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How to Find Butterflies
To find butterflies, you need to go where the butterflies are. And to do that you need to know what they need and like. Butterflies like open spaces, not densely forested areas. Think of open fields bathed in sunlight. Being cold-blooded, butterflies need warm temperatures to function properly. Butterflies become active when the temperatures are consistently in the 50s and 60s (Fahrenheit), both day and night.
Butterflies need
To find butterflies find the nectar plants and host plants in an area. And observe the plants carefully. Look under the leaves and along the stems and branches. This is howyou will spot caterpillars, eggs and resting butterflies. Butterflies basically sip their food through a tube. So, look for moisture in the form of mud puddles, rotting fruit, sap, and spots of sand or pebbles with water. These are also good elements to add to your butterfly garden at home. Some butterflies also sip moisture from animal droppings (scat), dead animals(carrion) and aphid secretions (aphis honeydew). If the land has been sprayed with insecticides that kill insects or herbicideswhich kill plants, butterflies are less likely to be found there. This goes for home gardens trying to attract butterflies, too. Edges between habitats that have a wide variety of plants is also good butterfly areas. Good places to look are nature reserves, natural areas, and national parks.
This is where being a naturalist comes in. A little detective and study before going into the field helps in locating your subject. Find out what butterflies are most common to your area and study their entry in a field guide. The North American Butterfly association has great free guides on butterflies on many areas. This will give you a better chance of finding the species you seek. Good Places to FindButterflies
Butterfly Life Cycle egg larva chrysalis adult Where to find them The most common butterfly species Seven butterfly families Spring butterflies Attracting Butterflies Top nectar plants Top host plants Field Guides Black Butterflies Mourning Cloak Butterfly Swallowtail Butterflies From How to Find Butterflies Return to Butterflies
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