Butterflies - Living Desert 1 (pic).JPG

Butterfly photo I captured at the Living Desert refuge in Palm Desert, California. The species is Swallowtail, I think. I especially liked the variety of coloration in the butterfly as well as the background foliage, showcasing the importance of camouflage to these beautiful insects. It's deeply disturbing that butterflies like this are close to being endangered because of the effects on habitats due to climate change, and that there may come a time in the foreseeable future when, like so many other species, they are so rare or extinct that photos may be the only evidence we have of these magnificent creatures.
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