Beneath a butterfly

@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
August 16, 2017 12:33am CST
We stopped for fuel in the village of Oradour in France and while we were stopped a butterfly landed on the windscreen. I was able to get several shots of him/her and was pretty pleased with my efforts. Butterflies date from about 56 million years ago and have the typical four stages that many insects share. The winged adults lay eggs on a food plant. When the larvae or caterpillars hatch, they feed on the plant. When fully developed they pupate into a chrysalis. Soon after the pupal skin splits and the adult insect emerges. Once the wings have expanded and dried, it flies off to repeat the process all over again. This little one flew off before we drove off which was probably a good thing.
16 people like this
13 responses
@LadyDuck (502189)
• Italy
16 Aug 17
This is another moth in my opinion and not a butterfly. I think it is a Cecropia moth.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (502189)
• Italy
18 Aug 17
@JudyEv Unidentified Flying Insect.
2 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
18 Aug 17
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 17
You could easily be right. I need a generic name that covers both moths and butterflies!
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Aug 17
Are you sure it was a butterfly? It might have been an alien lol!
4 people like this
• Germany
16 Aug 17
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502189)
• Italy
16 Aug 17
I think it's a moth.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 17
It looked a bit alien from this angle!
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
16 Aug 17
Beautiful picture. I Love butterflies!
3 people like this
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
17 Aug 17
@JudyEv So incredibly beautiful!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 17
They're gorgeous aren't they?
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
16 Aug 17
Usually we don't get to photograph them from this angle.Well , good thing the butterfly landed on the windscreen.Always like to watch butterflies,moths and damselflies.And of course,the flowers those land on.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 17
That's true. It's hard to get a view from underneath.
1 person likes this
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
16 Aug 17
This is an amazing photo what an amazing thing to be able to get such a shot.
2 people like this
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
21 Aug 17
@JudyEv I think it would be quite hard to get that shot. Mostly butterflies are gone before you think about it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 17
Now I think about it, it would be hard to get a shot of the insect's underneath in any other way.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20254)
16 Aug 17
As LadyDuck pointed out, it is a pretty moth... To some people, having a moth visiting, means being visited by a soul from your immediate family... (Did I scare you in saying that? )
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 17
No you didn't scare me. In fact, I would find it comforting.
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58468)
• Germany
16 Aug 17
I love to see different kinds of butterflies..especially those with colorful wings
1 person likes this
• Germany
18 Aug 17
@JudyEv ..Yes..seeing them is like..lighting up your mind with, How wonderful life is
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 17
Some are very beautiful aren't they?
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11325)
• Australia
16 Aug 17
What a lovely photo you took of that butterfly .. and thank you for sharing info about butterflies ..
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 17
I was just lucky to be there when it landed. My camera has been travelling on my knee lately - and out of its case ready for use! You never know when something will turn up that I want to photograph.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
18 Aug 17
whatever it is ... its a good photo...
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
24 Aug 17
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Aug 17
Next time I'll have to put 'butterfly/moth'. I'll sit on the fence and have an each-way bet.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Aug 17
Nice looking butterfly. I didn't know they've been around that long.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Aug 17
@JudyEv Yes it is.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 17
It's amazing how long some of the creatures have existed.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Aug 17
I gotta go with the crowd. That might be a moth.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Aug 17
Sigh - wrong again - Me, that is.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
24 Sep 17
I am glad you got some pictures of him or her. Thanks for the information. I did not know much about butterflies. I like them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Sep 17
I was lucky to get a photo of the underside. That would normally be hard to do.
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
27 Sep 17
@JudyEv You hit it at the right time Judy. I am glad you got the picture you wanted.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Sep 18
What a beautiful visitor.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Sep 18
It is lovely isn't it? I was so pleased to see it.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
29 Sep 18
@JudyEv It is incredible beauty.