Meet Speyeria Aphrodite, well at least we hope so. This sweet little creature is a bit darker and brighter in color than the species identification denotes, but the markings are very similar.
We found this one flitting from wild clover to wild clover drinking up their sweet nectar and doing a very important job too...
Although not as well known as honey bees and the fuzzy bumblebee, butterflies are great pollinators too!
Each time this bright little fellow changed flowers he (or she!) carried pollen with him. Butterflies are classified as diurnal, meaning they pollinate a wide variety of flowers that are open during the day.
On this particular day the wild clover were in full bloom, showing off their beautiful purple blossoms. This is an important factor for butterflies, as color is the main attractant in deciding what flowers to visit. In fact butterflies have better color vision than bees, (or humans for that matter!).
Taste of course is important too; and did you know butterflies taste with their feet, not their long curly tongues? Their taste sensors are located in their feet so that they can quickly tell whether a flower has good nectar or not.
Although they don't always get the credit, butterflies are an important part of the pollination process... in addition to being pretty great to look at too.
Want to see more of these colorful creatures? Plant a beautiful butterfly garden! And be sure to check out the Audubon Field Guide to Butterflies to learn more and identify butterflies in your area.
*Last time in Nature: Hummingbirds
