This photo of a Painted Lady butterfly is dedicated to Abraham Lincoln at Brookville Daily Photo for his amazing butterfly, birds, and lots of other animals and insect photos. The photo is from my brother-in-law, Tommy Melton's "meadow" in Slidell, the eastern suburb of New Orleans.This fellow was quite elusive, until he landed on this flower which must have been filled with nectar. You can see his proboscis -- sucking tube for nectar -- pointing out and down from his head into the flower. His two antennae which help him smell for nectar and other things in the environment are clearly visible pointing up from his head.
You can see two of his legs and probably assume he has two more on the other side. He does, but like all insects the butterfly has 6 legs. Two of these are usually very hairy and held up close to his body. You can see one of those hairy leg hanging down on the other side by his head. Butterflies use all of their legs for smelling what they are alighting on.
