gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

This is the long tailed skipper - Urbanus proteus. I post it here not for the aesthetic quality of the photo, but for the interesting adaptation it has used for feeding. I have seen other butterflies feeding at my hummingbird feeders before, but this one has inserted its mouthparts into the seam between the two halves of the feeder base, where - presumably - there is no outlet for the nectar. There is no leak here either because when the water container is screwed into the base, the seal between the two halves is very tight. But somehow, the critter KNEW that there was sugar water to be had and that was the way to it.
Go figure.

P.S. I have never seen this species before, though its range does include Georgia. Also, the pic was taken with the canon 100-400 telephoto and not a macro lens.

(Download)

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Interesting. Nice images, too.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Very nice and some of mine will leak it bumped and tilted like when it's accidentally hit! You might try slowly pouring some water on the top and watching inside to see if a little is somehow making it inside. I have ant traps over mine which I fill with water and can sometimes see movement in the sugar streaked water inside the main container when I accidentally overfill the ant traps and a little water somehow finds its way inside the main container. I have also noticed when we have a substantial rain that the water level may increase just a little in the main containers!

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Very interesting, gym. Great pics, too.

CLF Loc: Raleigh, NC

Gym, great photos and thank you for posting this unique feeding method. I have the same type of feeders and will be on the lookout.

Greg

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Good shots, gym, especially the second one.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

We have the long-tailed skippers here, but I've never seen one on our hummer feeders. Very interesting observation, Gym, and beautiful images as well!

RichJ207 Loc: Sammamish, WA

Another feeder thought: I had typically emptied the last little bit of sugar water into the ivy under the tree in which I hang one feeder. Shouldn’t have been surprised that ants looked up the tree for the source of the sweets.

suci Loc: Texas

I'm usually overrun by bees on the hummer feeder. Good clear shots.

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

Beautiful shots!