A visual treat in spring around here is the Spring Azure butterfly, one of the first butterflies to appear in warm weather. They are small, wingspan only about an inch. In flight the tops of their wings are beautiful blue/light purple. FOr some reasonl they always appear more blue in a picture but slightly more purple in person. When they land they hold their wings together vertically so you can't see the color. They spook easily and in flight keep moving. Catching them in flight is a challenge but worth the trouble.
They have an unusual life cycle. They live only a few week, mate and lay eggs. The caterpillars hatch, eat for a while, then form their pupae and remain that way for nine months. Sort of like Grace Ryland waking up after a long space voyage then rushing to save the race.
There is another variant called the Summer Azure, similar but not appearing until later of course.
