One of our most colorful spring butterflies is the Phaon crescent (Phyciodes phaon). It’s a brushfooted butterfly like the American lady and the gulf fritillary, and it’s usually one of the first ones to appear, so it’s frequently on the wing while the weather is still a little cool, especially at night. Insects depend on the temperature outside (or inside, when they manage to get in) to keep warm. For this reason, when it’s cooler outside, you may see them basking in the sun. That’s what this little Phaon seemed to be doing when I took her photo. Her head was somewhat shaded, but her wings were wide open and directly in the afternoon sun. She wasn’t even moving much, just lounging and warming for a short time. Then a crow flew over and the shadow frightened her away. I too, used to be a sun worshipper back in my younger days, so I could completely understand how nice few moments of warmth must have felt.