Butterflies of Eastern Washington

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Lepidoptera is the scientific name given to butterflies and moths. It comes from the Greek words lepis meaning scale and pteron meaning wing. The scales bestow these animals with spectacular color patterns, and because they are easily pulled loose, scales also give butterflies and moths the ability to slip from the grasp of would-be predators. Butterflies can usually be distinguished by the thickened tips on the ends of their antennae and daytime flights. Most moths have thread-like or feathery antennae and fly at night.

Butterflies and moths have survived on earth for much longer than most people realize. The fossil record indicates that moths evolved about 400 million years ago. When it comes to the numbers of species, moths have butterflies outnumbered by 10 to 1!

Adult female butterflies spend time searching for food plants required by the immature caterpillar stage. Most butterflies have specific host plants on which they develop. For example, caterpillars of the monarch butterfly only develop on milkweed while the black swallowtail feeds only on parsley, dill and closely related plants. When females find the proper host plant, they may lay eggs on it.

Providing the necessary food plants for the developing caterpillars also allows production of a "native" population that can be observed in all stages of development. Most species, however, will fly away as adult butterflies.

Food for adult butterflies usually consists of sweet liquids that provide needed energy sources, such as nectar, from flowers. Some flowers contain more nectar thereby increasing their attractiveness to butterflies. Often, specific types of flowers and flower colors are more attractive to butterflies. Honeydew (produced by aphids), plant sap, rotting fruit, and even bird dung are fed upon by some species.

When planning a butterfly garden it's best to create a large patch of a flowers to attract and retain butterflies. Consider flowers that bloom in sequence. This is particularly important during summer when flower visiting by butterflies is most frequent. It also makes a most beautiful garden for the watchers - us!

Common butterflies in eastern Washington and the foods used by these insects are included in Table 1. By planning the yard or garden to include these food sources, a steady flow of butterfly visitors is encouraged.

Butterfly Gardens                                                  [ Top | Food  | Links ]

The destruction of natural habitats, including elimination of "weeds" and native grasses from yards, parkways, roadsides, manicured suburban yards, etc., along with the misuse of pesticides has contributed significantly to their demise.

Most people recognize the Monarch butterfly, and vegetable gardeners are usually familiar with the cabbage butterfly which lays its eggs on broccoli and other plants in the mustard family. But beyond these two, the average person is hard pressed to name any of the other butterflies found in Washington. Fortunately, this situation can be remedied in a fascinating manner. Create your own butterfly garden! A good first step is to join the WDFW Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program. This program contains many valuable pieces of information one of which describes the butterflies of eastern Washington and the preferred food sources. Another step is to obtain one of the field guides to butterflies, such as the Golden Nature Guide. These guides provide general information on the type of habitat each species prefers, what the food plants of the caterpillars are, and when the adults are on the wing, in addition to identification aids. As described in the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary packet, an assessment of the types of habitats that your yard provides, whether it is sunny or shaded, and what habitats are found in the surrounding neighborhood will be the first clue to which butterflies are potential visitors.

Butterflies, like this Lorquin's Admiral, have a complex life cycle because development occurs by metamorphosis. Life begins as a tiny egg that in most cases is securely glued to a plant that a fertilized female has carefully selected. Usually within a week to ten days, a small caterpillar will chew its way out of the egg case. For each species of butterfly, the caterpillar stage has its own specialized requirements for growth and will feed only on particular plants that its species has evolved an ability to digest! As the caterpillar grows, it molts or sheds its skin about five times, often changing colors and markings. The final molt transforms the caterpillar into a chrysalid (also called a pupa). No feeding occurs in this stage. Rather, energy stored up by the caterpillar is used to reorganize and build new body tissues. When this stage of development has been completed, the adult butterfly emerges leaving behind an empty chrysalid shell. Emergence times vary with species, but in general it is well synchronized with the season and availability of needed resources.

A butterfly garden that combines food plants for caterpillars with a variety of nectar-rich plants and other attractants for adults will be the most successful.

An area can be made more attractive to butterflies if it can provide the proper environment sought by the insects. Most important are: food plants used by the immature stages (various caterpillars), food sources used by the adult butterflies, and physical environment.

Most butterflies prefer some shelter from high winds and at the same time, open sunny areas. Windbreak types of plantings or other means of sheltering the butterfly garden can help provide a suitable physical environment.

Butterflies (mostly males) can often be seen on moist sand or mud collecting around puddles of water where they feed. The function of these "mud-puddle clubs" is not fully understood but it is thought that the water contains dissolved minerals needed by the insects. Maintaining a damp ,slightly salty area in the yard may attract groups of these butterflies. A small watering hole can easily be added to the garden. Select an open spot, perhaps alongside a path, and bury a bucket in the ground. Pour sand to within an inch of the top, then fill the bucket with water and add a few sticks or stones.

An aesthetically pleasing garden that provides a continual array of color can be achieved by taking into consideration the growth form, height, blooming period and other characteristics of the plants you select or allow to grow naturally.

Buddleia, or butterfly bush, is a plant that butterflies find especially alluring. It's not unusual to see individuals of three or four different species imbibing together at this plant. It grows to a height of four to six feet, has slender silvery leaves, and blossoms with multiple florets, similar to lilacs. Colors range from white to deep rose, pink, lavender, and blue. In Washington, the plant dies back to ground level during winter and sends up succulent new growth in the spring. Another plant that butterflies are attracted to is another butterfly bush or bee balm, often found in nurseries under its scientific name - Monarda. This plant often has brilliant red flowers.

A benefit, in addition to the beauty of the garden and pleasure of watching its visitors, like this common Mourning Cloak, is the opportunity to observe, to wonder, and perhaps to gain some insight into the workings of the natural world.

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Lepidoptera Links

• Butterfly and Moth Resources (very extensive)
• Zoological Record's Links to Lepidoptera Information
• Caterpillar Hostplants Database
• Butterflies of the United States (distribution maps)
• The Butterfly Web Page
• The North American Butterfly Association Home Page
• Project Monarch Butterfly
• Pam Mikula's List of Societies for Lepidopterists
• Northern Prairie Butterflies of Washington
• Butterfly Zone (butterfly gardening)
• LepNet - a butterfly list server. Send email to: listserv@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu with no subject with the message(body) - SUBSCRIBE LEPS-L  YourFirstName YourLastName.

Butterfly References

John Hinchliff, An Atlas of Washington Butterflies, Oregon State Bookstores, Inc. PO 489, Corvallis, OR, 97339.

Butterfly Gardens: Luring Nature's Loveliest Pollinators to Your Yard, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 718-622-4433.,1995.

M. Tekulsky, The Butterfly Garden, Harvard University Press, Boston, Massachusetts, 1985.

J. W. Tilden and A. Smith, Field Guide to the Butterflies of Western North America, Hougton-Mifflin, Boston, Massachusetts, 1985.

R. M. Pyle, Alfred A. Knopf, Audubon Field Guide to North American Butterflies, New York, New York, 1981.