Day 580: 5 Minute Freewrite: Thursday-Prompt: emperor

Day 580: 5 Minute Freewrite Challenge initiated by @mariannewest. Thursday-Prompt: emperor

Hackberry Emperor Butterfly

Butterflies never cease to amaze me. How the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly is remarkable and the beautiful butterflies are flying works of art. The Hackberry emperor butterfly gets its name because the Hackberry tree is the host plant, where the butterfly lays its eggs. The caterpillars eat the leaves of the Hackberry tree. The adult butterfly has a row of blue eyespots surrounded by black circles which is to confuse its predators. A bird will think that an eyespot is the head, so when the bird pecks at the spot the butterfly is able to escape. If the bird pecked at the head, the butterfly would most likely be doomed. This butterfly rests in an unusual position, upside down. It usually feeds on tree sap, rotting fruit, and dung and can also be seen sipping from mud puddles to get the necessary salts and minerals. If the Hackberry emperor lands on you, it is not because it likes you personally... it likes the salt from your sweat.

Hackberry emperor at rest.

All photos are my own.

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