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Imagine, if you can, a world without butterflies. It would be pretty drab
place, indeed.
Butterflies are magnificent as they flit and dart among the flowers, their
colorful patterns a perfect foil for the lovely flowers.
These colorful, entertaining creatures are part of an adaptable order of
insects called Lepidoptera. There are over 18,500 species of butterflies
in the world, the vast majority in the warm, sunny tropics. North America
is home to about 750 species. The butterfly is found on every continent
except Antarctica. Even frigid Greenland has around six species calling it
home.
The butterfly and moths are very closely related insects. The main
differences between the two are that moths are nocturnal and drab
colored. Their wings fold down horizontally near their bodies and their
antennae are "fuzzy". They prefer forested habitats while the butterfly
frequents sunny, open fields. The butterfly is usually active during the
daylight hours. Their wings fold vertically above their bodies and their
antennae are thin, threadlike organs.
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There are also many similarities between them. The adults feed mainly on
nectar, and both are important pollinators of the flowers they feed upon.
Both are prey of a variety of other creatures - mainly birds, spiders,
lizards, dragonflies and other insects. Many wasps and flies lay their
eggs on the caterpillars, eggs, and pupae and the parasitic larvae of
these insects burrow into the victim, consuming it from within.
The order Lepidoptera evolved 200 - 300 million years ago. The direct
ancestor of the butterfly was an insect similar to the modern caddis fly.
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130 million years ago the flowering plants evolved and butterfly species
began to emerge and spread very quickly. Fossil records of butterflies from
48 million years ago are very similar to modern species.
Butterfly antennae have the senses touch, smell and hearing, while their
feet do their tasting for them. The long proboscis located on the front of
their head allows them to delve deep into flowers for nectar.
The butterfly evolves from egg to adult through a process called
metamorphosis. This is a four stage process involving egg, caterpillar or
larvae, pupae or chrysalis, and adult.
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The male butterfly stakes out a territory and sort of hangs out there,
waiting for females. These are located visually using their colorations
and patterns to identify them. A courtship ritual dance takes place.
During the courtship ritual the butterflies will rub antennae on each
other and release pheromones, or chemical signals, which assist in the
mating process. After the courtship mating takes place. The female then
locates a suitable host plant upon which to lay her eggs. Some butterflies
are given a common name reflecting the name of the plant upon which they
need to feed.
The eggs laid, the butterfly flutters off to repeat the process again and
again. The eggs hatch, releasing a very hungry caterpillar, which begins
life by consuming its own egg case. Then it begins feeding voraciously
and grows quickly. The larvae will molt as it grows, loosing its skin
several times.
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The pupae stage is entered after the proper size has been achieved. Unlike
the moth which spins a cocoon, the butterfly chrysalis is naked. The pupae
will take no nourishment during the chrysalis stage - it has consumed all
the energy it needs as a caterpillar to make the transformation, called
metamorphasis, into an adult.
After a period of time passes, the chrysalis splits open and the fully
developed adult emerges, wet and hungry. Several hours are usually needed
for the wings to fully extend and dry, allowing the butterfly to flutter
away. Life for the butterfly now consists of eating nectar and mating.
Unless a bird or other predator has them for lunch first.
Food is located visually. Bright flowers are attractive to the adult as
it flies above fields and flower beds. It uses its antennae to smell out
the best flowers for feeding and its front feet taste the flower, making
sure it is suitable. It uncoils its long proboscis and sucks the nectar
into its stomach. This feeding allows its feet and other body parts to
collect pollen as it feeds. It thus pollinates the flowers it feeds upon
as it goes from flower to flower collecting nectar. Some males need
additional nutrients not found in flowers. For these they feed on carrion,
feces, and salts in drying mud puddles. These provide certain amino acids,
nitrogen and carbon compounds.
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In temperate regions butterflies have evolved several strategies for
survival. Butterflies can over winter as all four stages of insect,
depending upon the species - adult, egg, chrysalis and pupae. Some,
like the monarch, don’t over winter at all, preferring to migrate to
warmer climes during the cold months. Over wintering types go into
hibernation, first forming certain types of chemicals within their
bodies which are similar to antifreeze. These chemicals don’t allow ice
crystals to form in their bodies, protecting them from the cellular
damage the freezing temperatures would inflict upon them. The ones which
over winter as adults take shelter in hollow trees, brush, piles of leaves
- anything which will afford them protecttion. These types may emerge on
warm winter days and are the first ones out and about in the early spring.
Migrating butterflies include the monarch and painted lady butterfly.
These butterflies spend the winter in semi-tropical or tropical regions.
In late winter, they begin their northward journey. The adults which begin
the journey stop to mate and lay eggs on the way. Few, if any, of these
migrating adults ever reach the summer breeding grounds. Instead, the
young born from the eggs laid on the way continue the migration, finally
reaching it after two or three generations.
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These insects have developed many ways of deterring predators. With some
it is a combination of the food plant and distinctive coloration. The
monarch is a good example of this. Since the plant it feeds upon, the
milkweed, is poisonous, the monarch has a very disagreeable taste. Its
coloration acts as a warning to birds and other predators which shy away
from eating it after one or two unpalatable meals. Some butterflies and
caterpillars use camouflage, taking on the color and pattern of the plants
and trees it rests in.
Many people enjoy collecting butterflies for display. Collectors should
note that the butterflies propagate themselves so effectively that taking
one or two for collections will not adversely affect the population
provided you take no more than you need. After catching them in a net,
place them in a protective envelope to prevent them from beating their
wings, and place them in a freezer to quickly kill them. Mount them with
a proper pin through the thorax, and label them as to species, date
collected, and location. Include any other important notes, such as the
vegetation it was feeding upon, etc.
Butterflies may also be bred and raised, the offspring released into
natural habitat.
Eggs collected from their food plant in the wild are allowed to hatch.
A cage can be purchased or made - be sure it will not allow the larvae to
escape and is tall enough to accommodate the food plant. Keeps a fresh
supply of leaves coming - larvae are heavy eaters.
Pupae can be sexed by looking at the pointed tip of their bodies. The male
will have two bumps near the tip, the female none.
Keep the pupae over winter in a suitable place. It needs to be as close to
the natural environment as possible and providing some protection.
Keep the male and female adult butterflies together after they emerge from
the pupae stage. Feed them with commercial butterfly nectar. Soak a
cotton ball in the nectar solution and place it in the cage. Plants
suitable for the butterfly must be in the cage for them to lay eggs, as
they are very selective about where they lay their eggs.
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Butterfly Garden
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