Often we do not give insects credit for the incredible creatures that they actually are. They can do any number of things that people can’t, including perching themselves on some very small, very delicate items. This beautiful gulf fritillary butterfly (Agraulis vanillae) is a perfect example. It is perched on the seeds of a bygone blackjack flower. These seeds are very loosely attached to the stem, and are meant to easily break away and stick to almost any living being that passes by them. They are sometimes called hairy beggar sticks for that reason. Yet with apparent ease, the butterfly is able to hold on, balance, and not break off the seeds. I can’t even walk by one without the seeds falling off and sticking to me! And, I can’t imagine that even an Olympic gymnast could balance perfectly like that on an equivalently built object. This is just one of the many reasons that insects should be admired.