Milkweed, fritillary, and wasp

Sometimes this happens: my walks will lead me to the same place. But though the background may be similar—this is a close-up of the same Swamp Milkweed I wrote about a couple of days ago—the details are somewhat different. True, my focus is on a butterfly, although this time, it's one of the showiest of species: a Great Spangled Fritillary. This lepidopteran loves milkweed of any variety, but the insect has clearly been through some rough times, in that the edges of its hind wings are tattered and frayed. My guess is that the butterfly was attacked by a bird or two and managed to escape, but not without losing part of its showy wings. No matter: it can still fly. Perhaps all those spots and other adornments even function to direct the predator's attention to places the Fritillary can do without. In any event, the lepidopteran is sharing its nectaring site with a rather pretty-colored wasp. On a drizzly day, I'm happy to have a waterproof camera in which to record a scene of peaceful coexistence.