Is today the first day of a new season? It depends. If you use the meteorological calendar, today is the first day of autumn (or spring if you live in the Southern Hemisphere). If you use the astronomical calendar, however, you have to wait until the equinox on 22 September for summer (or winter) to end.
No matter how you calculate the seasons, we are already starting to see signs of transition. The weather is marginally cooler and some vegetation is dying off. It won’t be long before the leaves on the trees begin to change colors or, as is often the case, simply fall from the trees.
Many of the dragonflies and butterflies that I see are showing signs of wear and tear, with scratches on their bodies and tattered wings. While exploring Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge last week, I spotted several butterflies with somewhat unusual damage to their wings. The wings of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) in the first photo seem to be in almost pristine condition, except for the fact that one of the tails and a portion of the wing is gone. What could have caused that kind of damage?
The Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) in the second image had similar damage, but it appears that the damage affected both of its wings. I can’t help but notice the straight lines and almost right angles of the edges of the missing wing sections of both of these butterflies. Could a bird have caused that damage? It is a bit of a mystery to me and I would welcome any insights that you might have about the cause of the injuries to these butterflies, which nonetheless seemed flying capable of flying.
Happy change of seasons—fall or spring, as applicable—if you live a place that uses the meteorological calendar.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
We are starting to see signs of fall. I think the trees are tired from the heat this summer and are looking to turn in early for a nice winter’s nap.
Trees are not the only ones tired of the heat of this summer. I really welcomed the break provided by a recent cooler day. Weatherwise fall is my favorite season, when the days are still warm and the nights are cool.
My favorite season as well.
Your instincts are right on~ those are bird beak damages. Butterflies frequently have eye spots and/or tails at the back end to fool a bird into thinking that is the head. When the bird attacks that end the butterfliy escapes in the other direction. Success!
Thanks, Melissa. I have see lots of other cases where the wings seem more shredded and tattered and the colors were faded, but these seem to be unusually clean breaks from what looked to be otherwise relatively young and healthy specimens.
I admire your deductive reasoning. If I didn’t know that was what was happening because a lepidopterist told me, I’m not sure I would have figured it out.
Nice Images Mike! Yes, the butterflies & dragonflies seem to be the worse for wear lately. We went to one of our favorite parks for dragonflies yesterday but only saw one!
Thanks, Reed. Yikes, only one dragonfly. The numbers of some species are already beginning to drop, I’ve noticed, but I’m happy that some are still around.
So pretty, and yes changing seasons are in the air. Our horses are starting to grow their winter coats!
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
Wow. I had no idea that winter coats came in so early. Of course, that is probably what they are selling for humans at the department stores. Even though the high temperatures are still close to 90, I am certain they cleared out their summer merchandise a while ago.
Just when we begin to think things will never change, poof! A new season, new vistas around the familiar. When I look at early spring photos of my garden I am amazed at how much has changed, little by little.Glad those butterflies escaped the birds!! Especially glad they can still fly, too!
I am always amazed how butterflies and dragonflies can manage with badly damaged wings. It is, of course, partly a matter of survival, but they are able to compensate pretty well for any limitations on their abilities in the same way that humans often do.
Butterflies even with broken wings are beautiful.
Thanks, Philip. I completely agree–they are amazingly beautiful.
I initially felt sorry for them but soon realised they’re the lucky ones who’ve survived long enough to become ‘aged’. Seeing them as survivors changed my attitude to admiration and wonder, I’m happy they’ve had a good innings!
It’s the third day of official spring here and I’m seeing some changes; I’ll report on them soon, but things are pretty hectic just now. I’m with Liz regarding the slightly-damaged survivors still managing to get around reasonable well. I truly sympathize with that.
I like the idea of viewing them as survivors, focusing on their abilities rather than on their disabilities.
I am always amazed at how much damage they can survive and still fly and mate. Remarkable durability.
Essentially they are in situations where the choice if for them to adapt to their infirmity or die. We see a lot of survivors who manage to overcome what appear to be catastrophic injuries.