Butterflies

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.