Done for the September Creative Photo Editing Challenge #1 found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/september-2023-challenge-1-creative-photo-editing.38214/

Journaling reads:
For most of us in the eastern U.S., there are four common species of dark blue and black butterflies. Three of those species are swallowtails, but one of them isn’t. At first glance, the red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) looks similar to the dark blue and black swallowtails. However, if you give it a second glance, it is easy to tell apart because it lacks the swallowtails!

Red-spotted purples are medium-sized butterflies – roughly the size of a viceroy or fritillary. When their wings are open, they are black with a blue wash on the hind wings. When their wings are closed, they are mostly black with a band of blue near the edge, a row of orange spots next to the blue, and then a few more orange spots near the body.

The coloration of the red-spotted purple mimics that of the pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) which is unpalatable to birds. Because the red-spotted purple looks similar to an inedible butterfly, many birds will leave it alone. ~Backyard Ecology dot net

I spotted this beautiful butterfly in my driveway as I was heading out to get groceries on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. I don’t know why it is given the name, red-spotted purple, since the colors are clearly black and blue with orange spots underneath and a few on top! Whatever the reason, the butterfly is beautiful and looks like velvet! And it’s beauty brings glory to God, the Master Artist!