Many a time I have followed a tiny blue winged butterfly to find that it had disappeared among the briers and the flowers, only to see a very alluring white butterfly that caught my eye.
It took many repetitions before I realized that the white butterfly before my eyes, stationary and docile, was one and the same as the dazzling blue creature that had flitted away.
These butterflies are very common here in Missouri, but very few people know their name: Eastern Tailed-Blue.
They are called tailed because of the delicate little attachment at the back of the wings that passes for a tail.
But they are known as blue because of the dorsal color of blue or blue gray that they display when flying.
When at rest they are white or whitish grey with black dots and two orange spots toward the back.
They fly low to the ground, feed on legumes and secrete a substance that attracts ants which in turn protect the butterflies in their larval stage.
Alluring is an apt word to describe it. A beautiful insect, indeed.
Thanks, Michelle. It is indeed!
You are lucky to see so many butterflies. I see a few fleeting around, but they always take off when I get too close.
Thanks, Julia. I do feel lucky! Mind you, most of the butterflies will take off when I get too close, too. But there are so many of them, that occasionally one or two will let me get close.