Flutterbyes

Here’s a flying Swallowtail butterfly, Papilio machaon:

It’s a little tattered but beautiful all the same:

Here’s a perfect example of how searching out a background can completely change the mood of an image. The butterfly is still battered and old though.

The dry white seed-heads and the azure sky give this a completely different feel.

Here’s one on a giant thistle, this time in perfect condition.

It has a tongue which seems longer than its legs, which I will too, soon, in this heat.

And here’s an in-flight Clouded Yellow butterfly, Colias croceus, tongue neatly packed and coiled for travel:

That was quite a tricky shot, given how fast-moving they are. Have you seen how its proboscis is in perfect focus? Here it is extended and in use, with its lovely spotted green eyes:

There’s a Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus:

And a blue butterfly I haven’t identified yet.

Here’s a Queen of Spain Fritillary, Issoria lathonia, with amazing sliver patches on its wings:

And this one may be an Eastern Bath White, Pontia edusa, on a mission to another source of nectar, but with a spider awaiting

Beautiful, aren’t they?