Poor Butterfly!

I wanted to share this before I get back to trying to respond to the comments left from Watery Wednesday. I went back to the Butterfly Pavilion outside of the Natural History Museum in L.A. While walking around snapping pictures I saw this little guy on one of the leaves. In looking at the photo you'll probably think just what I did. What's wrong with its wings?


Almost immediately, I went and found one of the people that work there and asked the man if he could answer a question for me then led him to this butterfly. He gave a very thorough explanation and I only hope I can repeat it in a way that does his explanation justice. He explained that when the butterflies first emerge from the cocoon their wings are wet and folded up like this. It takes the new butterfly a while to realize they have these wings and to let them unfold. He further explained they need the sun and warm weather to help dry their wings.


Sometimes, they don't learn to stretch their wings out before they become hard and if they become hard before they have completely unfolded, this is what happens to them. This little guy will never fly. It will have a more difficult time finding food and because it can flutter its wings to attract a mate, chances are it will never mate. This little guy will never look like the one below.

Butterflies Galore

Okay, as promised, here are the shots of the butterflies that I photographed at the Butterfly Pavillion at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. I know it's a lot of photos but I really did just post one shot of each butterfly....I think. I identified some of them but not all. Feel free to let me know the names of any I couldn't identify. You can click on any of these for a larger image.

There were kids all over the place. I spent half my time trying not to step on any butterflies and the kids. The man at the door very gently explained to the kids how delicate the butterfly wings were and this was why they could not and should not touch them. So why are there always the kids who just have to try to touch them anyway?


Still, the kids were cute and so excited. I was a little excited myself. I'd never seen so many butterflies, most of them sitting there letting me take as many close-ups as I wanted. I was a big kid with a camera.

JULIA & PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL

If you have a butterfly garden near you or ever have the opportunity to visit something like this I highly recommend going.

GREAT SOUTHERN WHITE

MONARCH

WHITE PEACOCK & ?

BUCKEYE

CABBAGE WHITE - JULIA?

ZEBRA LONGWING

I'll definitely go back before the exhibit is gone (September). Just what I need... 200-300 more butterfly shots. LOL!

Butterflies 2

I think this is a Monarch butterfly but I don't know for sure.