Lovely, tattered Ladies

The sight of female butterflies that are a little tattered is a poignant one.

They survive close calls, intent on creating a new generation, laying their eggs.

This Anise Swallowtail is missing one of her tails, probably bitten off by a bird.

She is laying eggs on one of the fennel plants that we didn't pull out to provide host plants for her children.

Here is a very tattered Anise Swallowtail female laying eggs on another fennel plant.

Judging from all that wear and tear on her wings, she must be an older butterfly.