Unexpected transformations

"There once was an ugly duckling," goes the old song. This could not be more true of these stunning butterflies and their most peculiar caterpillars. Another opportunity to scratch your head at the vagaries of Mother Nature, take a look at this pictorial proof of butterfly beauty and caterpillar creepiness!

State Insects

The Smithsonian has compiled a list of the 41 states in the United States which have officially designated State Insects.

Illinois has the Monarch Butterfly:

Photo: pieceoflace

Most of the states who have an official State Insect have selected a butterfly of some sort, but New Mexico is very unusual.

The State Insect of New Mexico is the Tarantula Hawk Wasp:

Photo: Bugman

Read more about the Tarantula Hawk Wasp at Durango Nature Studies