Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly!

Identification: These two very different forms had once been considered separate species. WHITE ADMIRAL: Upperside is black with broad white median bands on both wings; hindwing has a marginal row of blue dashes and a submarginal row of red dots. Underside is reddish-brown with white median bands as on the upperside. RED-SPOTTED PURPLE: Upperside is blue to blue-green with much iridescence on the outer part of the hindwing. Underside is dark brown. Forewing has 2 red-orange bars near the base of the leading edge; hindwing has 3 red-orange spots near the base and a submarginal row of red-orange spots. The two forms hybridize where their ranges overlap, creating various intermediate forms which may be found in or near the overlap zone.

Life history: Males perch 3 feet or more above the ground on trees and tall bushes and rarely patrol for females. Eggs are laid singly on tips of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.

Flight: Two broods from April-October.

Wing span: 2 1/4 - 4 inches (5.7 - 10.1 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of many species of trees and shrubs including wild cherry (Prunus), aspen, poplar, cottonwood (Populus), oaks (Quercus), hawthorn (Crataegus), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), birch (Betula), willows (Salix), basswood (Tilia), and shadbush (Amelanchier).

Adult food: Sap flows, rotting fruit, carrion, dung, and occasionally nectar from small

white flowers including spiraea, privet, and viburnum. White Admirals also sip aphid honeydew. Habitat: The White Admiral form is usually found in the north in deciduous broad-leaf or mixed evergreen forests dominated by aspen or birch. The Red-Spotted Purple form is usually found further south than the White Admiral, in deciduous or mixed forests, moist uplands, valley bottoms, and coastal plains. Range: Alaska and subarctic Canada southeast of the Rocky Mountains to central Texas; east to New England and central Florida. Isolated populations in Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas south into Mexico. The White Admiral form usually occurs north of a line through north central New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota. The Red-spotted Purple form is usually found south of this line. Much hybridization occurs where these forms meet. Comments: The Red-spotted Purple is a mimic of the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor).

Facts About The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly!

Description

The tiger swallowtail is a large butterfly. On average, the length is 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches and the wingspan is 4 to 5 inches. Both species (males and females) are yellow and black with striped markings, resembling a tiger. However, the female eastern butterfly is the only one that has two forms. The other form is a dark color (a dark color replaces the yellow areas). The western swallowtails are normally more pale in color (yellow) and smaller in size than the eastern butterflies.

Habitat

Tiger swallowtails can be found throughout the United States. They prefer grasslands and woodlands but can live in other environments , including cities.

Diet

Butterflies do not actually eat; they drink liquids. They have a proboscis (a long tube in their mouth) that acts like a straw. Mostly they will drink nectar from flowers. Favorite flowers include the butterfly bush, zinnias, oregano, and the purple coneflower. They will also drink from overripe fruits.
Caterpillars do eat, mainly leaves. Preferred plants include wild cherry, birch, ash, willow, poplar, and aspen.

Life Cycle

A tiger swallowtail butterfly will go through four stages of life:
First is the egg. The female will lay her eggs on a plant that will provide nourishment once they hatch.
Second is the caterpillar (larva). The caterpillar hatches from the egg, eats its egg shell, and almost immediately starts eating leaves. It is initially brown in color but later turns green (it may turn back to brown before pupating). It makes its own nest by folding a leaf over and securing it with silk. The caterpillar can grow up to 2 inches long.
Third is the pupa. This is the resting stage as it transforms into a butterfly. A hardened case (cocoon) protects the pupa as it transforms. During this time, no eating or drinking takes place.
Fourth is the adult (butterfly). In about 1 month from the time the egg was laid, a beautiful butterfly will emerge from the cocoon. Butterflies do not grow once they emerge.

Interesting Facts About Blue Morpho Butterflies!

The Blue Morpho butterfly is a tropical butterfly found in Central and South America.

This Blue Morpho butterfly can also be considered to be one of the biggest butterflies seen, their wingspan measures 5 – 8 inches in width.

Its characteristic blue wings are extremely beautiful to look at. The brilliant blue wings are not really brightly colored for the female Blue Morpho butterflies.

Female Blue Morpho butterflies have a dull blue with brown edgings for their wings. They also have white spots in the blue area.

At birth, the caterpillars are reddish brown in color. They also have green colored patches on the back area.

The undersides of the wings of the Blue Morpho butterflies have a dull brown shade. This brown color is dotted with many eyespots.

An adult Blue Morpho butterfly lives towards the ground area. These butterflies are therefore seen living in shrubs.

Experts opine the Blue Morpho butterfly is almost an endangered species. This is only because of loss of their natural habitat due to deforestation and other human activities that cause harm to their lives.

When this butterfly is spotted flying, it is one of the most beautiful sights one can ever imagine. The flapping wings create a fine blend of the bright blue and the dull brown colors and the flashing colors create a beautiful effect.

An adult Blue Morpho butterfly uses its long proboscis to suck juice from rotten fruits.

Blue Morpho caterpillars do not really like being disturbed! Dare you disturb it; the caterpillars secrete a foul smelling fluid!

When on the hunt for a suitable mate, the Blue Morpho butterfly travels through most of the layers of the forest.

Blue Morpho butterflies do not visit flowers for nectar! As mentioned earlier, these feed on the juice of rotting fruits or on the sap of the tree.

The caterpillars feed on various leguminous plants and are nocturnal creatures by nature.

Yet another interesting fact about the Morpho butterfly is that although there are many so many different species, the main difference lies in their color and overall size.

Butterfly Apparel and Accessories..What all there is!!!

Now days different designers and businesses are created more and more apparel and accessories with butterflies on them. Pretty much every clothing store you go into you see some kind of butterfly item.

A Poem About Butterflies!

BUTTERFLY,BUTTERFLY


butterfly, butterfly
fly in the sky
butterfly, butterfly
flies so high
butterfly, butterfly
lands on my thigh
butterfly, butterfly
motionlessly lies
butterfly, butterfly
gracefully dies

Monarch Butterflies!

The Monarch Butterfly is one of the most well known ones. They are black and orange and you pretty much see them everywhere....! These ones in particular eat milk weed plants. In this video it will let you know 14 things about Monarch Butterflies.

Catching Butterflies Is Fun!

It is so fun to catch butterflies. It's very relaxing and enjoyable! Below is a video that will teach you how to catch butterflies.