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creature. For many centuries, it
was accepted that caterpillars
arose from the morning dew on
leaves. Even with our modern
knowledge, the transformation
from caterpillar to butterfly
certainly seems miraculous.
There are many guidebooks to
help you identify the different
butterflies, and most will include
a discussion of their life cycle.
Four Stages
Briefly, there are four stages,
each very different from the
others.
s
The butterfly begins as an
egg, hatching in 5 to 10
days.
s
The resulting caterpillar
does nothing much except
eat and grow, shedding its
skin four to six times.
s
In two to four weeks it will
form a pupa which, within its
chrysalis, or cocoon, takes
on the body of the adult.
s
The butterfly emerges in 10
to 15 days and, after
mating, the cycle begins
again.
The whole process is known as
“metamorphosis," or, literally,
“change of form."
Loss of Habitat
As our appreciation of these
lovely creatures grows, so does
our realization that butterflies,
like so many other species, are
suffering a declining population
due to loss of habitat and the
increased use of insecticides
and other pollutants.
While killing and mounting
them may have some
importance for scientific
studies, the rest of us benefit
far more by observing them in
the garden and collecting
them only through
photographs.
We can identify many
varieties, even in an area as
small as a window box, and the
more we learn, the more
fascinating they become.
40 Million Years
For instance, they originated
about 40 million years ago,
when flowering plants were
beginning to proliferate. Their
proboscis, the long, hollow
feeding tube, remains coiled up
beneath the head when not in
use.
Some species prefer
fermenting fruit or tree sap to
nectar. The female will drum
and scratch a leaf with her
feet to release chemicals that
tell her that it is a suitable
place to lay her eggs.
Bright color often warns
predators that a butterfly
tastes bad. Learning about
butterflies can be a treat for
the whole family. As E.O.
Wilson wrote,
“Splendor awaits
in minute proportions."
Before you start planting
your garden, explore your yard
and nearby areas. What species
do you see and which ones do
you want to attract. What
plants do those prefer for
nectar and larval food. Do you
want a garden exclusively
designed for butterflies, or do
you prefer to incorporate
appropriate plants into an
existing bed. Is your gardening
style formal or casual. How
much time can you contribute
to maintenance.
Ask These Questions
By asking yourself these
questions, you can save a lot of
time later on. You can design a
large garden, or you may decide
to start on a very small scale,
with just a few selected plants,
and add more each year.
One of the first
considerations when planning
your garden is location. Choose
a sunny area, not only because
most butterfly-attracting
flowers grow best in full sun, but
because the butterflies
themselves only fly when there
is sun to keep their bodies
warm.
On cloudy days they may not
fly at all. Often the best time to
get a photograph is when the
temperature is cooler, while they
are basking in the sun until they
have warmed to flight
temperature.
Sunny garden spots enable
butterflies to feed earlier and
