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Butterflies in the BackyardButterflies in the Backyard

Susan Mahr

UW-Madison

Program OverviewProgram Overview

About Butterflies

Common Species in Wisconsin

Adult Food Sources

Larval Food Sources

Butterfly Gardening

About ButterfliesAbout Butterflies

Life cycle

Behaviors

Butterfly Life CycleButterfly Life Cycle

Life cycle– Egg

– Larva (caterpillar)

– Pupa

– Adult

Butterfly BehaviorsButterfly Behaviors

Nectaring

Puddling

Basking

Roosting

Hibernation Migration

Behavior: NectaringBehavior: Nectaring

Drinking nectar

Proboscis is extended through hydrostatic pressure

Used like a straw to sip the nectar from the deep tubes of a flower

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Behavior: NectaringBehavior: Nectaring

Proboscis is curled up when not in use

Behavior: PuddlingBehavior: Puddling

Male butterfly congregations

Acquiring salts dissolved in the water

Behavior: BaskingBehavior: Basking

Butterflies are "cold-blooded“

Can only fly above a certain temperature Bask to absorb heat from their sun

Behavior: RoostingBehavior: Roosting

A place to spend the night or in inclement weather

Behavior: HibernationBehavior: Hibernation

Avoiding the cold of winter

As caterpillar, pupa or adult

Often on host plant or under plant debris

Behavior: MigrationBehavior: Migration

Another way to escape winter…

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10 Common Butterflies in WI10 Common Butterflies in WI

Black Swallowtail Cabbage White Clouded Sulphur Great Spangled

Fritillary Monarch Mourning Cloak Painted Lady Pearl Crescent Red Admiral Tiger Swallowtail

Black SwallowtailBlack Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes

Feeds on parsley, carrot, dill, parsnip, common rue

2 generations/year

Overwinters as chrysalis

Cabbage WhiteCabbage White

Pieris rapae

Introduced from Europe

Feeds on crucifers

At least 3 generations/year

Overwinters as a pupa

Clouded SulphurClouded Sulphur

Colias philodice

Feeds on alfalfa, clover, pea

Overwinters as a caterpillar

Commonly puddles

Great Spangled FritillaryGreat Spangled Fritillary

Speyaria cybele

Feeds on violets

Overwinters as a newly hatched larva

MonarchMonarch

Danaus plexippus

Feeds on milkweeds

Migrates to/from south

University of Kansas Monarch Watch

http://monarchwatch.org/

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Mourning CloakMourning Cloak

Nymphalis anitopa

Feeds on willow, elm, cottonwood, etc.

Caterpillars live in communal web

Adults prefer oak tree sap

Overwinters as an adult

Painted LadyPainted Lady

Vanessa cardui

Feeds on thistles, hollyhock, mallow

Adults prefer nectar from tall composites, especially thistles

Pearl CrescentPearl Crescent

Phyciodes tharos

Feeds on asters

2 generations/year

Overwinters as a caterpillar

Red AdmiralRed Admiral

Vanessa atalanta

Feeds on nettles

Adults prefer sap, rotting fruit, bird droppings over nectar

Overwinters as an adult

Tiger SwallowtailTiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

Feeds on trees, coming out of leaf “tent” at night

Overwinters as a pupa

Often puddles

Butterfly GardeningButterfly Gardening

Adult food sources

Larval food sources

Designing a butterfly garden

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Adult Food SourcesAdult Food Sources

Nectar for energy

Attracted to flowers by color & scent

Masses best

Adult Food SourcesAdult Food Sources

Need a landing site

Clusters of flowers

Large, flat petals

Adult Food SourcesAdult Food Sources

Annual Flowers Ageratum

Gomphrena

Lantana

Marigold

Pentas

Verbena

Zinnia

Adult Food SourcesAdult Food Sources

Perennial Flowers Beebalm Black-eyed Susan Blanketflower Blazing star (Liatris) Butterfly weed Joe-pye weed Purple coneflower Phlox Sedums Yarrow

Flowering Shrubs Butterfly bush

Adult Food SourcesAdult Food Sources

“Wild” plants Canada Thistle Clover Dandelion Dame’s rocket Queen Anne’s lace

Herbs Catnip Dill Fennel Lavender

Larval Food SourcesLarval Food Sources

Specific plants for each species

Do NOT use insecticides

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Larval Food SourcesLarval Food Sources

Flowers

Vegetables

Herbs

Trees

Creating a GardenCreating a Garden

Food plants

Water & shelter

Designs

Maintenance

Selecting PlantsSelecting Plants

Range of blooms– Diversity– Sequence through

the seasons

Mix of heights Caterpillar food?

DesignDesign

Location, location, location– Open sunny area

– Protected from strong winds

– For your enjoyment

Garden size– Container

– Small bed

– Your whole yard

Adding Water & ShelterAdding Water & Shelter

Shallow pool or wet area

Trees & shrubs

Brush or log pile

Basking spots

MaintenanceMaintenance

Avoid pesticides!– Least toxic choices

– NOT Bt

Replace damaged plants

Extra fertilizer

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Butterfly GardensButterfly Gardens

Beware of –or enjoy –other visitors!

Consider• Stinging insects near

pathways• Bee allergies & liability

For More InformationFor More Information

Wisconsin Butterflies website http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/

Butterflies of North America website http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

Many books