From Wikipedia - "Eumaeus atala, also known as the Atala butterfly or coontie hairstreak, is a small colorful butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southeastern Florida in the United States, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands in the West Indies." These wonderfully colorful butterflies can be seen here in southeastern Florida. I took this picture right outside of one of our local Walmarts' which happen to have Coontie plants in the beds along their sidewalks, which are the sole support system of the Atala Butterfly. "The Coontie and Atala have what is known as a mutualistic relationship – when two unique species "work together" and each benefits. The larvae (caterpillars) of this unique little butterfly feeds on the leaves of the coontie and are not only able to survive ingesting the toxins, but it also makes their own bodies toxic and unpalatable to many predators. This toxicity warning is displayed by their bright coloration in both larval and adult life stages. In return, the droppings of the atala help fertilize the soil. The caterpillars are so insatiable that sometimes they devour the coontie plants to the ground, where the plants appear dead to most observers. However, under most circumstances, this damage is only temporary. The coontie recovers, grows fresh new leaves, and the process starts again. "(from Conservancy of Southwest Florida). Taken with my Canon EOS 90D and Canon Macro Lens 70-135mm.