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Butterflies

Summer 2003 Newsletter

Butterflies are a special treat of the summer months. Their vibrant colors and delicate flight have inspired artists and poets. Many people find collecting butterflies a fascinating hobby.

Butterflies and moths make up the insect group Lepidoptera.

Unlike moths, butterflies are active during daylight hours. Most butterflies rest with their wings upright over their bodies, while moths rest with their wings spread flat.

Butterfly bodies have clubbed antennae, a tubelike proboscis used for drinking nectar from flowers, and two pairs of wings. The wings are covered with overlapping rows of tiny, pigmented scales that combine to create its colorful patterns. A network of veins runs through the wings and provides support.

All butterflies go through four stages of development: an egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. Although most of their life is spent in the first three stages, we see them mostly as adults as they flit from flower to flower.

The key to attracting butterflies is to establish a proper habitat. This means providing plants that serve as a food source for both caterpillars and adults.

Butterfly gardens should be in the full sun and should include a variety of plants that flower throughout the seasons to attract the butterflies from spring to fall.