These small, sturdy butterflies visit the garden frequently. You might first admire them for their colorful wings or sturdy, furry bodies. Then take a close look at their fabulous tongues. In the photo at the top, the tongue forms a spiral. In the photos below, one Skipper licks the foot of another. This pair flitted around the Chinese Abelia for several minutes. And you wondered why I call this a wild life garden!
They are so agile that some call them “nectar thieves” because they are able to lick out the nectar without brushing the pollen and then transferring it to another flower.
