical hybridization is the mixing of two distinct species, although that leads to a discussion on the definition of a species which I will save for a later post as it is quite complicated. Interestingly enough the red-spotted purlpe is a mimic of the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) which is poisonous and is distinguished in part by the “swallow tail” on the hind wing. I also have a picture of one in my very early posting of butterfly and moth pictures.
I do love Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) but I also love Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and I got to snap a couple of pictures while out at Assawoman Wildlife Area part near Fenwick Island, Delaware. Thanks to a site featuring Odonata of Delmarva (Peninsula containing the state of Delaware and parts of Maryland and Virginia) I was able to give a more educated guess as to the dragonfly species I photographed. In general like the difference between moths and butterflies, most damselflies hold their wings along their bodies when at rest and most dragonflies hold their wings spread out at rest. Dragonfly adults and their nymphs (young) which are aquatic, are great insect predators important for eating mosquitoes and their larvae.
I will be away for a week in Tucson, Arizona. I’ll continue taking pictures but it may be awhile before I post them. It’ll be an excellent opportunity to see nature in a completely different ecosystem.
phototerrascientia 