We love butterflies!

Help the Monarchs as they migrate south this year

2010-08-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

During the fall months, you may see an increase in the numbers of butterflies flying through your yard. Some of these are on their way southward, to spend the cooler months in more hospitable climes. Notably the Monarch, which can travel thousands of miles to the overwintering sites in Central Mexico, is the best-known migrant. To reach its destination, you can help it on its way by having nectar-rich flowers in your yard. The adult butterflies nectar on certain plants to keep up their strength for the long journey. Some of the best fall-blooming nectar plants include Joe Pye weed, New England aster, Goldenrod, Chrysanthemum, Zinnia, Mexican Sunflower, and Buddleia (Butterfly Bush). The "fall" Monarchs will not be mating or laying eggs to produce another generation; they are simply interested in flying to Mexico before the weather conditions are prohibitive. Help the Monarchs this year by planting a few nectar plants. Your assistance will be appreciated!

An article about wedding butterfly releases

2010-01-06T09:38:00.000-08:00

Check this out:

http://weddingandpartynetwork/blog/

Butterfly Garden for Christmas gifts

2009-11-19T12:27:00.001-08:00

It's time to think of your gardener friends and loved ones! Give them the gift they will enjoy for years to come. Social Butterflies offers "Wing It!" kits for those who love butterflies and want to attract them to their yards. The kit includes detailed instructions on the requirements of butterflies, how to attract many different species, and 10 packets of free, organically-grown seeds guaranteed to entice lots of beautiful butterflies next season. Only $25.00, shipping included. Please see www.socialbtrflies.com/gardening.html for further information. You may also call Social Butterflies at 434.823.3666 to order.

Last Variegated Frit of the season

2009-11-10T16:43:00.001-08:00

I released the last Variegated Fritillary two days ago. Two had formed their chrysalises over a month ago and they were kept in the coolness of the garage. Since it was a warm day with the promise of a few more warm days, I released it. There are still chrysanthemums blooming, so there are a few nectar sources left. The tropical milkweed and lantana has frozen. The passionvine is also about gone for this year. It has been a good butterfly season here in Central Virginia.

Monarch Watch wants school participation in space shuttle

2009-11-04T16:23:00.000-08:00

Monarch caterpillars will be sent to the International Space Station on Nov. 16 in a small rearing chamber. This chamber will be placed in an incubator where the developing monarchs will be monitored. Still and video cameras will continually capture images, which will be made available online.

If a school or classroom (east of the Rocky Mtns) wants to participate, please contact monarch@ku.edu before 5 p.m. this Friday (Nov. 6). Monarch Watch will send a special monarch larva kit to participating schools. The kit costs $17.95 and the overnight shipping will be an additional $26, for a total of $43.95. The kit consists of (6) 3rd instar larvae on artificial diet and additional cups of diet. Three larvae will be loaded into the rearing chamber. Additional instructions will be provided regarding feeding. Material is included regarding monarchs as they face a nearly weightless environment of the ISS.

If your school is chosen, the students will be able to follow the shuttle mission to the space station and the development of the monarchs in space for at least two weeks. Contact Monarch Watch for more info.

A wedding butterfly release

2009-11-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

Here's a blog that discusses a couple who released butterflies at their wedding:
heatherhelvey.blogspot.com/2009/11/wedding-butterflys.html

Social Butterflies' last monarch!

2009-10-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

My last raised Monarch of 2009 finally emerged today. I will release it in two days when the sun returns and it is a bit warmer. I don't have any more tags left to tag it, but I will wish it adios and good luck on its journey to Mexico. I have conducted numerous Monarch tagging classes this fall and they are becoming more popular with library patrons, school children, and anyone who is interested in Monarch migration. I also gave a program at the Association For Butterflies symposium last weekend on migration and the attendees were able to tag their own Monarchs. Since it was chilly and overcast, I sent them south with one of the directors of the Association to release them where it was warmer. I collected common milkweed seeds yesterday in the field. It will be about 6 more months before I'll start raising Monarchs again.

Many Monarchs!

2009-08-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

I have been raising Monarchs all season, but just in the past 2 weeks, I've been seeing a big increase of wild ones laying eggs on my Tropical Milkweed. I am overflowing with Monarchs now....feeding them 4 times/day, getting up in the middle of the night to cut more milkweed. The big ones aren't picky....they eat the Tropical, Swamp, and Common. They are definitely keeping me busy and Social Butterflies will benefit from having more monarchs to sell! Please see my website www.socialbtrflies.com to purchase your monarchs. My friends who have Tropical Milkweed are also reporting they have a lot of caterpillars to feed. There are many nectar plants in bloom also: Butterfly bush, Verbena, Goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed, and Lantana. I have several monarch tagging programs lined up in September. Butterfly season ends in Central Virginia around the middle of October.

The Association For Butterflies www.forbutterflies.org is holding its second annual symposium in October in Townsend, TN this year. Check out the website for more information. You don't need to be a butterfly farmer to attend. Townsend is close to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, some of the most beautiful places to see the leaves turn colors in the fall. The AFB will also be offering the online Monarch Tagging class again, beginning the second week in September.

My first Mourning Cloaks

2009-06-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

I ordered some Mourning Cloak pupae from a butterfly breeder in CA. One emerged yesterday and it is big and beautiful. I have never seen one except in books. I've always looked for them when I take walks, but have been unsuccessful. Then, yesterday, as I was talking on the phone, I looked out the window and there was another one, clinging to the screen! What a coincidence! I now know that they exist around here. I'd like to raise some in the future and maybe try some in a butterfly release. I've heard they don't make good release butterflies because they tend to play dead instead of flying away.

First swallowtails of 2009

2009-04-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, when it was warmer, I saw two Tiger Swallowtails in the yard. These were the first ones of the season and it was a foretaste of things to come! Also, as I walked into our garage, there was a newly-emerged Black Swallowtail, trying out his wings and getting ready to fly. He must have overwintered someplace hidden in the garage, out of sight. I helped him by taking him out to the rapidly-growing fennel and placing him on it. A few days later, I again saw him circling the flower area. At least there are flowers blooming now, including the lilac and candytuft.

I haven't seen the common milkweed yet, because it's been too cool. We're due for a few warm days, and I hope this will help the milkweed. I can then start raising monarchs.

I do have some Painted ladies that I've been raising in cups. Some will be used in a memorial service butterfly release this weekend.

Celebrate The First National Butterfly Awareness Day!

2009-04-09T18:07:00.001-07:00

The Association For Butterflies announces the first National Butterfly Awareness Day June 6, 2009. This day is set aside for all people throughout the United States to celebrate butterflies. "Social Butterflies" www.socialbtrflies.com will be releasing butterflies in Charlottesville, VA. We encourage people to not only release butterflies, but to consider planting a butterfly garden to help attract these beautiful insects. Students may want to release some at their graduation ceremonies. Studies of a butterfly's lifecycle will be encouraged. We want to make people more aware of butterflies and their importance as pollinators. Besides bees, butterflies are the next best pollinators, and as we know, we need pollinators if we like to eat! Releasing butterflies is a sound ecological way to help increase the population during the warm months. Celebrate nature's most beautiful creature on June 6, 2009. Tell your friends about National Butterfly Awareness Day.

Butterfly releases for weddings

2009-03-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

Now is the time for brides to consider a butterfly release at their upcoming weddings! As a beautiful alternative to throwing rice or birdseed, releasing balloons, or blowing bubbles, a butterfly release will make your special day memorable. If the wedding is planned for the spring, summer, or fall months, the couple will be able to release butterflies because the temperatures will be warm enough for them to fly. An experienced butterfly breeder can be very helpful in assisting the couple to insure a perfect release. Butterflies are usually released following the wedding ceremony. The butterflies can either be passed out to the guests and/or members of the wedding party to be released individually from their protective envelopes or they can be released all at one time from a release cage. Either way, it is a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of a new life together for the wedding couple.

Many churches are now releasing butterflies following their Easter services, also. Butterflies are symbolic of resurrection, new life and new beginnings and are perfect for the Easter season. Some church groups actually raise butterflies as part of their Easter curriculum. What a joyous occasion it is on a bright Easter morning to see dozens of colorful butterflies fluttering skyward! For more information on wedding butterfly releases or Easter releases, please see http://www.socialbtrflies.com/.

First butterfly of the season!

2009-03-10T04:13:00.000-07:00

Finally! We have had a few days of spring-like warmth after a long and cold winter. Working out in the yard two days ago, I saw the first butterfly of the season...a Cloudless Sulphur. It was fluttering around, looking for nectar sources, which are few and far between so early in the season. There aren't even any dandelions popping up yet. I saw it land briefly on one of the early-blooming daffodils, but they don't seem to hold much nectar, so it flew off quickly. All we need is a little more warmth and some sunny days and we'll be seeing more early-appearing butterflies.

Soon I will be raising butterflies for release at weddings, memorials, parties, and other outdoor special events! For more information of photos of butterflies, please see my website: www.socialbtrflies.com.

Is spring here yet?

2009-02-22T19:19:00.000-08:00

This winter has been unusually cold here in Central Virginia. I know that in other parts of the U.S. it has been, also. I have not seen any butterflies flying since the first week in November, unlike last year when I saw a few Cabbage Whites of Sulphurs occasionally. We do have robins in the yard finally, so it they portend the end of winter, that's good. We have lots of bluebirds, also. I would like to put up another nesting box for them soon.
This week I will be speaking at the Capital Home and Garden Show just outside Washington, D.C.
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/events/2413/
I will be doing two programs: Butterflies and Plants ~ An Essential Relationship and If You Plant it, They Will Come ~ Attract 10 or More Species to Your Yard Without Really Trying. I am looking forward to it. I want to incorporate the idea of having butterfly releases in my presentations, also. I have books to sell and the shadow boxes and bell jars of the butterfly vignettes I have worked on over the winter.
I am raising Painted ladies and have quite a number of eggs, which are just beginning to hatch now.

Waiting for spring

2009-01-23T06:25:00.000-08:00

As we wait out the cold winter days, in the warmth of our homes, I keep thinking about how many more weeks it will be until we see some signs of spring. The grass is a light tan color, the daffodils are just starting to show some green shoots (NO! get back in the ground!) the butterfly bushes are sickly-looking and we crave some sunlight.
One way to help overcome this feeling is by taking a butterfly-related course. Check out the Association For Butterflies' list of courses: Disease in Lepidoptera, Monarch Raising for Teachers, Butterfly Releases for Event Planners and Funeral Professionals, and Butterfly Gardening (How to attract 10 or more species without really trying). I will be conducting the last class, beginning on February 23 for four weeks. This is an online class, where you can access the material at your leisure. If you complete the coursework and pass the quizzes, you will receive a certificate stating that you are a "Certified Butterfly Gardener." See www.forbutterflies.org for more information and a class syllabus.
Also, if you happen to live in the Washington, D.C. area, I will be a guest speaker at the Capital Home and Garden Show at the Dulles Expo Center on February 27-March 1. My topics? Butterflies, of course! See you there! Linda Marchman @ Social Butterflies

Painted ladies!

2008-12-28T18:33:00.000-08:00

I am raising Painted ladies this winter. Through the generosity of a fellow butterfly-lover in Northern Virginia, who wound up with too many of the little beauties, I became the recipient of a few hundred Painted lady chrysalises. They have nearly all emerged in the cage and I am feeding them cantaloupe, orange and apple slices. I now have two hollyhock leaves full of little blue eggs, which should hatch in the next day or two. These are pretty little butterflies, very frisky, and fun to watch.

I hope to be able to display some of them in January when I will be in the Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard Bridal Showcase as an exhibitor.

I will also be representing Social Butterflies as a guest speaker at the end of February at the Capital Home and Garden Show, at the Dulles Expo Center in the Washington, DC area. I should have the third or fourth generation of these Painted ladies ready to display then.

Seeds for next year's butterfly garden

2008-11-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

I was packing some seeds I collected this fall. These are host and nectar plant seeds that I sell to my customers. I found out the hard way that it is best to let them dry thoroughly before sealing them in small bags. The fennel seeds had mildewed and I had to throw them out. I also have seeds from Black-eyed Susans, Cosmos, Coreopsis, Verbena, Marigold, Crocosmia, Hop tree, Tropical and Common Milkweed, Oregano, Mexican Sunflower, and Catnip.

An "apple" butterfly

2008-11-20T18:01:00.000-08:00

http://md15.embarq.synacor.com/service/home/~/image0011.jpg?auth=co&id=20700&part=1.2

Have you ever seen an "apple" butterfly?

Monarch is driven from NY to FL by trucker

2008-11-20T17:02:00.000-08:00

Check this out:
http://www.syracuse.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-28/1227192556280920.xml&storylist=state

This is a hearwarming tale of how some Good Samaritans fixed a monarch's broken wing, nursed it back to health, and found it a ride to warmer climes.

Social Butterflies loves stories like this one!

Wishing for butterflies?

2008-11-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

Is it cold where you are now? Here in Central Virginia, a big cold front will be pushing through in a day or so and we're in for some abnormally cold temperatures for the next week.
Are you wishing that it was spring and that your flowers were starting to bloom? You would like to see some early spring butterflies? Well, here are a few suggestions on how to get through the winter, even though the snow may be deep and the ice on your windshield tells you something different.
Visit a butterfly exhibit. Search for one on the internet close to you. Many stay open year-round and you will appreciate the warm temperatures inside, along with the tropical atmosphere and of course, all those beautiful butterflies flying around. My first experience years ago in a butterfly exhibit was at Callaway Gardens in Georgia. It was like a wonderland! I could have spent hours there. Since they are so popular, many are opening all the time.
Buy a field guide to butterflies. Filled with valuable information, as well as stunning photos of butterflies, you will almost feel like you are outside, with your camera, searching for native butterflies in your yard or the nearest park. A terrific book for all ages is The Family Butterfly Book, by Rick Mikula. I use mine all the time. It costs approx. $15, plus shipping. Buy one now through Social Butterflies' website: www.socialbtrflies.com.
Start planning for next year's butterfly garden. Think about adding another butterfly bush and appropriate host plants to your yard. Host plants are those that butterfly caterpillars eat. You will be able to observe the entire lifecycle many times if you have a garden filled with host and nectar plants.
Use your computer to search for butterflies and butterfly information. Learn something new about those butterflies in your area so you will be able to identify them next year.
Think warm! Enjoy the quietness of winter's beauty. Observe the birds. Look for tracks in the snow. Make a snow butterfly!

Association For Butterflies symposium

2008-11-06T18:03:00.000-08:00

The Association For Butterflies will hold a symposium for butterfly farmers and butterfly enthusiasts this coming December in Gainesville, Florida. Held December 5~7, please see www.forbutterflies.org for more information. A wide variety of workshops will be held for beginning farmers and experienced ones. On Sunday, a time will be dedicated to event planners/wedding and funeral professionals to help them understand how to conduct a butterfly release. A live butterfly release will follow. An optional tour of a working butterfly farm and the Rainforest at the McGuire Center at the University of Florida will be available.

Butterfly flowers are still blooming

2008-10-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

Since we haven't had a freeze yet, there are still flowers on a few butterfly bushes, many zinnias, Mexican sunflowers and cosmos that were planted late, aster, some tropical milkweed, lantana and pincushion flower. Those late-season butterflies like the Variegated Fritillaries, Buckeyes, Skippers, Whites and Sulphurs and a few assorted others at least have something to nectar on. I've been raising a few Variegated Frits and releasing them, but I'm not seeing any more laying eggs on the passionvine. About a week ago, I did see one Black Swallowtail in the garden. I also saw a Long-tailed skipper about 2 weeks ago, which I tried to net, but it was too fast for me. The migrating monarchs have left the area on their way south now. It helps to plant seeds later in the season (July) so there are flowers for the fall winged ones. I have been gathering seeds to sell in Social Butterflies Wing It! kits, such as fennel, Queen Anne's Lace, marigolds, verbena and Black-eyed Susan. We now have about four months of winter weather ahead of us, which is a good time to recoup and assess how things went this past butterfly season.

End of the season butterflies

2008-09-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

The butterfly season has almost come to an end for this year. I still have a few monarch caterpillars I'm raising. The milkweed looks bad, but it's come back somewhat since we've had some rain. I have a few black swallowtail caterpillars left, but most have pupated and will spend the winter in the refrigerator. The variegated fritillaries are still plentiful. I've sleeved about a dozen on the passionvine. I remember that last year, we still were seeing them into the first of November.

I've taught several monarch tagging programs, including an online one for the Association For Butterflies. Last week I did one for a home-schooled group. Everyone had a great time, learning about monarch migration and then individually tagging their butterflies. Some purchased monarch chrysalises in pupae pyramids to take home. We always wish them well on their long journey to Mexico before we release them. Maybe one day a butterfly that we've tagged will be found and reported to Monarch Watch!

Red Admiral adopts Washington, D.C. area man

2008-08-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

Check this out: The Butterfly Effect ~

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/15/AR2008081502356_3.html=features1&hpv=national

August's Swallowtails

2008-08-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

We're seeing many types of swallowtails here, just showing up in the past few weeks. Tigers, Blacks, and Spicebush are abundant. I have collected over 60 Black Swallowtail eggs on the fennel in the past week. I've found out that the way to tell if the chrysalis will overwinter or not is the daylength. If, in the 5th instar the caterpillar receives more than 12 hours of daylight, it will most likely emerge in a few weeks. If the daylight isn't more than 12 hours, it will probably overwinter and emerge in the spring instead.

We have not had rain here in Central VA for six weeks. Everything is drying up and dying. The Buddleia have almost quit blooming. I don't know if there will be enough nectar plants for the migrating monarchs in a few weeks. I am teaching several monarch tagging classes this fall. I am finding a few wild monarch caterpillars on the tropical milkweed and bringing them in to raise them.

Imperial Moth saved from hungry bird!

2008-07-16T22:13:00.001-07:00

Yesterday as I was in my car at the drive through window of the bank, I noticed a bird in the parking lot seemingly playing with something big and yellow. This caught my attention as I was waiting for my transaction. The bird would pick up the object in its mouth and try to fly away and then drop it on the pavement. This happened several times. Whatever the bird was trying to catch would flop around on the asphalt until the next assault by the bird. It finally picked it up again and flew away about 100 feet and again dropped it. By this time, I was finished at the bank and I drove over to where the bird was and got out of the car. The bird hopped away, but was still watchful. I discovered the yellow object was actually an Imperial Moth, which was still alive, but just barely. I put it in my car and drove it home. I thought if it didn't live, I would use it in my butterfly programs to show my audiences what one looked like. I was in a hurry, so I put it into a glassine envelope and then into a sealed container in the refrigerator. Tonight I took it out and placed it outside close to the house. I'll see in the morning if it's still there or if it flew away.

Busy butterfly season!

2008-07-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

This has been the busiest butterfly season I've had. I have raised more butterflies and sold more butterflies than ever before. More people are becoming aware of butterfly releases and since there are so few people who are butterfly farmers, sometimes there are not enough butterflies to go around. An article appeared in today's Washington Post magazine about Social Butterflies: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/01/AR2008070101828.html?nav=hcmodule
Check it out!

Black swallowtails are laying eggs!

2008-05-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

Those black swallowtails have been laying eggs on my fennel. I've collected about 60 eggs lately and am raising them in covered containers. The fennel is about 3 feet high and I will cut about half of it to the ground soon. There is so much of it, it's about taken over a good part of the flower garden. As a perennial, it should come with a warning label ~ "Beware! Fennel spreads rapidly!" I don't mind since it does attract so many black swallowtails. Once emerged as adults, they are very striking when released from a container all at once. I'll try to dry some of the leaves when I cut it. I will collect the seeds in the fall, also. I use the seeds to season sauces, especially tomato sauces.

Florida Keys butterflies

2008-05-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

The same trip to the Florida Keys allowed me to see butterflies I never see flying in the wild in Virginia. In a state park, there were many Zebra Longwings, some Gulf Fritillaries and Julias. The park's butterfly garden also looked nothing like the one that I maintain in Virginia. It was mostly wild and untamed native plants, rather than tended flower beds. The flowers were rather inconsequential, but the butterflies were nectaring on them. It just goes to show that a person cannot think all butterfly attractants are the same everywhere. The tropical flowers were all very lush and fragrant in people's yards, but I never saw a butterfly fluttering around them.

2008-04-14T23:13:00.001-07:00

On a recent trip to the Florida Keys, we flew into Ft. Lauderdale. Walking through the airport, the floor had a mosaic pattern which included many mosiac Zebra Longwings, the Florida state butterfly. This immediately caught my eye! The Zebras are beautiful, slow flyers, native to the southern states. When released, they have a graceful flight. They also live longer than most other butterflies. They nectar mostly on the pollen of flowers. The females lay their eggs on the tips of Passionvine. If I lived further south, I'd raise as many of them as I could.

Broccoli to plant for the Cabbage Whites

2008-04-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

Early spring in Central Virginia and I am seeing Sulphurs and Cabbage Whites almost every day. I bought some broccoli to plant in the garden to try to attract some Whites to raise this year. I may plant some cabbage also. This would be a new venture for me, but I've read it is easy to raise the Whites. And if there are some vegetables left, that would be good for the humans, too!
I now have seen two Tiger Swallowtails flying. This has been a cool and rainy spring, so I am hoping to see some Black Swallowtails soon.

Sighting a Tiger Swallowtail on March 22!

2008-03-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

A Tiger Swallowtail on March 22! I was so surprised to see one flying today! Usually they appear in mid-April. The temps were close to 60 degrees today, with sunshine and some wind, but this one was flying close to 15 feet above the ground. There is a mature willow tree near where I saw it, so it could be an early emerger. Spring may finally be here in Central Virginia!

Finally, they are coming back to Central Virginia!

2008-03-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

Butterflies are starting to show up in Central Virginia. I have seen several sulphurs and cabbage whites. Today I saw either a Question Mark or a Comma. I was wondering what they were nectaring on since all that is blooming are daffodils now. Then I started looking around and saw there are a few dandelions in the grass, the rosemary has many blooms, and the henbit is also blooming. I looked up at the maple trees, which are just starting to bloom out and there was the Question Mark/Comma nectaring on that!

No neat and tidy butterfly gardens!

2008-02-28T20:15:00.000-08:00

Are you one of those people who feel that they have to conform to "standard" gardening practices? Do you believe that you should follow the "experts" who dictate which flower colors are "in" or "out" this year? Does a weed in your flower bed send you into cardiac arrest? Well, here's some news....if you want to attract butterflies, you can discard all those notions. Butterflies don't care if your garden is neat and tidy, if your flowers are all the same shade of pink, or if there is a thistle growing among the cosmos. In fact, leaving a few weeds in place may help attract even more species of butterflies. A prickly thistle is not only a fine nectar plant, but a host plant for Painted Ladies. A dandelion provides nectar early in the spring, when you might not have many other plants blooming. Wild violets are not only pretty, but are the host plants for Great Spangled Fritillaries, those large and colorful flutterers that appear in June. Of course, you don't want your carefully tended flower areas to begin looking sad and neglected, but it certainly won't hurt to purposely leave some Queen Anne's Lace for the black swallowtails or clover as another nectar source. A weed is only a plant for which a use has yet to be discovered. If you want more butterflies this year, research information about weeds and wildflowers before assaulting them with hoes, rakes or herbicides.

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Butterfly Exhibit

2008-02-23T12:35:00.000-08:00

The Smithsonian has opened its new butterfly exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. If you are in the Washington D.C. area, it is well worth visiting. You may want to call ahead to reserve your tickets, unless you like standing in line for long periods of time. When it is cold outside, the exhibit provides a refreshing whiff of springtime with temperatures at a constant 80 degrees. Once inside, you will be surrounded by many flying butterflies, most of them tropical. Brightly colored flitting creatures will land on you and nectar from the many flowers provided for them. You will also see a small enclosed cage where various chrysalises are hanging, waiting to emerge as adults. Only 35 people can be admitted at one time, but you are not limited to the time you may spend inside. I could have spent much more time there, but we were on a schedule. The charge is minimal to enter. You may want to check out some of the other exhibits in the Museum, too. Most are fascinating.

Interesting butterfly facts

2008-02-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

Butterflies are interesting insects. Here are a dozen facts you may not know about them:
1. Most butterflies live for only 2-3 weeks as adults
2. Monarchs born at the end of summer migrate to Central Mexico for the winter, or to coastal California, if born on the west side of the Rocky Mountains.
3. A butterfly egg is about as big as a period on a printed page.
4. Some butterflies have "eyespots" on their wings, which look like real eyes. These are used to fool their predators. Birds, especially, may think twice about grabbing something that looks like an owl.
5. Sometimes you can see a damp spot or area with salts on a pathway or road with a group of butterflies imbibing the liquid. This is called "puddling" and those butterflies are mostly males, gathering the nutrients from the soil.
6. Wooden butterfly houses used as garden decorations usually attract wasps, rather than butterflies.
7. You can pick up a butterfly by holding it by its "shoulders" if it had shoulders. Hold it close to its body, so the wings aren't damaged. If a few scales rub off, it won't hurt the butterfly.
8. A butterfly can fly with half a wing.
9. Butterflies taste with their feet.
10. The beautiful Mourning Cloak butterfly is called a Camberwell Beauty in England.
11. Butterflies will nectar on Gatorade and a sugar water solution.
12. Most butterflies need temperatures of at least 60-65 degrees to fly.

Eastern Black Swallowtails

2008-02-04T17:54:00.000-08:00

Eastern Black Swallowtails (Papilio polyxenes) are one of my favorite butterflies. They are large and shimmering black with beautiful yellow and orange spots on their wings. I think they are interesting in all their lifecycle stages. The female lays single eggs on the upper leaves of the host plants, which can include fennel, dill, parsley, Queen Anne's lace, and members of the carrot family. When the caterpillar is young, it resembles a bird dropping, with a white saddle in the middle. This is for protection against predators. As it grows, it becomes striped with green and black stripes or bands. The caterpillar can travel quite a distance before finding a suitable place to pupate, usually on a stick. It then spins a silken girdle to hold it in place. After about a day or so, the chrysalis turns shades of brown or green. If it is fall, they go into diapause until the weather warms in the spring. In Virginia, the black swallowtails start showing up in April. Many times, I raise the caterpillars in the fall on fennel and keep the chrysalises in the refrigerator during the winter. In April I begin taking them out to emerge. When they are adults, they flitter around flowers and favor daylilies and other garden flowers. They have an extra-long proboscis that allows them to nectar from long-necked flowers. When they are being released at a special occasion, it is an extraordinary sight to see all of these beautiful black creatures emerge from a release container or individually from release envelopes. It is stunning!

Moths or butterflies?

2008-02-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

There are several ways to tell the difference between moths and butterflies. These "rules" don't apply to ALL situations, but are just a general guideline. Moths typically fly at night and butterflies during the day. Moths tend to have drab colors, usually shades of brown and gray, but again, there are some vividly-colored moths. Moths make cocoons and butterflies make chrysalises. Moths have feathery antennae while butterflies have "clubs" on the ends of their antennae. Moths usually have thick bodies, while most butterflies' bodies are slim. Moths rest with their wings outstretched and butterflies with their wings closed over their bodies. And, at special events, people release butterflies, not moths! The photo is of a Luna Moth.

Winter butterfly garden planning

2008-01-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

Here in Virginia, it's the middle of winter with the temps in the low 20s and not much higher during the day. It's too cold to even go outside, but I can plan for those warmer months just by looking through the seed catalogs that have been delivered lately. A good one is Wildseed Farms from Fredericksburg, TX. Besides offering a very good selection of butterfly plants and flowers, they give a lot of good information, including the percentage of average planting success with a certain species, the soil temp, germination time, blooming period, how many seeds are in a pound, and suggested uses. For example, Yellow Cosmos (Asteraceae) is an annnual, good for the entire United States, with an average success rate of 80%. I know this is a good butterfly attractant and it's easy to grow. You can buy it by the pound, 1/4 lb., 1 oz., or packet. There are also mixtures designed for specific areas of the country, each containing about 24 different seeds. These wildflower mixes may be good for meadows (and for people with patience), but I'd recommend instead purchasing seeds in packets. If you know which flowers would attract butterflies, buy those seeds and then they can be planted in groups which is important if you want to see butterflies this summer. A grouping of the same flower will more likely attract the winged ones instead of an assortment of 20 different ones scattered over an area. If you are looking for a mixture, Wildseed Farms is the place to buy one. There are no fillers in the mix; they are pure seeds. If you go into one of the big box stores, pick up a wildflower (or butterfly) mix. Look at the back of the can and you'll see most of the contents are filler. Many do not include that many butterfly flowers, either. So, happy planning!

The Association For Butterflies

2008-01-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

Are you interested in the welfare of butterflies? Do you want to learn about butterfly releases, gardening for butterflies or the conservation of butterflies? You might consider joining the Association For Butterflies - www.forbutterflies.org. This group has been in existence for close to 2 years. Founded by several butterfly breeders, it is open to hobbiests, those who just like butterflies, those who breed and sell butterflies and others. The nominal dues are used for conservation projects, to promote the study of butterfly diseases and butterfly releases. A membership application is available on the site. Check it out!

How do butterflies get their names?

2008-01-08T18:24:00.001-08:00

Have you ever wondered why certain butterflies have such unusual names? In looking through my field guide, here are a few that seem to defy explanation: Broken Silverdrop, Creole Pearly-Eye, California Sister, Fatal Metalmark, Hoary Elfin, Southern Dogface, Cobweb Skipper, Mexican Eighty-Eight, Painted Lady, Mourning Cloak, Frosted Flasher and Blue-Eyed Sailor. Where do these names come from?

Well, some are named after what the caterpillars eat. For example, the Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar eats the leaves of the Spicebush plant. A Cabbage White eats leaves of the cabbage plant and those of the same "family".

Some are named for their behavior. For example the large family of "Skippers" are small and for the most part, non-descript. When in flight, they tend to skip from flower to flower.

Some are named for their appearance. The Painted Lady derived its name from ladies of the evening in Victorian times, who painted their cheeks with rouge and their lips with bright lipstick. The undersides of the Painted Lady's wings have bright pink spots that reminded people of these ladies. The Zebra Longwing has elongated wings with zebra-like black and white stripes running across them. The Baltimore Checkerspot is a beautiful butterfly with orange and black checkered markings, named after Lord Baltimore, whose colors were orange and black. A Mourning Cloak has beautiful almost-black wings with a fringe of off-white around the perimeter. It resembles a cloak that may have been worn by someone in mourning.

Butterfly in December in Virginia!

2008-01-02T11:35:00.000-08:00

On the 30th day of December, 2007 in Central Virginia, I saw a cabbage white flying in the yard! The temperature was almost 60 degrees and I was astonished to see a butterfly in winter. Cabbage whites are very widespread throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its Latin name is Pieris rapae and they are very easy to raise. They are supposed to spend the cold winter months in the chrysalis form and emerge early in the spring. It has not been especially warm this past December and very rarely did the temps reach into the 50s. Some people think of them as a pest, as they eat cabbage, broccoli and some other cole crops, but I always like to see them in the spring. They are cheerful and flighty little butterflies.

Butterflies for release at weddings

2007-12-27T17:30:00.000-08:00

A lot of people get engaged or start planning their weddings around the holidays. A unique way to help celebrate the big day during the warmer months is to release butterflies instead of throwing rice, releasing balloons (which are bad for the environment), blowing bubbles or throwing birdseed (which can result in unwanted weeds). A butterfly release is an environmentally-friendly way to help the population of butterflies. Done properly, it can be a beautiful and meaningful way to help the guests remember "that special day". Butterflies are only released if they are indigenous to the state where they are being released. They must occur naturally in that region. If you are getting married in North Dakota, for example, you won't be releasing Gulf Fritillaries, which occur mostly in southern states. A butterfly release is very easy to do. Usually a "butterfly attendant" handles them, so the bride and groom don't have to worry about it. Butterflies are shipped overnight via one of the express carriers. Each one is packed securely in its own small butterfly-sized envelope and then put into a small styrofoam cooler with a frozen cold pack. The cold pack keeps them cool, so they are resting and dormant while in transit. They need heat and light to fly and temperatures must be above 60 degrees to release them. Consider releasing butterflies at your wedding, or other special event to make it memorable!

An news article about monarch butterflies

2007-12-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

An article appeared in yesterday's Washington Post about monarch butterflies and how they migrate from Canada and the U.S. to Central Mexico each fall to spend the winter months. Many millions of them have been making the journey south for countless years. The small areas in Mexico have become a tourist destination for people who are amazed at the sheer numbers of so many butterflies congregating in one place. The monarchs are fairly dormant during November through February, staying on Oyamel trees (a type of fir). The outer layers of butterflies help protect the inner layers if there is a cold snap. In the early spring, they begin fluttering about, mating, and following the newly-emerged milkweed, where the females will lay their eggs. In this way, they will begin a northward migration, heading through Mexico and on into Texas, to disperse to other states. These monarchs have been alive for about 7-8 months. They will then die and their offspring will continue the journey north.

Releasing butterflies is good for the environment

2007-12-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

When someone releases a farm-raised butterfly at a special event, it is good for the environment. Besides creating a lasting memory for guests at the event, the butterflies will rapidly adjust to their environment, fluttering away, seeking nectar sources and then finding others of their own species, mating, and perpetuating the species. If butterflies are released near the host plants that the female will lay her eggs on, one may even be able to witness the whole life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and finally emerging as an adult, to begin the process again. Releasing butterflies also helps plants, since the butterflies are good pollinators. They are not as good as bees, but they are an important way to help pollinate many plants.

More elements of butterfly gardening

2007-12-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

You will want to add a few other things to your butterfly garden. A damp area that has sand or mud will attract many species of butterflies, especially males. The males need the salts in the sand or mud, which helps in their fertility. A lot of times, you can see a group of butterflies clustered around a mud puddle. This has a name, "puddling". These butterflies are males, imbibing the salts. You can put a few small rocks in the puddling area, to give the butterflies places to rest and warm their wings. Try to keep the area damp, if possible. My puddling area is below the birdbath. The birds splash the water out of the bath onto the ground. This may be good or bad, since the birds will sometimes see the butterflies as a tasty and convenient meal!
For more information on butterfly gardening, see www.socialbtrflies.com.

Basic elements of butterfly gardening

2007-11-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

There are several elements that are basic when planning your butterfly garden. First, butterflies really prefer sunny areas. They warm their wings in the sun and they flutter about, nectaring on flowers and some other surprising things that you may not have thought about. I try to choose plants that do well in the sun. Flowers that I have in my garden include butterfly bush, cosmos, Tithonia (Mexican sunflower), zinnias, verbena, lantana, daylilies, asters, milkweed and some others. These are all sun-loving plants that do well without much tending or watering. Of course, I try to keep up with the many weeds that appear, but usually by the end of summer, the weeds have won the battle.
Other things that some butterflies will seek is animal excrement and sap from trees. Rotting fruit attracts many species, also. I try to put out old bananas or any kind of fruit that has passed its peak. I put this fruit not so close to the house, as it will attract ants, flies and other animals.

Butterfly gardening

2007-11-25T17:23:00.000-08:00

Butterfly gardening is a learned art, but it is not difficult. The secret to attracting many species to your yard and being able to watch the lifecycle is to plant "host" and "nectar" plants. Host plants are those which butterflies lay their eggs on and the caterpillars eat. Nectar plants are those which the butterflies use to derive energy.
The best, in my opinion, nectar plant is the butterfly bush, or buddleia. They come in many colors, are hardy and irresistible to butterflies. Here in VA, they bloom from June through September. I cut mine back to about 18 inches each March, since they bloom on new wood. Mine get to be about 6 feet tall. Keeping them deadheaded throughout the summer will keep them blooming and producing more flowers. In some places they are regarded as being invasive, but if I see one coming up where I don't want it, I merely dig it up and move it to another place. Buddleias do best in full sun, but don't require much care. I don't water mine and they seem to thrive, even with our hot and dry summers.

Butterfly farming is "green"

2007-11-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

Raising butterflies is definitely a "green" thing to do. Those who raise and release butterflies are helping the environment. Next to bees, butterflies are very important pollinators. With all the focus on the mysterious illnesses that are contributing to the deaths of hives, we may want to consider and encourage the release of butterflies. Other pollinators include bats, hummingbirds, moths and other insects. Butterfly farming is the only industry that raises "livestock" solely for the purpose of letting it go free.

My favorite butterfly

2007-11-18T17:31:00.000-08:00

My favorite butterfly is the Zebra Swallowtail. To me it is one of the most beautiful, etheral butterflies flying. I haven't been too successful in attracting them to my yard (yet), but I did see two different ones nectaring this year. I have a few small pawpaw trees in pots that I kept near my butterfly garden, but I didn't see any ZS eggs. I will order a few more pawpaws this coming spring in hopes of attracting them. Pawpaw leaves are the only plant that the caterpillars will eat. I've heard the pawpaw fruit is also very good.

More on butterflies

2007-11-16T17:08:00.000-08:00

Butterflies are always on my mind. I raise about 8 different species during the spring, summer and fall months. Those species I've raised include monarchs, painted ladies, black swallowtails, giant swallowtails, variegated fritillaries, red admirals, spicebush swallowtails, and gulf fritillaries. I ship most of these species to other states or within my own state overnight. People release them as part of their special celebrations. Funerals, memorials, weddings, receptions, birthday parties, anniversaries are just some of the events where a butterfly release is appropriate.
I also teach butterfly gardening classes. I have a butterfly garden in my yard that attracts many different species. Right now, it's looking pretty sad since we've had several frosts already. I leave all the plants in place during the winter so the birds can forage on the seeds and berries.

We love butterflies!

2007-10-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

Halloween, 2007
Do you still have butterflies flying in your yard? After several frosts, I am still seeing a few monarchs flying southward. Here in Virginia, there are still sulphurs, cabbage whites, some skippers and variegated fritillaries. This is the latest I've ever seen these species here. Last week I even saw my first long-tailed skipper.