At the end of last year, as the weather started to get cooler, the local butterflies were all making their final efforts to breed and pass their genetics on to the next generation. One afternoon, I decided to make a stop near the Wacasassa River. There was a big bunch of climbing asters that were in full bloom, and along with all the flowers were plenty of pollinators. There were bees and wasps galore, but there were also several types of butterflies that were also enjoying the buffet. A number of them were not only feasting, but also going through plenty of mating dances and posturing. This pair of pearl crescents (Phyciodes tharos) were nearing the final stages having already chased each other around and fluttered around each other. In this photo, they had both landed on a flower (not a climbing aster, by the way) and were touching noses. They had repeated that part of the dance several times on this same flower, so it was simply a matter of waiting for them to return again. Now the fruits of their labors are beginning to pop up all over the place in new, young, spring butterflies, whose numbers are increasing daily.