Insects and Invertebrates

Bordered Patches (Chlosyne lacinia) can be found nectaring on Indian Blanket at Falcon State Park butterfly garden.

Eighty-eight Butterfly (Diaethria anna) on moist sand near the Rio Frio, El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Tamalulipas, Mexicio

Crimson Patch (Chlosyne janais) is easy to spot at the North American Butterfly Association butterfly garden south of Mission, Texas.

Crimson Patch butterflies aren't easy to find north of the border, but the Falcon State Park and North American Butterfly Association butterfly gardens are likely habitats for this black beauty.

Julia Heliconian (Dryas julia) has one of the largest wingspreads of any Texas butterfly. Mist flowers and dozens of other flowering plants species attract a array of butterflies at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse.

Dawn Gordon with a Malachite on her finger at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse. She was part of a Mission Butterfly Festival Tour group butterfly tour.

The Mission Buttefly Festival tours are always instructive and fun. Participants see unusual butterflies like this huge Malachite at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse butterfly garden.

Montezuma Morpho (butterfly) is among the largest and most colorful butterflies found in the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami) dragonfly, male perched on cattail in marsh, south Texas, September

A solitary Queen (Danaus gilippus) feeding at yellow composite flowers, North American Butterfly Association butterfly gardens near Mission, Texas.

Red-bordered Pixie butterfly (Melanis pixie) sunning on Turk's Cap leaf, McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas, July

Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charithonia) hovering by Passion Vine, s. Texas; November, photographed in flight