Here you see two skipper butterflies seemingly making rascally plans atop some nasty spear thistle (aka bull thistle or common thistle). Don’t ask me what species the skippers are; I find them to be one of the most intimidating groups to study and get straight.
There are about 275 species of these big-eyed butterflies in North America, mostly about an inch long and usually seen as fast (up to 37-miles-per-hour) brown blurs. They fly erratically, or “skip” from spot to spot somewhat like a skipping stone on water. Even experts have trouble identifying them. It was only recently that they were placed in the superfamily Papilionoidea (butterflies).
The thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. However, it is invasive and has naturalized itself in North America. The reason that it is called “spear” thistle is obvious from its appearance:
The reason that it also is called “bull” thistle is that it thrives in pastures, although I doubt any self-respecting bull or cow would snack on it.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on July 26 and 27, 2024.)