I remember the first time as a child I found a maple seed floating in a small lake at summer camp and thought it was the wings of an insect. The counselor assured me it was plant life and nothing to be worried about.
There is a nearby canyon of Bigtooth Maples, an isolated remnant of ones from the north. These photos are from mine, even more astray. Since my macro shots didn't come out as crisp as I would have liked them, I decided to make them more artsy with filters.
I've already seen the first of the migratory Viceroy and Monarch Butterflies coming through to feed on our Frostweed, and I think the maple seeds back lit by the sun greatly resemble their wings. It's interesting how much mimicry there is in nature. In the case of the Viceroy, it is a comimic of the Monarch butterfly. But what is the purpose of the maple seed to resemble insect wings?
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12 comments:
Pretty! You never know what will make a nice shot.
Cool, when they fall its like a helicopter, I cdant wait to see some butterfly pics and when the maples change colour..:-)))
I went swimming in the lake last week & did see an insect, a wasp was swimming with me. I avoided his area.
these are really pretty & different photos
Fall is on the way. :) Love your shots.
the shot s of the maple wing seeds is so cool, I took a peak at your other meme's as well. Very nice!!
They do look like insect wings. Nice shots - I like the filtering.
I used to think the same thing about those maple seeds and then I discovered hundreds of them spinning from the tree...what fun!
Nice shots, too!
~Lisa
I thought they were wings too.
Lovely time to come to New Zealand, flowers every where, and weather is mild.
Very interesting! It really looks like wings! :D
Purpose: ???!??!?!? hmmmm..maybe to attract flies
WOW your photos are amazing! Thanks for sharing!
It is a seed dispersal thing I believe, the shape aids in flight in the wind..good photos! :)
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