Poor photo but
another angle of the above butterfly. No predator will
suspect a butterfly in this position.
Piedmont,
Italy, July 2002
This is a widespread species that I've not often
encountered. It is very similar to the other Carcharodus species.
I
was in Italy on a cool damp July morning when I found the butterfly
photographed above. It was rooting in a most unusual position. The wings
were wrapped around the body hiding the legs and the abdomen was curved
up high above the thorax. I've never seen this before. I found 2 other
lavatherae in the same location, each one resting like this.