Butterflies
Butterflies capture our attention with the fluttering of color as they pass by us. The blues, greens, and bright yellows advertise their presence and call attention to their beauty. On these pages we will learn about their life cycle, their families and how to attract them to our gardens and backyards. Once we learn what they need to live, we will know where to find them. And butterflying or butterfly watching can begin. Seven Families in North AmericaThere are seven butterflies families that occur over much of NorthAmerica. These families are grouped by wing vein patterns, color and how the adult sits or perches. Each family has a general impression, size and shape. Deciding the family is the first step in identification.Learning the most common butterflies will allow you to know species in most of North America. A Short Life CycleThe butterfly goes through four stages in its life cycle. It is an insect that goes through a complete metamorphosis.It completely changes from an egg to a larva, to a chrysalis to an adult. The colorful flier is the adult and final form of the insect. It starts life as a tiny egg which hatches into an equally tiny larva (caterpillar). The caterpillar eats until it grows many times larger. Then the caterpillar goes thorough a miraculous and amazing transformation. This brightly colored worm-like creature, shields itself in a chrysalis, then liquefies it's body parts and transforms it's tissues into the amazing fluttering adult we love to see. But the life cycle is short. Some adults live a few days to a few weeks. Their main activities consist of sipping moisture, mating and laying eggs. Not, bad work if you can get it. The short life is a drawback though. Where to Find ThemTo find them, you need to go where the butterflies are. And to do that, you need to know what they are searching for. Spring is the time when adult butterflies first make their appearance. Spring butterflies are often those that hibernated over the winter. They neednectar or moisture to sip and place to hide from harsh weather orpredators. Females need places to lay eggs. Adults like open areas full of nectar and host plants, not densely forested areas.Attracting and GardeningYou can trek far-afield to find and watch these captivating fliers or you can draw them to you. Attracting butterflies by gardening is a delightful and rewarding pastime. Simply, plant the topnectar plants, host plants and create the elements they need to thrive. You may want to plant hosts for the most common species in North America. Provide it and they will come.Studying and ObservingThere is a certain knack to sitting quietly and observing. The colors you where can attract these insects in a good way or a bad way. Move slowly. Sudden movements often scare off nervously fluttering adults. And remember to look down and think small. Butterflies live on a smaller, lower level than humans.A Lifetime of FascinationButterflies are fascinating. And with so many species, studying can easily become a lifelong pursuit. We have gone over some of the areas we need to know to successfully learn about them. We have touched on the importance of learning families, life cycles and what they need to live. And studying, observing, attracting and gardening can all go hand in hand. You don't have to travel to distant places to study butterflies. Nature study can take place in your own backyard. |