Flutterbies!

Of the millions of insect species that inhabit the planet, butterflies are unquestionably among the most pleasing to our senses. We go to great lengths to attract them to our gardens, planting shrubs and flowers that serve as food for both crawling caterpillars and winged adults.

It’s the adults that you and I are most likely to encounter in our backyards as they flutter from flower to flower in search of sugar-rich liquid nourishment. A butterfly’s sensitive antennae help guide it to plants that hold essential nutrients. Special chemical receptors on its legs allow it to taste and a long thin proboscis is used for drinking.

The butterfly in the photo is a common species known as a clouded sulphur, found throughout much of the United States. I came across this one in a weedy patch in my backyard. The female clouded sulphur lays greenish-yellow eggs, one at a time and typically on clover, alfalfa or pea plants. The adult butterflies prefer open habitats like lawns and meadows. Dandelions, asters, marigolds, coneflowers and thistle are among the many plants from which they extract nectar.

If you don’t already own a field guide to our native butterflies, this would be a great addition to your home library. Use it to make a list of the different species that visit your backyard. And while you’re at it, note on which flowers they come to feed.