What! Four-footed Butterflies

What! Four-footed Butterflies? Well yes this is the case with the family Nymphalidae, one of the largest butterfly families with over 5,000 species. The adults in the family have atrophied front legs that are useless in normal ambulatory activities. They are tucked up alongside the head and the butterflies only use four of their legs for walking.

This little Orange Bush-brown, Mycalesis terminus (Fabricius), is a frequent visitor in the garden but has been unable to get about for the past few weeks due to the wet weather. At the slightest hint of a bit of sun, they appear from nowhere!