Sunday, May 3, 2009

Florida’s state butterfly…..Zebra Heliconian

I love this butterfly. It was so interested in the pollen on my Bottlebrush tree, that Ibutterfly 005.JPG   was able to snap a few pictures. It has some small red spots on the underside of the wings, but you have to look close to see they are not part of the red bottlebrush.butterfly 003.JPG

According to the Florida Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, they roost together at night. Usually in the same spot, in a large group.  I have not located their roosting spot but will be looking.

I have 2 Bottlebrush trees near my front yard. They are frequented by the butterflies and hummingbirds. It is also great dense cover for the Painted Buntings and the Indigo Buntings.

I think this is a Palmedes Swallowtail butterfly…he was not as interested in the Bottlebrush and never stopped moving his wings.butterfly 002.JPG

3 comments:

  1. Lovely photos! The butterfly and the bottlebrush tree are both beautiful.

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  2. What pretty pictures! I haven't really seen many butterflies yet this spring, I enjoyed getting to see yours.

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