The Southern White Admiral was a butterfly I expected and hoped to see in the south of France, most likely the second brood of the year in August. A handsome butterfly and a truly majestic glider, beating its wings only rarely, it was easy to locate along mountain paths. However, it requires patience waiting for one to land near to you to pose for a photo. The males patrol their territories and occasionally rest on the edge of a bush at around head height to see off potential competitors. This is great for underside shots, but upperside photo opportunities are rarer. The upperside is the most significant difference to its northern cousin the White Admiral (Limenitis Camilla). The Southern White Admiral has a striking iridescent blue sheen to its upperside wings. The sheen is quite similar to that of the Purple Emperor in that it is only visible from certain angles when the light is right.
Members of the Nymphalidae family including the Admirals, Emperors, Fritillaries and Browns, also known as brush-footed butterflies, have reduced first thoracic limbs (front legs!) and only use two pairs to walk and stand on. In the photo above you can clearly see the reduced front limbs under the eye. Females use the sensory hairs on these fore limbs to "taste" food plants before egg laying but I'm not sure about the males. Riodinidae metal mark butterflies such as the Duke of Burgundy, have also evolved these limbs, most probably parallel evolution. Must be a naturally selected benefit.
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