Lepidoptrian Puzzle.

[rejectomorph]

I got a close look at one of those dark butterflies which have been hanging about lately. It landed right next to me for a moment. It's forewing is black, but the hind wing is an irridescent blue-green on top, with a trim of grey spots, and black with orange spots on the underside. I tried looking for it at the USGS butterfly site, but couldn't find it. I also checked some nice butterfly photographs by photographer Jay Cossey, but it wasnt there, either. Then I tried another site, that lets you search for butterfles based on the sources of nectar they prefer. Nope, not there. But now I know that there are a lot of butterfly sites out there!

Comments

butterfly

[jaarronn.livejournal.com]

Can you give me an idea of size? Also how it flies...fast, or slow and leisurely?

Re: butterfly

[rejectomorph]

About two to two and a half inch wingspan. If can fly fast when it wants to, but mostly it just flutters arond the flowers. This thing loves to sip nectar! It is particularly fond of purple azalea. But its wings are in almost constant motion, like a hummingbird's.

Re: butterfly

[jaarronn.livejournal.com]

I'm heading off in about 20 minutes to count bird species for the next 24 hours, but have not given up on trying to ID this butterfly. I'll be back!