Eye Spy the Butterfly

The greenbrier leaves have lost some lustre. Glossy green gives way to yellow and brown. Summer winds down. Spots play games with the eyes. 

The mantis meditates, motionless 'midst the green and brown and yellow, one with its milieu...

Some sources say its raptor's spikes can strike twice in the blink of an eye.

Fly, Buckeye, fly!

Riddle of the Sphinx

See! A stirring in the leaves. See! A tasty morsel. See! 

Tersa Sphinx Larva

Flee! Enormous eyes! Flee! Venomous viper! Flee!

Another disaster diverted; another day of dining; another young Sphinx foils the avian assault.

Tersa Overhead View

Eyespots gone. Wings of your own. The riddle remains...

Adult Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth