NZFF

Way, way off topic ..... but i was just outside watering the garden and i noticed several butterflies "dog fighting' around my buddliea bush (they love it)
We have spoken before about the aerodynamic skills of birds and bees .... but these guys (or girls) are amazing.

For something so seemingly fragile , they are extremely agile, strong, and fast.
Even against the wind these buggers were going for it.

Watching them zip up and down the section was interesting , their relative speed must be huge, when you consider its size , the distance they travel and the time it takes. The power to weight ratio would be interesting to know.


Moths on the other hand , seem to do it quite hard (by comparison ) this information comes from my own observations....would be interesting to know why.
life is grand , and if your like me (loves anything that can fly) its even "grander"

As i said "way, way off topic"

I was charged down by two Monarchs .. and not not sure if the big winged thing followed me the last few hundred meters .. SPOOKY BUTTERFLIES

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Mar 8 2013,7:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was charged down by two Monarchs .. and not not sure if the big winged thing followed me the last few hundred meters .. SPOOKY BUTTERFLIES

they are Ian..... staunch little buggers.... and whats worse is ..... they dont care

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Mar 8 2013,7:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was charged down by two Monarchs .. and not not sure if the big winged thing followed me the last few hundred meters .. SPOOKY BUTTERFLIES

They're only protecting their young Ian.

steelsporran wrote:

QUOTE (steelsporran @ Mar 9 2013,11:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They're only protecting their young Ian.

I'm thinking a new movie ... "Attack of the killer Butterflies" .... Might Sir Peter maybe interested

I've had a new-found interest in the wonders of evolution lately, inspired by some research for a story, and watching 'Africa' on Prime lately.

The other day my flatmate called me out the front door to see a 'stick' insect crawling up the house. It was a good 12 or 13 cm long. I brushed it into my hand to shift it somewhere safe (the cat lives there) and it turned into a twig -- the legs locked up, and it just became a lifeless twig. I can imagine a bird grabbing it, and then thinking 'why did I do that?' and dropping it again.

Speaking of stories, there is quite a common occurrence of 'killer' butterflies in scifi, so don't threaten the caterpillars...

toprob wrote:

QUOTE (toprob @ Mar 9 2013,12:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The other day my flatmate called me out the front door to see a 'stick' insect crawling up the house


Speaking of stories, there is quite a common occurrence of 'killer' butterflies in scifi, so don't threaten the caterpillars...

Being the garden person i am ... and that's a concrete fact never seen a stick insect ... but i've seen a stick Bush

"Musings on butterflies" this sounds really SPOOKY ... Killer butterflies almost like spooky chips

 

toprob wrote:

QUOTE (toprob @ Mar 9 2013,12:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Speaking of stories, there is quite a common occurrence of 'killer' butterflies in scifi, so don't threaten the caterpillars...

There's nothing scifi about it now Rob, just google "nano drones".

Wow ..... some great input. Now today i saw a praying mantis ......no, i wont go there ...that could be real scary.