Butterflies

We went to a butterfly farm at Monteverde. There were butterflies all around, but they're pretty hard to take pictures of. Here are some.

These are cocoons. I think the grey/black one and clear one are empty, but the two below them might still be full. The orange butterfly has just come out. It has to hang onto the cocoon in order to strengthen it's wings with more blood so that it can fly. If it doesn't hang on until the wings are strong enough, it will die.

This one definitely still has a butterfly in it.

They say that this butterfly might actually be where we get the name for the animal in English (in Spanish it's completely different - mariposa), because the lighter part of the wings look like butter. Butter-fly.

Mating butterflies. This is the only way butterflies can mate and also the only way they can poop. Wow, of all the things to have to do while in the same position.

While male butterflies are polygamous, female butterflies are usually monogamous. The exception occurs when the male butterfly isn't strong enough to fill the female butterfly with his sperm. In this case, another male butterfly will take his place.