This little Painted Lady Butterfly, Vanessa cardui, flew away as I was walking along the path and then flew back and landed right next to me. There were quite a few of them flitting in pairs along the path but this is the only one that posed! Perhaps he just had a long day or maybe he was being friendly and photogenic. Either way, here he is.
These little butterflies spend the winter in the desert (I guess San Diego qualifies as semi-arid) where they lay their eggs. As caterpillars, having feasted on the Spring foliage, turn into full fledged butterflies in the Spring, they migrate North in search of fresh food and breeding grounds. They may fly as far North as southern Oregon and their offspring will fly on to reach British Columbia before heading South to the California desert in the Fall.
G'night...and happy Friday.
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