Summer Butterflies

Butterflies occupy a unique place in the chain of insect life. They also add a lot of beauty and pleasure to the wildlife lover's life.

Appreciating a creature's beauty is no longer enough to help it maintain its place in nature. Knowing how it lives helps man realize how important it is to make sure each species survives the ultra modern world.

There are four stages in the life cycle of a butterfly. There are the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis (pupa), and adult. When you observe these changes up close, you will see they are fascinating. Metamorphosis is the scientific name for a butterfly's complete seasonal change.

Female butterflies lay eggs only on plants that provide nourishment to her offspring. A butterfly's feet are unique and are the chief tool used to locate the right host plants on which eggs will be laid. A butterfly's feet scratch a plant's leaves and receptors located on the bottom of the feet taste the plant to identify it as a correct host.

Butterflies lay single eggs and clusters of eggs. Many do not survive hungry predators. A caterpillar emerges from the egg. It feeds almost constantly and sheds its skin several times before forming a chrysalis. Butterfly silk is spun to form a supportive protection for the chrysalis.

During the chrysalis stage of butterfly development rest is the order of the period. The chrysalis is usually camouflaged and may resemble leaves, stems or wood.

When a butterfly reaches an adult stage, the chrysalis splits open and a beautiful fully formed butterfly emerges. It rests on a leaf as blood is pumped into its fragile wings. Before taking off on its maiden flight, the wings must be completely dry and have hardened.

A caterpillar munches its way through leaf after leaf. This is not true of the adult butterfly. It drinks nectar and other nutrients. The straw-like proboscis is the tool used to intake nectar.

Butterflies must maintain a body temperature of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit to fly. You will often find them sunning lazily moving their wings. They are soaking up sun to increase their body temperature.

Many butterflies live only a few short weeks. However, some species live several months. The Monarch survives to migrate north and south. However, a Monarch does not survive to make both the north and south migration in one year. After flying south, it breeds on the way back and the offspring
complete the migration.

The Monarch usually chooses the milkweed plant as its egg host. Meadows with milkweed growing are favorite breeding grounds. Eating the milkweed plant makes the Monarch poisonous food for predators. The Cloudless Sulfur butterfly likes partridge peas, clovers, and other legumes as host plants for egg laying. This butterfly is found in the southern states close to open spaces, gardens and along seashores.

The most help that you can give all species of butterflies is to plant flowers that they enjoy for egg laying and for nutrition. Do not use deadly chemicals that prove fatal to these fragile flying flowers. Remember, adult butterflies enjoy nectar producing plants where caterpillars enjoy leaves, leaves and more leaves.

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Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
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