September 15, 2011 - Nathan's Notes - Reiman Gardens
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September 15, 2011

August 15, 2011 | Main Page | October 15, 2011

Visitors to the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing over the next few weeks should keep an eye out for the Great Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina). Native to Southeast Asia and Australia, this medium-sized butterfly is known for being a strong flier, even enduring long migratory flights. This active butterfly is also sexually dimorphic, which means the female form and male form look drastically different. In this particular case, the males are considered to be the prettier form, with their single large white spot, found on each wing, surrounded by a brilliant iridescent purple color visible only at certain angles. Within the Butterfly Wing these males can be seen exhibiting very strong territorial behavior as you will often see 3 or 4 males chasing each other in an attempt to defend their favorite perch. The male Great Eggfly adds another level of enjoyment to visitors since they tend to land on people within their patrol range, but only when standing still. Within the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, the Great Eggfly can most often be seen near the second bench.