Eastern Tailed-Blue Butterfly

This little Eastern Tailed-Blue Butterfly (Everes comyntas) was barely visible by the naked eye this afternoon. . .we spotted her while walking along the high banks of the St. Johns River. She is rarely encountered in Florida. This butterfly has a weak, dancing flight and readily stops to nectar. She has two black eyes on the end of her wings covered by a bright orange cap. . .making her easily identified.

Here she is on the very pungent Buttermint (Hyptis mutabilis). This plant is native to sub tropical Americas. It smells somewhat like marijuana. Some literature says it is used for medicinal purposes. There is tons of it growing along the high banks.

Unfortunately the humidity was nearly 100% today so the cameras kept fogging. So in this shot the Buttermint is in perfect focus while the little Eastern Tailed-Blue is slightly out of focus.

Buttermint is in the mint family: Lamiaceae

Below: Me, in a field of buttermint, spanish needles, etcetera. I have a big scrape across the bridge of my nose so I altered this photo just enough to hide that. It will heal. . . in another week or two. I don't know how I did it. Hit in the face by a branch, likely.