There’s something so magical about butterflies. With their wide range of colours, shapes and sizes, and that light fluttering of their wings, they’re exciting to watch. In fact, while on a walk at a park we came across the Tawny Coster, Acraea terpsicore also known as Acraea terpsicore; the same species that was caught in the net while cleaning our pool a month ago. Could it be the same butterfly? That would be impossible as its life cycle takes an average of 30 ± 3.01 days. Most adult butterflies live only one or two weeks, although there are species that hibernate and may live several months.
A butterfly is sucking sweet nectar from a flower.
The adult flies slowly with weak seemingly unsteady wing beats. It didn’t seem bothered that I had my camera so close to it unlike some butterflies that hurry away. This bold behaviour may be because it is protected from predators by a nauseous chemical. It spent a long time feeding on one flower before going on to another.
Full article out soon.
