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Whimsical Animated Shadow Music Boxes
Can I touch a Butterfly’s Wing?
August 20th, 2010 1 Comment »
If you’ve ever handled a butterfly, you probably noticed the powdery residue left behind on your fingers. A butterfly’s wings are covered with scales, which may rub off on your fingers when you touch them. That’s the powder you see on your fingers. But will this prevent the butterfly from flying? Will the butterfly die?
This is more fiction than fact. The truth is, a butterfly sheds scales throughout its lifetime. Butterflies lose scales just by doing the things butterflies do – nectaring on plants, mating, flying and evading predators. If you touch a butterfly gently, it will lose some scales, but rarely enough to stop it from flying.
A butterfly wing is made of a thin membrane webbed with veins. Colorful scales cover the membrane, overlapping like roof shingles. The scales strengthen and stabilize the wings. If a butterfly loses a lot of scales, the underlying membrane may become more prone to tears, and that could affect its ability to fly.
A butterfly cannot regenerate lost scales. On older butterflies, you may notice tiny clear patches on their wings, where scales were shed. If a large section of scales are missing, you can actually see right through the clear membrane of the wing.
Wing tears, on the other hand, will definitely affect the butterfly’s ability to fly. You should always try to minimize tears to a butterfly’s wing when catching them. Never trap a live butterfly in a small jar or other container, where it may damage its wings by flapping against the hard sides. Always use a proper butterfly net.
When you handle a butterfly, gently close its wings together. Using a light but firm touch, hold all four wings together, and keep your fingers in one place. It’s best to hold the wings at a point close to the butterfly’s body, to keep it as still as possible.
As long as you are gentle and don’t handle a butterfly excessively, it will continue to fly free when you release it.
To learn more about Butterfly Scales visit OWB’s Butterfly Dimension page…
The beautiful scales pictured belong to the Malachite Butterfly (Siproeta stelenes)
Thank you to about.com for source
Raising Painted Lady Butterflies
July 26th, 2010 No Comments »Painted Lady Butterflies
Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
Painted Lady Butterflies are one of the most widely distributed butterflies in the world, they can be found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Migration and the wide range of available host plants is what helps make the painted ladies so widely distributed. The larvae (caterpillars) of Painted Ladies feed on more than 100 types of host plants, particularly Thistles (Asteraceae), Mallows (Malvaceae) which include Hollyhock (Alcea) and Cheeseweed (parviflora).
Mackenzie's Butterfly
Painted Ladies are one of the easiest butterflies to raise because not only will the young larvae feed on so many different host plants, they will also feed on a specially formulated artificial diet. This artificial diet makes it possible for the larvae to be sold in butterfly rearing kits and are often raised and studied in classrooms by elementary students. The popularity of “Butterfly Larvae Rearing Kits” has also contributed to the distribution of these beautiful and abundant butterflies.
It’s fun and easy to raise Painted Lady Butterflies and rearing butterflies is truly an educational experience that every child will certainly enjoy and remember for years to come. The easiest way to raise Painted Lady Butterflies is by purchasing a Butterfly Rearing Kit.
Butterfly Rearing Kit
One of the most popular kits is made by Insect Lore, the kits include a reusable pop-up butterfly habitat, artificial diet and easy to follow instructions. The kits don’t actually contain any butterfly larvae, you will need to mail or FAX the enclosed coupon to Insect Lore, once you receive the larva in the mail, the fun begins!
The larvae will feed on the artificial diet for about 10 to 14 days and when they are ready, they will begin to crawl to the top of the food container. Once they have securely attached themselves to the top of the container, they will begin their miraculous metamorphic change, shedding their skin one last time to expose the their final layer, which is known as the chrysalis. At which time you can transfer the lid with the attached chrysalises to the butterfly habitat.
Tiny Blue Eggs of the Painted Lady Butterfly
In about 10 to 14 days, your beautiful painted lady butterflies will emerge from their chrysalises. You will get to enjoy watching the butterflies in the butterfly habitat. To extend the fun and life of your newly emerged butterflies, you can feed the butterflies by providing fresh flowers for nectar and variety of fruits, like slices of banana, peach, cherries, watermelon and oranges.
After a few days in captivity, you may consider adding one of the butterfly host plants I mentioned above and you will certainly be rewarded with an ample supply of tiny blue butterfly eggs! Make sure you will have an ample supply of pesticide free host plants to feed the hatchlings, if not or you can order some ready-made artificial diet from our butterfly gift shop.
Larvae Refill Kit
If you’ve already had the pleasure of raising painted lady butterflies and already have a butterfly habitat, you will be able to simply order a refill larvae kit for your butterfly enclosure.
At anytime you may want to release your adult painted lady Butterflies into your backyard, local park or butterfly garden.
To learn more about butterfly gardening for the benefit of butterflies, visit our Butterfly Gardening web page!
Mourning Cloak’s… A Joy to Behold!
July 25th, 2010 No Comments »
The Mourning Cloak, Nymphalis antiopa, is one of the most common butterflies to be found in many regions throughout the world. There are several reasons why this handsome flier is so prevalent, but one of the most influential factors is that it uses a vareity of well known host plants, such as the Poplar, Cottonwood, Willow and Elm. These ardent trees are often wide spread and ample in supply, so it is no surprise that the butterfly, which depends on them, is also happily represented.
Mourning Cloak’s, like other Tortoiseshells and Anglewings, overwinter
as adult’s and do not migrate. This, along with their ability to efficiently absorb heat into their dark scales, contributes to their having a longer season in which to frequent our skies. These hearty fliers are often among the very first butterflies to be seen in the spring and one of the last to disappear from sight in the fall.
Besides being conspicuous in their adult stage, Mourning Cloaks, are also known for their gregarious social behaviors
as caterpillars. It is clear that they support the “There is Safety in Numbers” philosophy. Mourning Cloaks eggs are most always laid by the female in large groups and remain in this close knit formation throughout their larval stage. Birds and other predators are sure to be frightened off by a rowdy crowd of up to 50 or more spiky red and black caterpillars who may menacingly shake the branch in unison when threatened.
Only after having filled their voracious appetites, moving together, stripping one branch after another of its foliage, do the larva part ways. Trees appear to be raining caterpillars when the Mourning Cloaks begin to drop from them like parachuters. It seems as if these stealthy crawlers are fleeing the scene of a crime when they free fall unto the ground quickly seeking to distance themselves from their host plant. After taking the plunge, the caterpillars will journey alone until they find a safe place to pupate, metamorphose from chrysalis to butterfly, and be earth bound travelers no more.
Nymphalis antiopa is a delightful species which spreads it’s wings throughout many countries, populating parts of Europe, Asia and the North American Continent. In England, this butterfly is known as the Camberwell Beauty, but worldwide is called by many other names such as Grand Surprise and White Petticoat.
In North America, due to its resemblance to a traditional cloak worn when one is
“in mourning”, it has been given the title Mourning Cloak, but no matter where or by whom this reddish-brown, cream and blue beauty is spied, I think all can agree that she is a not at all sorrowful, but instead a true joy to behold.
NABA 4th of July Butterfly Counts
June 25th, 2010 No Comments »
Celebrating its 36th year in 2010, the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Butterfly Count Program is a long-term citizen-scientist project, involving almost 500 counts and thousands of volunteers throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Volunteers select a count area with a 15-mile diameter count circle and assemble a group to conduct a one-day census, of all butterflies sighted within that circle.
Butterfly Counts are usually held around the fourth of July. To learn more about them click the star spangled butterfly above. For free down-loadable 4th of July Butterfly coloring pages click on the Star-Spangled Butterfly coloring page below.
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Mystery Chrysalis CONTEST…Can you guess what am I am?
June 17th, 2010 3 Comments »
If a predator were to look closely at you, they might see the outlines of your wings, antennae or abdomen. They might even see
that you are an immobile butterfly in the making.
Defenses are few for a strung up statue…
-K. D’Angelo (from Butterfly Dimension)
Be the first to correctly identify which species of butterfly this chrysalis will become and WIN a set of 4 assorted Butterfly Note Cards!
(Spots of Color shown above). Each signed by Award Winning Artist, Lorac. Visit our Butterfly Shop to view other card styles available.
To enter the contest, leave us a comment with your “best guess”. You will find the “comments” link at the top of this blog post and good luck!
Contest Ended Midnight, June 30, 2010
The answer to the Mystery Chrysalis is shown below…
I am a Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) Buttterfly…. One of Mother Nature’s many wonderful mysteries set aflutter.
What’s in a Name? The Euphydryas chalcedona Butterfly…
June 14th, 2010 2 Comments »
The Euphydryas chalcedona butterfly is also known as the Chalcedon Checkerspot, the Variable Checkerspot, the Anicia Checkerspot and the Colon Checkerspot… which butterfly is this anyway ???
Euphydrayas chalcedona
Most people use common names when referring to local butterflies, but each butterfly also has a scientific name assigned to it and thank goodness for that!
Silene california (Silene meaning - perennial with red or pink flowers).. aka California Indian Pink or California Scarlet Campion
Throughout the history of western science most documentary literature, with respect to the naming of a species, has been written in Latin. The practice of using Latin descriptions has continued over time so that scientists and others who speak different languages can communicate and understand that they are talking about the same species. Many plants and animals have common names which differ by regions and using universal names to identify a group avoids confusion among all.
The Latin title given to a particular species may be assigned for many different reasons. Some are named after characters found in Greek or Roman mythology, others are titled because of where they were found or who discovered them, and many receive their labels due to unique appearances or patterns of color.
Euphydrayas chalcedona... variable with a beautiful deep orange-red color
In the case of the Euphydrayas chalcedona, we can learn by researching the origins of the word that the butterfly was named for it physical characteristics.
The name Chalcedon came from the Latin word, chalc
donius,which is derived out of the Greek term, khalkd
n, meaning a mystical stone (Revelation 21:19). Both expressions are thought to have originated from the Phoenician word hadiic kapr, meaning “new town”.
Chalcedony is a quartz stone which has a waxy luster and may be translucent or semi-transparent. It is though to get its name from the ancient Greek town of Chalecdon. This
Red Chalcedony Quartz
mineral can assume a wide range of colors, including white, pale-blue, gray, brown or black. It can also be found in a lovely variegated deep orange-red color, hence, the naming of the Euphydrayas chalcedona butterfly.
To learn more about the Latin names of butterflies… click the scholarly image below…
Come to a Caterpillar Convention… Caterpillar Phacelia (Phacelia circutaria)
June 4th, 2010 No Comments »
The name Phacelia comes from the Greek word, phakelos, which means bundle.
Caterpillar Phacelia, Phacelia circutaria, is a plant species native to California, which looks exactly as it’s name suggests, like a bundle of caterpillars.
Look for this group of hairy, sun-loving annuals from March to June in the chaparral covered foothills of California.
Coming upon them is like attending a Caterpillar Convention, where each participant seems to enjoy flaunting it’s flora, exhibiting tiny buds as if they were fancy hats atop it’s head.
If you hung around long enough (for several weeks at least), you could watch as each coiled stem slowly unraveled itself, proudly showing off it’s pretty lavender flowers, one by one…
Click the cute but sassy fellow above (just returned from the convention I guess) to learn more about Caterpillar Phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria), one of the few “caterpillar” species in nature which does not become a butterfly! KD
