So your kids are getting into insects and you want to plant a small butterfly garden at home – how do you even get started? Here are a few tips for the home butterfly enthusiast but don’t forget to check first and see if there are even any native species in your area

Plant the right stuff: The best flowers for attracting butterflies are the ones that produce the most pollen. Sunflowers and honeysuckle work well, but remember that you’re going to have to pick a heavily sunny area and that whatever attracts butterflies attracts other insects like bees, too.

Get some identifiers: Your kids will learn more if you get them a book on butterflies to keep near the garden – that way when they see one they don’t already recognize they can easily flip to its page.

Set up viewing: Whether you’re going to be watching through your Sears Windows or a screened in porch, make sure you’ve got a clear, unobstructed view that’s not too close to scare the butterflies. Invest in some binoculars too for the hard to identify varieties.

Butterflies have many predators and in order to survive, they need to find a way to get away or hide from their predators. Some will hide underneath leaves in order to get away, but others, that are in the open, need to find a different way. These other species of butterflies will hide themselves by using camouflage.

Butterflies that use camouflage in order to protect themselves will rest on an object, such as tree bark, rocks, or dead (more…)

The mimicry can be similar to its models by mimicking their behavior, appearance, scent, sound and location. This occurs when a group of organisms can share the same of the perceived features of another group that they can model themselves after. The mimicry can come in handy when faced with a predator or any other kind of danger. A perfect example of a butterfly’s mimicry is the visual aspect. The butterfly can camouflage itself to any kind of its surroundings or even mimic another (more…)

The lifespan of all butterflies is believed to be short lived once it comes out of the chrysalis. The truth is the lifespan depends on the species. Their adult life can last as short as a week to almost a year. Other factors contribute to their lifespan. They are location, size, climate and the time it becomes full grown. While certain butterflies last longer than others because of those factors it may not live for the whole time because of fear of being eaten by predators. At the same time the location can (more…)

The Monarch butterfly is perhaps the most well-known and best-loved insect in North America. Even people who are squeamish around “bugs” are delighted when they see a group of Monarchs flying across a field. In order to determine when you should begin to watch for Monarchs in your area, it is important to have a basic understanding of the life cycle of these amazing little creatures and what drives them to migrate.

Monarchs that emerge out of their chrysalis in summer are different from Monarchs that emerge in the fall. Summer Monarchs will mate and lay eggs in the warm months, but fall Monarchs immediately prepare for flight to avoid the cold weather season and have a different biological clock, returning to the area they emerged in the spring season to mate and lay their eggs. They prepare for migration by storing fat from nectar in their abdomens.

Monarch butterflies spend their winter in what is known as “roosting spots” in warmer locations as they are unable to survive colder seasons. North American Monarchs are known for their long migration with some traveling as much as three thousand miles. In fact, they are the only species of butterfly on the planet to make such a long journey.

The Monarch’s migration is similar to annual bird migrations and occurs according to seasonal changes, such as temperature fluctuations, and day length. Some groups of Monarchs will return to the same exact trees each year, with their great-great-grandchildren coming in their place the next year. How they know where to return is somewhat of a mystery, even to researchers. You can determine when the Monarchs will migrate through your area, or return if you live in an area where they mate and lay eggs, simply by watching for changes to local weather patterns.

Butterflies and moths are very similar creatures, but it is easy to tell the difference between them. Both insects are both very recognizable for their large, often colorful wings, and caterpillars are easily recognized by children. Both types of insect have some species that are very mundane in appearance, as well as species that are large and showy, like the Monarch butterfly and the Luna moth.
The easiest way to tell the two apart is by observing their behavior. All butterflies fly around in the daytime, and most moths fly around at night. Also, when at rest, the (more…)

Butterflies are one of the most delicate creatures on earth. These small fragile insects remind us to take each day and appreciate the beauty of it. Butterflies remind us of the fleeting quality of life. Spectacular displays of these fluttering beauties can keep humans entertained and amazed. These small life forms are an important part of our environment. It is important to study and maintain the species for future generations. Lately, there have been some amazing finds in New Guinea. Some new species of butterflies have been discovered. This area (more…)

‘What’s that caterpillar?’ you may think after you’ve looked out your window one morning and seen a caterpillar munching on the leaves of the Virginia creeper that covers one side of your house. The caterpillar’s grown too large for most birds to tackle, and is reddish brown, with eyespots down the side, and plump, grasping “feet.” You run to your bookshelf for an identification guide, and discover that it’s the caterpillar of the Achemon sphinx moth, and is soon (more…)

Summertime means school is out, more time is spent outdoors, lazy days to enjoy spending time as a family. It also means the appearance of the beautiful butterfly. A fun project for the entire family is identifying the rare species in your yard. Though the fact is that any butterfly sighting is exciting, so why not identify them all.

Of course you do not want to harm the butterfly so do not capture it, if you have a camera handy, snap (more…)