Competing for Space

Though not immediately evident, there are two small butterflies on these Knapweed flowers, A Field Crescent, Phyciodes pulchella, and a California Hairstreak, Satyrium californica. The photo was taken by my wife in a natural area along the Columbia River, while I was looking for orchids, she spent her time more profitably (I didn't find anything) photographing butterflies and flowers. It was a sunny day and these two butterflies were everywhere. The flowers appear to be the Russian Knapweed, Centaurea repens, a very invasive and noxious non-native plant.