Slowmo Swallowtails

Giant Swallowtail at the Butterfly House - Christ Barnhart

Sometimes you see something that doesn't need scientific explanation.  Chris Barnhart sent me this beautiful this slow-motion video of Giant Swallowtails nectaring.  Without technical details or jargon, it shows the ballet of wings that lets the butterfly probe each tiny blossom on the anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), moving over the plant with its legs only lightly touching it.

Chris filmed this with an I-Phone and I am frankly jealous.  You can see this kind of action daily at the Bill Roston Butterfly House at the Springfield Botanical Gardens.