Insects and Invertebrates
![Bordered Patches (Chlosyne lacinia) can be found nectaring on Indian Blanket at Falcon State Park butterfly garden.](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Bordered_Patch_Larry_Ditto_70K3299/2700527776.jpg)
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](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Butterfly_Anna_s_Eighty-eight_Larry_Ditto_0391/1380068435.jpg)
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.](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Crimson_Patch_Larry_Ditto_70K72430/3287547040.jpg)
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.](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Crimson_Patch_Larry_Ditto_70K7278/2144542237.jpg)
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.](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Julia_Heliconian_LRD01221/494664268.jpg)
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.](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Malachite_Larry_Ditto_70K5559/316716018.jpg)
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.](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Malachite_Larry_Ditto_70K5584/2025227737.jpg)
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](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Montezuma_Morpho_Larry_Ditto_0960/223005980.jpg)
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](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Needham_s_Skimmer_Larry_Ditto_MG_1458/1762137859.jpg)
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.](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Queen_Larry_Ditto_70K5877/2002817542.jpg)
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](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Red-bordered_Pixie_Larry_Ditto_MG_7824/2848483303.jpg)
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](https://www.larryditto.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/04/Zebra_Heliconian_Larry_Ditto_70K06440/2533145372.jpg)
Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charithonia) hovering by Passion Vine, s. Texas; November, photographed in flight