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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> CSLR Challenge 81: Simplicity (Host: Jim Harrison) >> Exhibition > American Snout
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18-NOV-2006 Victor Engel

American Snout

Austin, TX

There are zillions of butterflies currently migrating north for some reason. I've just started trying to identify them. This, I believe, is an American Snout. Also migrating north are red admirals and/or painted ladies. Migrating south are monarchs.

Canon EOS 10D ,Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
1/2000s f/2.0 at 135.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Canon DSLR Challenge20-Nov-2006 14:56
In this case, I knew virtually nothing about snouts. However, I do have a butterfly book. Fortunately, there is only one species of snout that is found in the United States, so its identification was easy. It's called a snout because of the extended labial palps which it uses to help look like a dead leaf, the snout being the stem of the leaf. By the way, in flight they show quite a bit of orange/copper, and you wouldn't think it looked like this. They've been moving through town by the millions, it seems, along with painted ladies or red admirals or something like that. They actually resemble them in flight, in my opinion. What puzzles me is that their migration is going northward, against the flow of monarchs, for example. -- Victor
jnconradie20-Nov-2006 06:32
Very interesting animal (I've never heard of it, let alone seen a specimen before). You always impress me incredibly with your "walking encyclopedia" knowledge of just about any subject under the sun... and of course great talent with a camera as well! Regards ~jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Nov-2006 03:12
This morning I checked the chord, and the snout was still there, but this time closer to the end of the chord and facing down. This evening I checked again and thought the butterfly had left, but then I noticed her on the wall, nearby. I say "her" because she's standing on 6 legs. Males' front legs are diminished to a point that they don't use them. I also investigated the brown items, and they are eggs. Perhaps I'll keep them with appropriate vegetation to see what they grow into. Baby snouts eat hackberries, so that's where I'll start, I guess. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Nov-2006 08:47
By the way, I intend to investigate tomorrow what those brown things are at the top of the chord. Probably babies of some sort of insect. I wonder if this snout is their mother. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Nov-2006 08:46
I didn't actually curve it. But I like the way it was curving. The cord is supporting a hummingbird feeder. I saw this butterfly land on the feeder. I didn't like where it was sitting, so I bothered it so it would move. Interestingly, it insisted on landing in the vicinity. I put my hand around the feeder, forcing it to land either on my hands or elsewhere. It chose elsewhere, namely, the chord just above the feeder. I really liked how it nestled in the curve, hence the photo. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Nov-2006 07:18
Wow! no prizes for guessing why it is called that? Incredible, I like the way you curved the cord, it makes the comp. much more interesting. Regards ~ Bob