Mating Butterflies

in #nature5 years ago

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The butterflies are making more butterflies!!!

I've never actually seen butterflies mate, nor did I know where butterfly babies come from...but apparently they lay eggs (generally on the undersides of leaves) that hatch into caterpillars, which spin themselves up into cocoons to break down into primordial goo then reform and emerge as butterflies!

Further, the male will die after using up his sperm with a series of lovers, and the lady will die after laying hundreds of eggs. It's the ciiiiiiiiircle of liiiiiiiiiife...

These beauties were getting busy on the path at the @gardenofeden today, fertilizing the next generation of incredible creatures and advancing one step closer to their imminent demise...or maybe they were just having a nice time enjoying each other's company 🧡💛🖤









✨💛✨ Sara!