Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
A butterfly found something sweeter than nectar.

Despite the amazing diversity of flowering plants and the high density of plant communities in this part of the world, this butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) could not resist the remnants of an intoxicating drink left in a paper cup left behind (zoom in to see the tongue and other details including drowned beetles inside). The image also shows the negative effects of human activities in polluting the environment and "disrupting" the behaviour and lifestyle of creatures, including their food preferences.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2024
Photo Location: Tangier, Morocco
Copyright: © Oussama El Allali