Figure 14. Smaller butterflies, like this Red-banded Hairstreak (top), have short proboscises and are unable to reach the nectar in large blooms. Larger butterflies, like the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (bottom), favor larger blooms.
Top: A gray butterfly with red, white and brown markings perched on a branch. Bottom: A yellow butterfly with black-striped markings perched on small, white and pink flowers.

Photos by Chris Moorman