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Monarch and Tiger Butterflies
Two of the more common and lovlier butterflies to find in the gardenMonarch ButterflyThe Monarch Butterfly is probably the best known and most popular of the butterfly species. When you have a wide range in North America and the most gorgeous colors that children of every age love, it is not surprising.Monarchs are often called the milkweed butterfly. In the catapillar stage, Monarchs love to munch on milkweek leaves and as an adult, they sip on milkweed flower nector as well as other flowers. Making the milkweed a major food source gives the Monarch a survival advantage. How? The milkweed is toxic, and those poisonous properties are passed onto the Monarchs that eat the plant. Butterfly predators soon learn that eating a Monarch Catapillar will make them sick...
This food may also have had some negative side effect for the butterfly. Many Monarch butterflies develop parasites cuasing them to lose weight, have weak wings, and die sooner than the average butterfly life span. Gardeners will often plant milkweed for the sole purpose of attracting this beautiful buttery. See Attracting Butterflies for more about Butterfly Gardens. Monarch butterflies are migratory insects, following the same pattern year after year. Each fall, they travel southward to warmer climates like those in Florida, Texas, and Mexico. They stay in the place over the winter months. It can be breathtaking to see clouds of Monarchs on the move. Large groups of black and orange wings flittering here and there. It is thought that this orange and black coloration makes them look like a bunch of autumn leaves blowing in the wind! This is considered another adaptive measure for survival, as the insect's colors help them blend into the fall enviroment for protection. Why would a bird want to eat a falling leave (even if it turned out to be a butterfly meal). Over the years, the Monarch butterfly has been made the official state symbol for Alabama, Idaho, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, and West Virginia. Since 1989, it has been the National Insect of the United States. It also holds that same title in Canada. Deforestation in many regions has caused the Monarch population to drop. It is hoped that steps will be taken to help maintain and improve habitats for the Monarch. Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio glaucas)The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is named for its yellow color with black stripes. While mainly found in the forests of Central America, other locations for the tiger butterfly include the Eastern United States and Canada. This particular species of butterfly loves places where ther air is warm and moist and the land grows plenty of food.All butterflies are cold-blooded insects and need a certain amount of warmth to fly. But the Tiger Butterfly is particular a warm weather creature. It needs to bask in the sun in order for their wings to work. Their body temperature must be above 86 degrees Fahrenheit before they can fly. Due to this particular environmental adaptation, the Tiger is among the fastest species of butterflies. They have been clocked at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
These butterflies are called swallowtails because they have long "tails" on their hindwings which look somewhat like the long, pointed tails of the bird species - swallows. The Tiger Butterfly is very popular throughout the United States and is often sought after by collectors. In fact, it is the state insect of Georgia, Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina and Delaware. The wings of a Tiger Butterfly are much stronger than many other butterfly species. Some scientists believe this is because of the fennel that they eat. Another favorite food of this butterfly is the nectar from the abelia shrub At one time the Tiger Butterfly was dwindling in numbers. To protect its existence, a concerted effort was made to provide habitats for the Tiger in butterfly gardens throughout its normal range. While the overall number of Tiger Butterflies has rebounded, there is still a concern about the longterm survivability of this species (and many others) due to the loss of natural habitats. Have you ever seen a butterfly with faded yellow and black coloring? Chances are it was an older Tiger Butterfly. Their colors tend to fade out over time.
News about Monarch Butterflies
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