Kaleidoscope

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Kaleidoscope

July 24, 2022 by Mike Powell

I was delighted to encounter this group of butterflies last Tuesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Several Zebra Swallowtails (Eurytides marcellus) and one prominent Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) were poking among the rocks, drinking in salts and other nutrients. If you look carefully at the image, you will see that one of the Zebra Swallowtails (the one to the right of the Spicebush Swallowtail flying—apparently it wanted to join the party.

Did you know that one of the collective nouns for a group of butterflies is “kaleidoscope?” I think the word is a a perfect descriptor for these multi-colored swirling beauties.

Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Eurytides marcellus, kaleidoscope, kaleidoscope of butterflies, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Papilio troilus, Spicebush Swallowtail, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA, Zebra Swallowtail | 11 Comments

11 Responses

on July 24, 2022 at 3:26 pm | Reply Michael Sammut

Awesome group and photo!
- on July 24, 2022 at 7:37 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  THanks, Michael
  - on July 25, 2022 at 1:19 am Michael Sammut
    
    Welcome. My pleasure.
on July 24, 2022 at 3:28 pm | Reply Suzette Benjamin

I like that word “kaleidoscope” 🦋
- on July 24, 2022 at 7:39 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Me too, Suzette. I remember playing with kaleidoscopes when I was a child and was endlessly fascinated by the changing shapes.
  - on July 24, 2022 at 7:55 pm Suzette Benjamin
    
    Yes! Me too. 👍
on July 24, 2022 at 6:51 pm | Reply Jazz Jaeschke

“Kaleidoscope” is a perfect tag for your image here – a new-to-me use for that word, thank you!
- on July 24, 2022 at 7:41 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Jazz. It is a fun word to say. Saying it aloud somehow it also brings to mind the word “calliope” and visions of a merry go round. 🙂
on July 25, 2022 at 4:37 am | Reply Patricia M Osborne

Beautiful.
- on July 25, 2022 at 9:42 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Tricia.
on July 25, 2022 at 10:42 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Great image Mike! Did not know that a group of butterflies is called kaleidoscope.