Hiroko and I spotted this tiny swallowtail (actually a Red Ring Skirt butterfly, an Asian variant of the "Painted Courtesan" found in Europe) sheltering from the wind on a fence in Inokashira park. We had our first cold snap last week and were surprised to find this guy (?) out so late in the year, particularly in such "mint condition." Perhaps he hatched too late? Or early?
Whatever the case, he seemed very cold and eager to hang out on our warm hands. We brought him home, fed him some sugar water (which he drank greedily, for a solid ten minutes, using his krazy straw-like tongue), and sent him back on his way.
That was very kind of you, especially since he was no longer "mint in cocoon" ^_^ Perhaps the encounter has a significance that will reveal itself in time...
Posted by: Carl | November 23, 2009 at 02:26 PM