Feature Article May 29, 2002
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Beautiful insectsSome of the most beautiful creatures we have are butterflies, which can be found almost anywhere in the world - from prairies to mountains, from rain forest to arctic tundra, from your gardens to woodlands. Fragile and delicate-looking these insects nonetheless are remarkably capable of surviving.
Starting from a small, compact egg with a thick shell that protects against drying out and enemies, a larva (caterpillar) emerges, with its only apparent aim to eat, and eat, and eat. But after reaching its maximum growth (and molting several times during that process), it finally changes into a pupa which is inactive, and remains in one spot. What we do not see at this point is the transformation that is taking place within the chrysalis, though sometimes color or pattern can be seen developing within the shell. Only when the insect has been fully formed into the adult stage will the chrysalis skin split, and a butterfly will crawl out.
If seen in that first moments after emerging, you can watch while it pumps fluids from its swollen body into its shrunken wings. Once the wings are expanded, the butterfly will take flight, and at this time courtship will begin, sometimes involving elaborate dances or prenuptial flights, or perhaps mutual wing strokings. Mating often occurs while the pair are flying - and the entire life cycle will be repeated.
Depending on the species, many factors affect butterflies - the availability of the plants they eat, their tolerance to temperature and moisture, and the landscape. Some which cannot withstand northern winters migrate and produce one or more broods before dying. Only the Monarch Butterfly has a true back-and-forth migration.
Butterflies have evolved an impressive array of protective adaptations. Eggs and caterpillars may blend into their environment by color or shape. Some caterpillars have fierce-looking eyespots or horns that deter predators. Butterflies may have eyespots on wing edges or conspicuous tails that detract from injury to vital body areas. Some species are toxic, like the Monarch, whose color warns birds to avoid them. Other edible butterflies mimic the color of toxic ones.
They are nonetheless very vulnerable to changes in the environment. Think of this when you use pesticides - when you see a wetland being destroyed, a virgin forest being decimated, or a prairie grassland disappear. Butterflies and their survival are indicators of the health of our environment, and very few compete for plants that people value. They fill important roles in the food chain.
Sightings Reports
May 19th - Ruth Dowdell, Sharbot Lake, has her yearly summer resident rose-breasted grosbeaks.
Close to Sharbot Lake - on Mountvale Point Road, Kevin Long had an indigo bunting at his feeder on May 19, and Diane Johnson on Lakeview Road had two eastern kingbirds on May 14, and two great crested flycatchers on May 16. Diane can hear a northern cardinal singing, but is still waiting to see it.
Red Brooks on Chippego Lake north of Enterprise is amazed by eight to ten pairs of rose-breasted grosbeaks coming to his feeders - the first appeared May 6. He also has four pairs of evening grosbeaks, appearing on May 10.
A colorful variety of birds are visiting Sue Munros Feeder, Munro Road, Maberly - including rose-breasted grosbeaks, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and on May 20, an indigo bunting (she cannot coax the baltimore orioles to her oriole feeder). Her house wren has arrived, the eastern bluebirds are nesting, and a northern mockingbird sings from a nearby treetop.
Ross Herron of Flinton had a red-eyed vireo visit him. He has eastern phoebes nesting, and believes a pair of mourning doves are also nesting.
A yellow-rumped warbler visited the cedars by Enid Baileys in Verona. This is the first year she has had tree swallows nesting in her bird house.
Thad Reynolds on Snider Road, north of Verona, has a pair of eastern towhees (formerly the rufous-sided towhee) and thinks they may be nesting.
Thank you for the reports. Please continue to phone me at 268-2518.
