Post on 22-Jun-2020
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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