A flash of blue

Here's a particularly small, but very beautiful butterfly known as the Eastern Tailed-Blue. They are pretty common, and easily found in fields, along roadsides, etc. I photographed these two individuals at the Middle Run Natural Area near Tri-State Bird Rescue in Newark, DE. The first photo shows the markings on a set of closed wings, while the second picture gives a taste of why this butterfly is so aptly named. Look closely for the small 'tails' extending from the bottom margin of the hindwing (more easily seen in the second picture).

Eastern Tailed-Blue, Middle Run Natural Area, July 2007