Keywords: virginia united states unitedstates plumeless thistle, spiny plumeless thistle, spiny plumeless-thistle, zebra swallowtail plumelessthistlespinyplumelessthistlespinyplumelessthistlezebraswallowtail flowers, insects, introduced plants, invasive plants, nectivores, nectivory, pollination, pollinators flowersinsectsintroducedplantsinvasiveplantsnectivoresnectivorypollinationpollinators carduus acanthoides carduusacanthoides usgs science biology butterfly butterflies leesburg outdoor plant blossom This zebra swallowtail butterfly is drinking nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in Leesburg, VA. Butterflies are important pollinators to the environment as they can carry pollen over great distances to aid in the growth of new plants. Credit: Elizabeth A. Sellers This zebra swallowtail butterfly is drinking nectar from a plumeless thistle flower in an abandoned agricultural field at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in Leesburg, VA. Butterflies are important pollinators to the environment as they can carry pollen over great distances to aid in the growth of new plants. Credit: Elizabeth A. Sellers |