wpadmin 
So this is this Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola.
It is Nationwide Pollinator Week. All’s proper with the world. The butterfly had visited a passionflower vine, Passiflora, its host plant.
Now for a little bit gasoline. The nectar is attractive. The Gulf Frit flutters from flower to flower.
After which…it is focused.
Get off my flower, that is mine! A really territorial male long-horned bee, Melissodes agilis, buzzes previous, attempting to dislodge the butterfly. Then one other male seems. And one other.
What is going on on? Like frenzied kamikaze pilots, the males patrol the flowers, dive-bombing and dislodging any short-term tenants, in hopes of saving the nectar for the females of their species. And to mate with them.
It really works.
After 4 assaults, the Gulf Frit decides the nectar will not be value it.
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