Attracting and Protecting Attracting and Protecting ButterfliesButterflies

Paul Guillebeau, Ph.D.Paul Guillebeau, Ph.D.

UGA EntomologyUGA Entomology

bugman@uga.edubugman@uga.edu

Butterfly Life CycleButterfly Life Cycle

Egg – a few daysEgg – a few days

Larva – a few weeksLarva – a few weeks– Wandering phase – looking for a place to pupateWandering phase – looking for a place to pupate

Pupa – variablePupa – variable

Adult – a few weeksAdult – a few weeks

OverwinteringOverwintering

Different types of Lepidoptera spend the Different types of Lepidoptera spend the winter in each life stagewinter in each life stage

Some do not overwinter; they spend the Some do not overwinter; they spend the winter in warmer climateswinter in warmer climates

General PrinciplesGeneral PrinciplesLarval food – Depends on speciesLarval food – Depends on species

Adult food – Continuous nectar sourcesAdult food – Continuous nectar sources

Other adult needsOther adult needs– WaterWater– MineralsMinerals– Places to rest – diversity of plantsPlaces to rest – diversity of plants– Places to bask in the sun - stonesPlaces to bask in the sun - stones

General PrinciplesGeneral PrinciplesDon’t use insecticides on larval or adult food sourcesDon’t use insecticides on larval or adult food sources

Most insecticides are broad spectrumMost insecticides are broad spectrum

Even Even Bacillus thuringiensis Bacillus thuringiensis is dangerous for any is dangerous for any caterpillars that eat itcaterpillars that eat it

““Safe” insecticides include soaps and oilsSafe” insecticides include soaps and oils

General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

Adult attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink Adult attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple blossoms that are flat-topped, and purple blossoms that are flat-topped, clustered, and have short flower tubes.clustered, and have short flower tubes.

Adults feed in sunshineAdults feed in sunshine

Water/mineral sources must be shallowWater/mineral sources must be shallow

Adult PuddlingAdult Puddling

A shallow pan filled with sand or small stonesA shallow pan filled with sand or small stones

Add water, soil, manure, overripe fruit, a little Add water, soil, manure, overripe fruit, a little salt, sports drinks, stale beer, etc.salt, sports drinks, stale beer, etc.

Make sure it is safe from catsMake sure it is safe from cats

Good Butterfly PlantsGood Butterfly Plants

Zinnias, lantana, buddleia, marigolds, tithonia Zinnias, lantana, buddleia, marigolds, tithonia (Mexican sunflower), milkweeds, verbenas and (Mexican sunflower), milkweeds, verbenas and many mint plantsmany mint plants

Diversity is goodDiversity is good

Native plants are importantNative plants are important– Co-evolution of plants and butterfliesCo-evolution of plants and butterflies– Butterflies may be fooled – larvae don’t surviveButterflies may be fooled – larvae don’t survive– http://www.wildflower.org/collections/http://www.wildflower.org/collections/

Common Georgia ButterfliesCommon Georgia Butterflies

MonarchMonarch

Larval food - MilkweedLarval food - Milkweed

Spicebush SwallowtailSpicebush Swallowtail

Larval food – spicebush, sassafrassLarval food – spicebush, sassafrass

Tiger SwallowtailTiger Swallowtail

Larval food - tulip poplar, green ash, white Larval food - tulip poplar, green ash, white ash, sweet bay, wild cherry ash, sweet bay, wild cherry

Black SwallowtailBlack Swallowtail

Larval food - dill, fennel, parsley and Larval food - dill, fennel, parsley and Queen Anne’s lace Queen Anne’s lace

Giant SwallowtailGiant Swallowtail

Larval food – citrusLarval food – citrus

Pipevine SwallowtailPipevine Swallowtail

Larval food - pipevine, snakeroot Larval food - pipevine, snakeroot

Gulf FritillaryGulf FritillaryLarval food - mollypop or maypop, green Larval food - mollypop or maypop, green passionflower or other passionflowers passionflower or other passionflowers

Long Tailed SkipperLong Tailed Skipper

Larval food – members of bean familyLarval food – members of bean family– beggar's tick (beggar's tick (DesmodiumDesmodium spp.), hog peanut spp.), hog peanut

((Amphicarpa bracteataAmphicarpa bracteata), kudzu (), kudzu (Pueraria Pueraria lobatalobata), and wisteria (), and wisteria (Wisteria sinensisWisteria sinensis), and ), and edibles such as garden peas (edibles such as garden peas (Pisum sativaPisum sativa) ) and various kinds of beans and various kinds of beans

Silver Spotted SkipperSilver Spotted Skipper

Painted LadyPainted Lady

Larval food - thistle Larval food - thistle

Mourning CloakMourning Cloak

Larval food - willows, elms Larval food - willows, elms

Gray HairstreakGray Hairstreak

Larval food - beans, clover Larval food - beans, clover