As the rains seep into the desert sands lepidopterids gather to suck the last remnants from what appears dry ground. Their ultra-violet sensitive eyes can discern moisture where we see nothing. After a rain in the desert the butterflies go BIG. A good thundershower sees a vast and rapid response by a highly adapted ecology. Lepidopterids emerge in their thousands. they will pupate, mate lay eggs and be gone in a matter of days. While they endure they will provide valuable protein to a vast menagerie of creatures ~ from small birds to large eagles. Reptiles (geckos, lizards, agamas, snakes), predatory insects (bugs beetles spiders, etc.), rodents, felines, jackals, foxes.... the list is endless.. They are also a major pollinator of the vast array of desert flowers that will also erupt, bloom and fade in a day. From the album: KGALAGADI IN THE SWEET LIGHT ~ click on image to see full size) (C) wolf avni (2014)
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 11:46:01 +0000
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