Wings of Fancy Docent Study Guide Outline of Contents

Introduction Duties and responsibilities Schedules A Word or Two about Wings of Fancy USDA Permit Requirements

Butterfly Biology Classification Life Cycle Life Span and time of flight Parts of the Body Caterpillar Adult or Moth? Colorful Wings The Senses Sight Smell Taste Touch Hearing

Butterfly Behavior Behaviors You May See Nectaring Spiraling Roosting Puddling Basking Thermo-regulating Eating, Chewing

Butterfly Reproduction Strategies for finding a mate Courtship Mating Laying Eggs Butterfly Defense Caterpillar Adult Examples of

Species Profiles Learning Their Names Tips for Identifying 2004 Butterfly List

Flight House List 2005

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Bibliography, Sources Introduction

Thank you for volunteering for the Brookside Gardens’ butterfly show, Wings of Fancy. This handbook is designed to be a primer on butterfly natural history and on butterfly gardening, so that you, the volunteer can quickly and accurately answer questions from the visiting public. Training sessions have been scheduled to help new volunteers learn about butterflies and returning volunteers can update their information. You will also need to be familiar with the show layout, location of signs and what they say, and the location of plant labels. Read this handbook carefully and be ready for a quiz! (Don’t worry – you’ll pass).

Duties and responsibilities: Prevent accidental or intentional removal of butterflies from the exhibit Share interpretive information with visitors Answer visitors’ questions concerning butterflies and in the exhibit Assist with care of butterflies in the exhibit Perform minor tasks related to show upkeep Ensure posted rules are followed to protect butterflies in the exhibit.

Schedules The volunteers play a critical role in this exhibit: enforcement of the USDA/MDA permit guidelines (next page) for Brookside Gardens’ butterfly show. As part of the permit guidelines, employees or volunteers throughout operating hours must monitor the show. We are scheduling at least two volunteers per time slot. The calendar and sign-up sheets are in the conservatory office, as is the volunteer time log. Please check your schedule and choose times that you are sure are convenient for you. We realize that emergencies occur. If you must reschedule we need at least a day’s notice so a substitute can be found. Please call Cheryl Beagle at Brookside Gardens’ Conservatories (301) 962-1438 if you need to change your time.

A Word or Two about “Wings of Fancy:” The South Conservatory has housed this popular exhibit since 1996. All of the butterflies come from butterfly breeder farms, mostly in , Florida and Costa Rica.

• First year of operation of Wings of Fancy: 1996 • First year showing Costa Rican species: 2003 • Number of butterfly species shown per season (US): 40-45; (CR): 35-38 • Number of moth species shown per season (US): 4-6 • Total number of species shown in 2004: 78 • Average number of species in flight on any day: 40 • Ave. number of butterflies in flight on any day: 600 (400 in spring, 800 in late summer) • Number of pupae received per week: 500

Butterflies live, on average, about 2 weeks. We stop receiving pupae in August in order to allow the number of butterflies to drop naturally. Even so, in 2003 we captured over 800 specimens after the show was closed, and in 2004, we captured about 400 specimens. Each butterfly was carefully placed in a special envelope, designed for the purpose, and placed in a cooler with a little ice. This treatment keeps them calm and sleepy. They were then packed, along with any healthy pupae, and sent via overnight express post to another butterfly exhibit to live out their lives.

USDA PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

The US Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Agriculture have the authority to inspect the premises to see that Wings of Fancy, Brookside Gardens’ Butterfly Exhibit, complies with the primary performance criteria. They have the authority to close the Exhibit if any of the criteria are not met. The most important responsibility as a volunteer is to enforce the USDA permit requirements. Please read the information below carefully.

PRIMARY PERFORMANCE CRITERIA: Display The inspection and permitting procedures of the USDA APHIS are intended to prevent the release of non-indigenous Lepidoptera into the environment of the . Accidental or purposeful release of these Lepidoptera is a violation of the Federal Plant Pest Act. As a consequence, the following conditions will result in actions listed below:

1. If an official of USDA APHIS finds a single individual of an exotic species of Lepidoptera (adult or immature) in the environment surrounding a facility, then the facility will be immediatedly closed to public access. No further Lepidoptera will be received by or released in the facility until the escape problem is corrected. Adult Lepidoptera in the facility may be captured and killed. The facility will not be reopened to the public until it is re-inspected. A second incidence of escape from a facility may result in the permanent withdrawal of all Permits. 2. If an official of USDA APHIS finds more than two living Lepidoptera adults at any time in any interior vestibule, then the facility may be closed to public access until the escape problem is corrected. 3. If an official of USDA APHIS finds that no employee of the facility is monitoring the activities of visitors in the display or entry/exit areas of the facility when open to the public, then the facility may be closed to public access until security is reestablished. BUTTERFLY BIOLOGY

Classification

Most courses in biology begin with classification of the creatures being studied based on structure. All living things have a two-part Latin name, which is internationally recognized, and one or more common names, which are locally recognized. You need not learn all the Latin names, but understand that we may all know the same butterfly by different common names.

The broadest category that an fits into is the Animal Kingdom. A kingdom is divided into phyla. A phylum is divided into classes; a class is divided into orders, an order is divided into families; a family is divided into genera, and a is divided into species.

Example: Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus

Species: plexippus Genus: Danaus (all milkweed butterflies) Family: (all butterflies who hold up the first pair of legs around the head as organs for smell) Order: Lepidoptera (all with scale-covered wings) Class: Insecta (all with 3 distinct body sections, 3 pairs of legs, antennae) Phylum: Arthropoda (jointed appendages, external skeleton) Kingdom: Animal

Example: Mexican Milkweed, Asclepias curassavica

Species: curassavica Genus: Asclepias (all milkweeds) Family: Asclepiadaceae Order: Class: Dicotyledonae Phylum: Anthophyta Kingdom: Plant Life Cycle

The life cycle of Lepidoptera is well known. Look at the figure of the monarch’s life cycle (next page). There are four stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult. An adult female butterfly will lay her eggs on a preferred host plant, a term referring to the food plant of the caterpillar. About a week later, a larva, or caterpillar, will chew its way out of the egg. This is the first instar of the caterpillar. A caterpillar begins feeding voraciously. After a few days, the caterpillar will appear to rest as it prepares to shed its skin (exoskeleton). After shedding its skin, the caterpillar is considered in the second instar. See Figure 1. While it is shedding its skin, the caterpillar appears dead or at least not healthy so be careful not to disturb it. Some butterfly species have only 3 instars, others have 5 or even 7 instars, before pupation. The butterfly pupa is called a chrysalis, the moth pupa is called a cocoon. During this stage of the life cycle Lepidopterans go through complete metamorphosis, changing from a wormlike larva to a birdlike butterfly. The process is not fully understood by scientists, but tissues within the caterpillar’s body reorganize to form long legs, 2 pairs of wings and a proboscis (among other things). The adult emerges and the tissues of the wings fill with fluid until fully expanded, permitting flight. Butterflies at this stage are vulnerable to damage and attack by predators. Read “The Butterfly Emerges,” attached. The life cycle of a typical butterfly can take as little as one month, depending on weather and other environmental factors. See the calendar of the Life Cycle of the Painted Lady, following. Figure 1

The Butterfly Emerges When the butterfly first emerges, the wings are small and soft and slightly crumpled. The butterfly positions itself so that the wings hang downward. It then contracts its body, which forces fluids into the wings and makes them expand. In about 2-3 hours the wings are fully expanded and the butterfly is ready to fly. You will notice a red liquid coming from the tail end of the butterfly. This is meconium, or waste tissue left over from metamorphosis and not blood.

Parts of the Body Caterpillar At first glance the caterpillar looks somewhat like an attractive worm. Closer examination reveals that the caterpillar has 6 tiny legs, plus 10 prolegs, each with little hooks for a good grip, a head with fine hairs (may not see these), mouth parts and 12 tiny simple eyes, and a long body with spines, tentacles or hairs. Some caterpillars are colorful. The tiny holes for breathing, called spiracles, are not always easy to see. The sketch below is very simplified. Figure 2:

Adult Look at the drawings below. The adult butterfly has the typical body parts: head, thorax and abdomen and 6 legs. Some species hold the front legs up close to the head as pictured here. The two pairs of wings are called forewings and hindwings and are heavily scaled. The upper side of the wings is often the colorful side. The underside is cryptically colored so that when the butterfly is at rest, it blends into its surroundings and will be more difficult for predators to see. The head consists eyes, labial palps (or palpi) for smelling, and a tightly coiled proboscis for sipping nectar.

Figure 3

Butterfly or Moth? In the larval stage, it is difficult to tell the difference between butterflies and moths, but the adults have a few more obvious distinctions: The antennae of a butterfly are typically club-shaped, a moth has thread-like or feather-like antennae. The body of a moth is more rotund or chunky. The moth holds its wings low and flat over the back so the upper sides of the forewings are cryptically patterned for hiding, but the hindwings may be quite beautiful. Butterflies hold their wings straight up overhead. The moths in the exhibit will be separate from the butterflies, so identifying both larvae and adults for visitors will be simplified.

Colorful Wings The scales that cover both sides of a Lepidopteran’s wings are not so simple as tiles on a roof, although, at first glance (under a very powerful microscope) they may look that way. The scales, of course, provide some protection against rain. But their main function is in their colors. Males identify females using color first, one species may mimic colors of another, or use colors as warnings to predators of a toxic snack, or the colors help the butterfly to hide. This Show features fabulously colorful butterflies and here is how it works: each scale may have a pigment, or chemical colorant in its structure. If the scale were ground up and treated, one could make a paint or dye from the colorant. Each scale also has a physical shape which refracts or reflects sunlight. This is called structural coloration and it works like a prism. A cross-section of a scale may look like all sorts of hills and valleys, or crystalline points and jags. Iridescence is structural in nature. If you pick a butterfly up by its wings, this structure can be crushed and the color lost. Though the butterfly can still fly, the protection offered by the scales is compromised and the wing’s appearance is altered.

The Senses

Sight The adult head seems to be mostly two large eyes. However, these are actually compound eyes, being composed of many simple eyes clustered together. The butterfly can detect light, color and movement in all directions, but may not be able to determine depth or distance. Butterfly eyes see more of the sun’s spectrum than human eyes, particularly in the ultraviolet range. The caterpillar eyes are composed of just 6 widely spread simple eyes located on the lower part of each side of its head and used primarily for finding food.

Smell The antennae of adult butterflies are the main organ for detecting odors. However, there are olfactory pits, pegs and hairs located on other parts of the body as well, such as the palpi, tops of legs, base of wings, sides of the body and, sometimes, the proboscis. Scent is very important in finding a mate (pheromones), food plants and host plants.

Taste Taste organs are found in the mouth and on the proboscis as well as on the tarsi (feet). Butterflies can land on a flower (or a colorful blouse) and taste whether there is nectar or not.

Touch All parts of the adult body, such as legs, proboscis, palpi, antennae, head, thorax, abdomen and wings have special hair-like organs called tactile setae. The caterpillar also has many tactile setae over all parts of its body.

Hearing Some species of butterflies and moths make sounds (clicking) so it seems fair to assume that they can detect at least some of the vibrations we hear as sound. The tactile setae on a caterpillar may serve this function. Adult butterflies detect sound with the forewing, reacting to certain noises (such as those made by hunting bats) by suddenly changing direction or closing their wings and falling to the ground. Exactly how the information is transmitted is not clear.

Butterfly Behavior

This show is designed to provide all species present with appropriate nectar plants and fruit for nectaring, host plants for egg-laying, open areas for perching, basking and puddling, and vertical space for courtship displays in hopes of encouraging some typical butterfly behaviors. However, the butterflies in the exhibit are unnaturally crowded and the area that they can move about in (behave in) is unnaturally small, so many behaviors observed in nature may not be found in this enclosure or may be so abbreviated as to be unrecognizable.

Behaviors You May See

Nectaring When butterflies sip nectar from flowers or juice from fruit we term it nectaring. Butterflies need a high-energy diet for flying, mating and egg-laying and nectar fits the bill perfectly. In the course of probing a flower for the nectar, the butterfly aids the plant by dispersing pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part, ensuring fertilization and seed production. Their long proboscises can reach into flowers that bees cannot reach. Some species get their nectar from ripe fruit.

Spiraling When two butterflies are courting they engage in a fairly distinctive rising pattern of flight called spiraling. At the top of their spiral fight, which can be as high as 20’, if both butterflies are male they will fly away from each other, if they are male and female, they will land and continue courtship.

Roosting Butterflies at rest are said to be roosting. They roost under leaves or in crevices during bad weather, or when sleeping.

Puddling Several butterflies, mostly males, gather around a puddle or damp place. This is called a puddle club and we have provided a tray of sand to encourage this behavior. In nature, puddles fill and dry and fill again accumulating minerals from the soil in a form that the butterflies can draw with their proboscises. If a popular puddle dries up, butterflies may exude saliva through the proboscis and suck it back up with accompanying nutrients. The salts in human sweat are also nutritious – be sure to check visitors’ clothing and hair for accidental hitchhikers! Male butterflies take up essential minerals and other nutrients by sipping standing water or feeding off of carrion or dung. These nutrients are necessary in forming the spermatophore, and some nutrients are transferred to the female during mating to aid in egg development.

Basking A butterfly spreads its wings open to absorb the sun’s warmth. Butterflies fly best when their body temperature is between 85-100 degrees F. Butterflies choose a warm, open place, such as a rock, sidewalk or even a leaf, in the sunshine to bask, especially on cool mornings.

Thermo-regulating To cool itself off on a hot summer day, a butterfly sits and slowly fans its wings. The Black Swallowtail frequently does this.

Eating Caterpillars are mostly herbivorous, but the diet varies considerably from larva to adult. The female butterfly deposits her egg on the appropriate host plant or food plant. For many species of butterfly only one family of plants will do (e.g., milkweeds).

Butterfly Reproduction

Strategies for finding a mate Adult male butterflies use two basic techniques to find mates: perching and patrolling. A perching male finds a suitable location and waits. Anytime he sees a butterfly-like movement or the dominant color of the female, he flies to it. It may be another butterfly, a bird of the right color or even a leaf blowing in the wind. The choice of perching location is species specific and both males and females may be attracted to a hilltop, treetop, streamside, or wherever. A patrolling male is in constant motion, often near the host plants of his species. Again he is using movement and color as cues to find a mate.

Courtship Once a female is found, the male uses hormones called pheromones, produced by special glands and wafted by flapping the wings, to attract her attention. Each species has a courtship ritual or dance by which the two butterflies discover whether they are suitable mates. Pheromones play a vital and complex role in courtship display.

Mating If all goes well during the courtship dance, they mate. The male deposits a spermatophore, a packet containing sperm and vital minerals, into the female’s mating tube. The time of day that this occurs is also species specific: some species mate only in the mornings, others in the afternoons, and some any time of day. Males and females mate throughout their adult lifespan, which may be from a day to a week or two.

Laying Eggs When a female is ready to lay eggs, she flies slowly seeking the appropriate host plant. When she finds one, she will land on a leaf or stem and drum or scratch the surface with her tarsi (feet) where taste organs are located. She then deposits 1 egg or a small cluster, or sometimes a large cluster, depending on the species. A butterfly may lay hundreds of eggs in her short life. On average, only two will grow into adult butterflies to keep the cycle going.

Butterfly Defense

Butterflies are considered prey species. Many other creatures eat either the larva or the adult or both. Predators include other insects, such as praying mantises and wasps; other arthropods, such as spiders; and larger such as , frogs, rodents and birds. A wide range of diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi also besets them. The weather can wreak havoc on butterfly populations. Drought, flood, frost and high winds can decimate populations of larvae and adults, but butterflies are not without some defenses.

Caterpillar Caterpillars have an amazing number of tricks to play on would be attackers. Some hide by scooting under a leaf or clinging tightly to a stem and holding very still. Others have perfected this mode with cryptic coloring, markings that make them look like their background of bark, twig, stem or leaf. Disguises, such as looking like an inedible bird dropping, can be effective, as long as the caterpillar doesn’t move; or look and behave like a snake. Imagine how a bird might react if a little caterpillar suddenly stood up and presented two big eyes! The spines on many species serve to ward off predators. Who wants a mouthful of prickles? Some of those spines are sharp, some are tipped with acid that can sting, and some have a distinctively bad odor. Many caterpillars are gregarious (live in groups) and build web nests, or they may twitch or rear up in unison, thus surprising their attacker. What about the obviously spineless colorful caterpillars? These may smell or taste bad or the colors may warn predators that the contents are poisonous.

Adult Like their progeny, the adult butterfly also has a few weapons to help avoid predators. Shear speed is the most common method, coupled with uneven fluttering flight patterns, which alone can confuse a bird (ever watch a sparrow try to catch a cabbage butterfly?). If bats are a primary enemy, playing dead is very effective. Cryptic coloring works for adults the same way as for larvae, by blending with the background. Most predators are not interested in dead leaves or bark. In addition, sometimes those leaves will suddenly part to reveal huge menacing eyes! Even the sudden appearance of any bright color (usually red) can be frightening. Just plain hiding under leaves or behind branches can be frustrating to human collectors. Brightly colored butterflies are usually warning attackers of toxic contents, but some of those bright colors really belong to quite tasty mimics.

Examples of Mimicry in Wings of Fancy Mimicry of coloration is one of the most important forms of butterfly defense. In nature, certain colors and patterns carry the universal meaning of “you’ll be sorry if you eat me”. Yellow and black (bees), red and black (snakes) and orange and black (butterflies) are common examples. The Monarch is a poisonous, orange and black butterfly. If a predator, usually a young one, ignores the warning and eats a Monarch it will sicken, but will usually recover. The queen is another poisonous butterfly with the orange and black coloration. If we look at the underside of the Queen and compare it with the Monarch, we find they are difficult to tell apart. Two butterflies like these, which look similar, are called Mullarian mimics. There is a third orange and black butterfly called the Viceroy. Although this is a palatable (edible) butterfly, predators may not eat it because of its warning coloration. A palatable butterfly, which looks similar to a poisonous butterfly, is called a Batesian mimic. In this “mimicry system,” the Monarch is the poisonous model, the Queen is the Mullarian mimic (poisonous), and the Viceroy is the Batesian mimic (palatable).

Mimicry Systems in the Exhibit

Monarch 0poisonous model) Queen (Mullerian mimic, poisonous) Viceroy (Batesian mimic, palatable)

Pipevine Swallowtail (model) Spicebush Swallowtail (Batesian mimic) Eastern Black Swallowtail, female (Batesian mimic) Tiger Swallowtail, female, dark form (Batisian mimic Red Spotted Purple, (Batesian mimic)

Tiger Longwing (model) Isabella Longwing (Mullerian mimic)

Golden Helicon (model) (Mullerian mimic)

*Postman (model) Crimson Patch Erato (Mullerian mimic)

*Julia Longwing (model) Gulf Fritillary (mulerian mimic Banded Orange (Mullerian mimic)

* These systems have been suggested by James Scott in The Butterflies of North Americ LEARNING THEIR NAMES

On the next page is a complete list, by common name, of all species shown last year. You do not need to know all of them! When you arrive to take up your station, check the What’s Flying Today boxes and try to match picture and insect. When visitors ask, direct them to the What’s Flying Today boxes where they can puzzle it out themselves.

There are a few field guides to butterflies in the office, which you can carry with you in the exhibit. They contain interesting information and good pictures of many US species. Unfortunately, there is no corresponding, easy to use guide to the Costa Rican species. Butterfly guides usually follow the same pattern, listing Swallowtails first, followed by Whites and Sulphurs, later, the Brush Foot Butterflies, and finally the Hairstreaks and Skippers. Most of the butterflies we exhibit fit comfortably in these groups.

Butterfly Identification Tips

Visitors always want to know “what that one there” is called. We show about 80 species during in the course of the season, about 40 of them on exhibit at a time and all are pictured on the What’s Flying Today, USA and Costa Rica boards. These tips are designed to guide you in how to observe these creatures and help with identifying and remembering them. Observe the butterfly you are attempting to identify and ask these questions:

What is the size? Is it tiny (Sleepy Orange), small (Painted Lady), medium (Question Mark), large (Monarch, Swallowtail), or huge (Blue Morpho, )?

How does it hold its wings? Does it lie flat against a surface (Cracker), hold its wings out (Julia Longwing), somewhat angled (Question Mark) or hold them straight up (Zebra Mosaic, Owl)?

What is the shape of the wing? Are they long and narrow (Longwings), short and rounded (Sulphurs), or very triangular (Swallowtails)?

Is there one outstanding feature of its wing color? Are there obvious spots, stripes, iridescence or just one color mostly?

Does it sit on fruit? Some eat only from fruit, some only flowers, some eat from both.

Does it flutter while it eats or does it land on the flower quietly? Swallowtails do not perch to feed. Instead, they flutter vigorously. 2005 Butterfly Species* List

Date:______Weather: ______

Swallowtails

___Black Swallowtail ___Red Cattleheart ___Cattleheart ___Ruby Spotted Swallowtail ___Giant Swallowtail ___Spicebush Swallowtail ___Pipevine Swallowtail ___Tiger Swallowtail ___Polydamas Swallowtail ___Zebra Swallowtail

Sulphurs

___Apricot Sulphur ___Ghost Brimstone ___Cloudless Sulphur ___Orange Barred Sulphur ___Sleepy Orange

Brush Footed Butterflies

___Adelpha ___Grecian ___Postman ___American Lady Shoemaker ___Queen ___Baltimore ___Gulf Fritillary ___Question Mark Checkerspot ___Hackberry Emperor ___Red Admiral ___Banded Orange ___Hewitson’s ___Red Cracker ___Blue Cracker Longwing ___Red Spotted Purple ___Blue Morpho ___Isabella Longwing ___Royal Blue ___Bordered Patch ___Janais Patch ___Sara Longwing ___Browntip ___Julia Longwing ___Silvery Checkerspot ___Buckeye ___Magnificent Owl ___Starry Night ___Comma ___Malachite ___Tawny Emperor ___Crimson Patch ___Mechanitis ___Tithorea Erato ___Memphis ___Tiger Longwing ___Cydno Longwing ___Mexican Fritillary ___Variegated Fritillary ___Doris Longwing ___Mexican ___Viceroy ___Giant Owl Shoemaker ___White Peacock ___Glasswing ___Monarch ___White Petticoats ___Goatweed Leafwing ___Mourning Cloak ___Zebra Longwing ___Golden Helicon ___Owl Butterfly ___Zebra Mosaic ___Gray Cracker ___Painted Lady

Hairstreaks, Etc. Moths

___American Snout ___Luna Moth ___Atala ___Polyphemus Moth ___Great Purple Hairstreak ___Promethea Moth ___Silver Spotted Skipper ___Snowberry Clearwing

*Species from Costa Rica are in italics

Species Profiles of Butterflies in “Wings of Fancy” Exhibit North America

American Painted Lady MD Habitat: open fields, power lines, and gardens Host plant: sweet everlasting, pearly everlasting, pussytoes Broods: 3, April – September Note: looks similar to Painted Lady, but just two blue eyespots on under wing

Atala Habitat: shaded subtropical woods and botanical gardens with cycads Host plant: cycads Broods: several, year round Note: almost driven to extinction in Florida due to urbanization, still considered rare

Baltimore Checkerspot MD Habitat: marshes/wet meadows, dry fields Host plant: turtlehead, English plantain, foxglove Broods: 1, June-July Note: caterpillars live about 1 year before pupating; rare in Maryland

Black Swallowtail MD Habitat: open fields, gardens Host plant: Queen Anne’s lace, parsley, dill, fennel, carrots Broods: 3, April-September Note: caterpillar has an osmeterium (a fleshy forked appendage) that protrudes from above the head. When startled, it emits an odor to deter insect predators

Bordered Patch Habitat: weedy and wooded areas from w. TX to NM. Host plant: Sunflowers, ragweed, daisy Brood: several, March to November Note: diverse coloration in adults, over-winters as caterpillar

Buckeye MD Habitat: open fields, power lines, dirt roads, and orchards Host plant: plantain, snapdragon, and Gerardia spp. Broods: 3, May-August Note: emigrates north in spring, will feed on fruit that has fallen from trees

Cloudless Sulphur MD Habitat: open spaces, shore areas, eastern US and TX Host plant: legumes, clovers, wild peas Broods: 2 in MD; more common in the south; tends to hide high in the Ficus tree

Crimson Patch Erato Habitat: tropical and subtropical woods and edges, s. TX Host plant: Passionflower Broods: several, year round Note: poisonous, prefers red flowers, eats pollen, closely resembles Postman but smaller,

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail MD Habitat: streams, wood edges, suburban gardens Host plant: wild cherry, tulip poplar, many other trees Broods: 3, April/May, June/July, August/September Note: females are dimorphic (have 2 forms): yellow and black; black form may mimic Pipevine Swallowtail; probably most abundant butterfly locally

Giant Swallowtail occ. MD Habitat: rocky woodlands Host plant: prickly ash, hop-tree, common rue, Hercules’ club Broods: 2, May-September Note: not as common as the other swallowtails, seen only in a few localities where its host plants grow; largest of our local swallowtails

Gulf Fritillary occ. MD Habitat: open scrub, coastal areas, and gardens in SC south to FL and west to TX Host plant: passionflowers Broods: many Note: similar to Julia Longwing but with black spots on upper wing, reflective silver patches on under wing

Janais Patch Habitat: weedy fields, edges of tropical forests in TX and Mexico Host plant: Acanthus family Brood: several, year round Note: small dark butterfly with bright red patch on hind wing

Julia Longwing Habitat: open and disturbed areas near tropical and subtropical woodland in s. FL, s. TX Host plant: passionflowers Broods: many Note: dimorphic with solid orange males, females with brown band on upper forewing; during courtship, female will often land on walkway while male flutters above her, wafting pheromones to keep her still

Malachite Habitat: clearings in forest, weedy areas around houses, orchards in TX and FL Host plant: Ruellia spp. Broods: 2-3, during summer Note: caterpillar spines cause rash; rotting fruit, dung and mud attract adults

Monarch MD Habitat: fields, marshes, gardens Host plant: Asclepias spp. (milkweeds) Broods: 3, April-September Note: migrates south to over-winter in mountains of north-central Mexico; all stages are poisonous; the Queen and Viceroy butterflies are mimics

Mourning Cloak MD Habitat: forests, woodland edges, gravel/dirt roads Host plant: willows, elm Broods: 1, June Note: hibernates as an adult under loose tree bark, may use butterfly boxes; feeds primarily on tree sap from woodpecker holes and wounds from broken branches so may emerge from winter hiding place during the “January thaw”

Orange-Barred Sulphur Habitat: subtropical, TX and FL Host plant: Cassia Broods: several, August – December Note: strong migrant can be found in WI; caterpillars eat flowers

Painted Lady MD Habitat: universal, worldwide Host plant: thistle, other wild flowers Broods: several, April to September in MD Note: looks similar to American Painted Lady but has several small blue eyespots on under hind wing (American Lady has 2 spots); this species is found worldwide; migrates

Palamedes Swallowtail MD Habitat: swamps, wetlands, flooded woodlands, southern US Host plant: sassafras, bay Broods: 1 to 3, February to December Note: this swamp butterfly is common in the south; does not do well in our exhibit

Pipevine Swallowtail MD Habitat: moist woods, fields Host plant: Dutchman’s Pipe Vine, Virginia Snakeroot Broods: 3, April-September Note: formerly rare in our area but since gardeners have been planting the host, this butterfly is more widespread; males are all black, females are dark iridescent blue; this species is the poisonous model of a large mimicry system which includes Spicebush Swallowtail, female dark form Tiger Swallowtail, Red Spotted Purple and female Eastern Black Swallowtail

Polydamas Swallowtail (Goldrim) Habitat: gardens and agricultural areas, FL and TX Host plant: Pipevines Broods: 1, March to December Note: similar to Pipevine Swallowtail, but without tails; poisonous

Queen Habitat: open areas, brushy fields, roadsides in s. FL, s. TX Host plant: Asclepias spp. (milkweeds) Broods: 3-4, April –September Note: related to Monarch and poisonous

Questionmark MD Habitat: woods, streams, wet fields Host plant: nettle, false nettle, hops, elm Broods: 2-3, April-September Note: hibernates as an adult under loose tree bark; feeds mainly on sap flows, dung, rotting fruit, rarely flowers

Red Admiral MD Habitat: open areas with flowers, especially moist meadows near woodlands Host plant: nettles Brood: 2, April-October Note: emigrates north in spring; fast flying; enjoys rotting fruit; may migrate south in fall

Red Spotted Purple MD Habitat: rich, moist woodlands Host plant: cherry, willow, apple Brood: 2-3, May-October Note: often attracted to mud puddles and animal feces; mimics Pipevine Swallowtail; considered to be a form of White Admiral; feeds on rotten fruit

Sleepy Orange MD Habitat: woods near streams in the Deep South, occasionally MD Host plant: senna, wild sensitive plant, partridge-pea Broods: 2-3, May-October Note: “sleepy” does not refer to its flight, which is quite perky, rather, there are no eyespots on the wings, so it “has its eyes closed” and is sleepy; a tiny butterfly

Spicebush Swallowtail MD Habitat: woods, streams, and nearby fields Host plant: spicebush, sassafras Broods: 3, May-September Note: caterpillars roll a leaf around them for protection and also have large eyespots and smelly osmeterium to frighten predators; adults mimic Pipevine Swallowtails

Variegated Fritillary MD Habitat: open fields, coastal scrub Host plant: violets, passionflower Brood: several, June-November Note: beautiful caterpillar and chrysalis; golden brown and black mosaic adult; uncommon

Viceroy MD Habitat: marshes, ponds, streams, open wet meadows Host plant: willow, poplar Brood: June-October Note: over-winters as third instar caterpillar in a rolled-up leaf or hibernaculum; adult mimics the Queen in its southern range and Monarch in its northern range, prefers fruit

White Peacock Habitat: open and disturbed areas in s. FL, s. TX Host plant: frog-fruits, Ruellia spp., some Verbenas Broods: many Note: iridescent white wings; weak fliers; stay low to the ground; may lay eggs on

Zebra Longwing Habitat: open areas in FL, TX Host plant: passionflowers Broods: many Note: has the ability to use pollen as a food source (they mix it with a droplet of fluid then drink it); roost communally

Zebra Swallowtail MD Habitat: river woods and nearby fields Host plant: pawpaw Broods: 3, April-September Note: flight is lower to the ground than other swallowtails, and is very direct with rapid wing beats; tails are very long; spring brood is smaller and white stripes appear light turquoise

Species Profiles of Butterflies of Costa Rica

Adelpha, fessonia Habitat: deciduous lowlands Host plant: Randia Broods: throughout year Note: may feed on rotten fruit

Apricot Sulphur, Phoebis argantes Habitat: subtropical brushy or wooded areas, Central America, w. TX Host plant: many shrubs and trees in Leguminosae Broods: many year round Note: prefers red flowers for nectar, often seen resting up high in the Ficus tree

Banded Orange, Dryadula phaetusa Habitat: open areas throughout Costa Rica Host plant: Passionflower Broods: several Note: roosts gregariously at night; we occasionally show the caterpillar which looks similar to Gulf Fritillary caterpillar

Blue and White Longwing, cydno Habitat: forest, Mexico to Columbia and Ecuador Host plant: Note: noticeable fluttery flight; may be defensive toward other species when sitting on flowers; adults have a pungent smell

Blue Cracker, februa Habitat: subtropical woods, Mexico south to Argentina Host plant: Broods: many, year round Note: males make a cracking sound with the abdomen while in flight; lays very flat against Ficus trunk and other surfaces; Cracker species are difficult to tell apart as they are all various shades of gray

Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides Habitat: forest, Mexico to Colombia Host plant: Macharium, Pterocarpus, Paragonia, others Note: fantastic big, blue butterfly in flight; eats fruit; difficult to photograph as it is rarely seen sitting with wings held open; distinguish from by bubble pattern of spots on under wing (Owls have a single gold eye)

Brown Siproeta, Browntip, Siproeta epaphus Habitat: wet forest edges, Mexico to Peru Host plant: Ruellia, Blechum Note: feeds on flowers and fruit; they are received in the show in late summer

Cattleheart, Parides sesostris Habitat: forest edges, Mexico to Bolivia Host plant: Pipevine Note: dimorphic: males have a green splotch on the forewing, and females have a white splotch on the forewing

Crimson Patch Erato, Heliconius erato Habitat: disturbed forest, Mexico to Amazon Basin Host plant: Passiflora Note: looks like H. melpomene, the Postman, only smaller

Doris Longwing, Heliconius doris Habitat: forest, Mexico to Amazon Basin Host plant: Passiflora ambigua Broods: several during dry periods Note: this butterfly has a different number of chromosomes from other Longwings and you may see them with red, green, yellow or blue hind wings

Ghost Brimstone, Anteos chlorinde Habitat: subtropical brushy areas, Argentina, Mexico, TX Host plant: Cassia spectabilis, Pithecellobium Broods: many, year round Note: floppy, fluttery flight pattern; wings look like silvery leaves; tend to rest high up in the exhibit

Giant Owl Butterfly, Caligo memnon Habitat: dry areas, disturbed agricultural areas, Mexico to Amazon Basin Host plant: Heliconia, Musa Broods: year round Note: eats fruit; all Owls have one big “eye” on the underside of the hind wing

Glasswing, Greta oto Habitat: disturbed forest Host plant: Cestrum lanatum Broods: many, year round Note: wings are transparent; small; secretive; looks a little like a mosquito hawk; nectars from fruit and flowers

Golden Helicon, Heliconius hecale Habitat: Tropical to open pastures, Mexico to the Peruvian Amazon Host plant: Passiflora Brood: year round Note: Forewings are dark, hind wings golden sometimes with a brown stripe; very similar to Tithorea, but with more rounded wings

Gray Cracker, Habitat: tropical open areas with trees Host plant: Dalechampia scandens Broods: Many year round Note: adults feed on rotten fruit; makes cracking noise when in flight on hot days; lays very flat on trunk of Ficus and support beams of conservatory

Great Owl Butterfly, Habitat: wet forest Host plant: Heliconia, Calathea, Musa, pest on bananas Brood: year round Note: in flight may look like Blue Morpho but blue is muted rather than bright; big gold eye on under hind wing (Morphos have many small “bubbles” on under hind wing)

Grecian Shoemaker, Catonephele numilia Habitat: wet forest Host plant: Alchornea costaricensis and A. latifolia Broods: small, year round Note: males and females have very different markings; male has 4 orange spots on black/purple field, female has a bright stripe and spots on black field; feeds on fruit

Isabella Tiger, Habitat: tropical forest, woodland margins, occ s. TX Host plant: Passiflora Broods: many year round Note: looks like the Tiger Longwing

Magnificent Owl Butterfly, Habitat: , Mexico to Peru Host plant: Heliconia, Musa Note: very large, spectacular purple and yellow markings on upper side of wings, big gold eye on under hind wing

Mechanitis, Mechanitis polymnia Habitat: all Host plant: Solanum hispidum, S. jamesii Brood: year round Note: small; hard to find; dragonfly shaped; color similar to Golden Helicon

Memphis, Memphis eurypyle Habitat: rainforest Host plant: Croton reflexifolius, C. jalapensis Brood: not known Note: frequents rotten fruit; keeps wings closed while feeding and looks like a brown leaf including petiole and veins; opens to orange field with purple stripe

Owl Butterfly, Habitat: tropical rainforest, Costa Rica, Amazon Basin Host plant: Heliconia, Musa Broods: July-August Note: all Owls prefer fruit; big gold eye on under hind wing; roost most of the day

Postman, Heliconius melpomene Habitat: forest edges, Mexico to Brazil Host plant: Passiflora oerstedii Note: looks like H. erato but slightly larger

Red Cattleheart, Parides photinus Habitat: deciduous forest, Mexico to Costa Rica Host: Pipevine Note: black with double row of red spots on upper hind wing

Red Cracker, Hamadryas amphinome Habitat: tropical forest clearings Host plant: , Dalechampia Broods: many year round Note: adults feed on rotten fruit; upper wing is blue, under wing is red

Red Spotted Swallowtail, Habitat: subtropical woodlands and citrus groves, resident in s. TX Host plant: , Citrus limon, Casimiroa edulis Broods: many, April to November Note: dimorphic: males have a red splotch on upper hind wing; females have the red plus a white bar on upper forewing

Royal Blue, Myselia cyaniris Habitat: rainforest Host plant: Note: Fantastic blue in the right light; perches at about 10 feet above ground; feeds on fruit

Sara Longwing, Heliconius sara Habitat: rain forest, forest edge, Mexico to Amazon Basin Host plant: Passiflora auriculata Note: small and common in our show; two light yellow bars on upper forewing, iridescent green or blue on upper hind wing

Tiger Longwing, Heliconius ismenius Habitat: tropical rain forest, edges of the forest, Mexico to Ecuador Host plant: Passiflora Brood: Year round Note: most active dawn to midday; looks like Isabella Tiger

Tithorea, Tithorea tarricina Habitat: all forest areas Host plant: portabellensis Note: mimics Golden Helicon but wings more pointed; tends to perch with wings open at about 4-6 feet up

White Petticoats, Heliconius eleuchia Habitat: wet forest Note: we have received these once each season; similar to Cydno Longwing but with more white on hind wing

Yellow Cracker, Hamadryas fernox (fornax) Habitat: tropical open areas with trees Host plant: Euphorbiaceae, Dalechampia Note: makes a crackling sound in flight on hot days; feeds on fruit

Zebra Mosaic, Colobura dirce Host plant: Cecropia Brood: small, year round Note: males and females perch 3-8 yards above ground at midday; very calm

Flight House Plant List 2005

Purpose: to answer the question of whether our display plants can be grown in local gardens.

The following can be grown as annuals in Maryland:

Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) Mexican Milkweed (Asclepias Baby Sage (Salvia microphylla curassavica) variegata) Mexican Torch (Tithonia rotundiflora) Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Petunia (Petunia x hybrida) Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) South American Vervain (Verbena Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) bonariensis) Egyptian Starcluster (Pentas lanceolata) Spanish Flag (Mina lobata, vine) Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus) Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) Texas Sage (Salvia coccinia) Lantana (Lantana camara) Van Houtii Sage (Salvia van houtii) Marigold (Tagetes patula) Zinnia (Zinnia spp.) Mealy Cup Sage (Salvia farinacea)

The following can be grown a perennials in Maryland:

Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) New England Aster (Symphiotrichum Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) novae-angliae) Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis, columbaria) native) Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) Kiss me over the Garden Gate Rue (Ruta graveolens) (Polygonum orientale) Shaggy Blazing Star (Liatris pilosa) Narrow leaf Mountain Mint Spike speedwell (Veronica spicata) (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium, native)

The following shrubs can be grown here:

Blue Mist Shrub (Caryopteris x New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus, clandonensis) native) Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia, Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) native) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica, native)

The following host plants can be grown here:

Borage (Borago officinalis) Pussy Willow (Salix discolor, native Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. shrub) rubrum) Spicebush (Lindera benzoin, native Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia shrub) macrophylla, native vine) Sweet Gum Tree (Liquidambar Hops (Humulus lupulus, vine) styraciflua, native) Milkweed (Asclepius curasavicca, A. White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra, tuberosa) native) Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) Wild Cherry (Prunus serotina, native Passionflower (Passiflora spp.) tree) Paw-Paw (Asimina triloba, native tree)

The tropical plants in our display are best grown under conservatory conditions and may or may not make a suitable houseplant. The butterflies enjoy their nectar.

Blue Potatoe (Solanum rantonnetii) (Bouvardia ternifolia) Buddha’s Lamp (Mussaenda erythrophylla) Butterfly Flower (Clerodendrum ugandense) Cats’ Whiskers (Orthosiphon stamenius) Creeping Daisy (Wedelia trilobata) Empress Candle Plant (Senna alata) Firebush ( patens) Glory Flower (Clerodendrum bungei) Gold Vein Plant (Sanchesia speciosa) Golden Dew Drop (Duranta erecta) Golden Trumpet Vine (Allamanda cathartica) Hoya (Hoya carnosa) Japanese Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiatica) Marmalade Bush (Streptosolen jamesonii) Orange Ixora (Ixora casei) Orange Jasmine (Murrya paniculata) Pagoda Flower (Clerodendrum paniculata) Porterweed (Stachytarpheta mutabilis) Potato Vine (Solanum jasminoides aurea) Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum Psigurea (Psigurea spp.) Purple Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicsensis) Queen’s Wreath (Petrea volubilis) Rangoon Creeper (Quisqualis indica) Red Firespike (Odontonema culistadryum) Royal Cape Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) Shower of Gold (Galphimia gracilis) Skullcap (Scutellaria formosana) Skyflower (Thunbergi grandiflora) Spicy Jatropha (Jatropha integerrima) Variegated Dew Drop (Duranta repens variegata)

27 Butterfly Show Frequently Asked Questions What happens inside the chrysalis (cocoon)? See p. 2, complete metamorphosis. If the chrysalis is opened soon after forming, the contents appear quite liquid with bits of tissue suspended within. In a few days (weather dependent), the bits of tissue form organs and appendages. Just before eclosure (leaving the chrysalis), the wings, eyes, proboscis, etc. can be seen through the chrysalis.

What’s the difference between a butterfly and a moth? See page 4. Invite the visitor to look closely at an owl butterfly. Moths tend to have heavy, fuzzy bodies, cryptic coloration, large antennae, small eyes, and tend to be night flyers. The owl butterfly is large, fuzzy, and has cryptically colored wings. But on closer examination, it has large eyes and narrow antennae. Most importantly, only 4 legs can be discerned making this butterfly a member of the brush foot butterfly family.

Touching a butterfly will hurt its wings so it can’t fly, right? See page 5. The butterfly’s health may be compromised but it can still fly. The wing itself is made of a clear membrane with veins, like a housefly or bee, which is covered by the colorful scales. These scales serve many functions, principally assisting with finding mates, a prime directive. Picking up a butterfly by the wings, however, will cause severe injury.

After it comes out of the chrysalis, how long does it take until the butterfly can fly? See Butterfly Biology, Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly (copy of sign), “The Butterfly Emerges” and “The Life Cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly”, a table. The larger the butterfly, the longer it takes. We open the emergence boxes 3 – 4 times each day, when the exhibit is not too crowded. It is hard to tell when they are truly ready to face their adoring public, a stressful and dangerous time for any creature

How long do butterflies live? See “Life Span”, page 2. When a visitor asks this question, they usually mean just the adult flight, which averages 2 weeks. Cabbage Whites (out in the Gardens) fly for 2-3 days, Zebra Longwings for 6 weeks.

How do butterflies find the right flower to get nectar? Butterflies use sight, smell, taste, and touch (p. 5) to locate food sources. Scientists believe that nectar is visible to the insects that depend on it, and has a distinct odor to them. Butterflies land on a flower and taste with their feet (tarsi). Tiny hairs all over the butterfly’s body assist in identifying food sources.

Can butterflies taste things? Taste organs are found in the mouth and on the proboscis as well as on the tarsi (feet). Butterflies can land on a flower (or colorful blouse) and taste whether there is nectar or not.

How do spiraling butterflies know that they are the right sex? Spiraling (p. 6) is a way for one butterfly to thoroughly inspect another’s wings and habits. The pattern on the wings, not always visible to us, and of flapping is specific. The behavior looks like so much fluttering about, but there is method in the madness.

28 Where do butterflies go when it rains? When it turns cloudy or cool, butterflies seek the shelter of leaves and branches probably in response to temperature, light levels and barometric pressure. You will find them roosting in various places in the exhibit.

Why do they want to land on my hair (shirt, shoe, arm, etc.)? See page 6 “Puddling”. This is just a cute term for what butterflies (usually males) do in nature to collect the minerals they need. Human sweat also contains minerals. Butterflies, such as the Question Mark, a quite tame and land on visitors’ noses, hats, hair, etc. Certain people seem to attract them more than others.

Do they drink water? Some butterflies do, particularly Monarchs on the long flight south. Generally, moisture needs are filled by nectaring. Puddling hasd a different purpose and excess water is shed via the anal opening

When a butterfly lands on the walkway and spreads its wings, is it showing off? Usually it is basking (p.7). Some butterflies also perch looking for mates or hoping to be seen by a passing suitor. Female Julia Longwings may be seen settling on the walkway accompanied by a male Julia. He is wafting a pheromone (p. 7) that makes her calm and, he hopes, receptive to mating.

After she lays her eggs, does the female butterfly die? Not necessarily. Egg laying is not a final act. The female may mate and lay eggs several times during her short lifetime, depending on the species.

Why does the upper side of a butterfly’s wing look different from the under side? It is all about finding a mate while escaping predators. The upper side is colorful and aids in identifying members of the same species. When the butterfly feeds or rests the wings are closed exposing the under side which is usually cryptically colored to avoid detection by predators

Where do the butterflies come from? See Introduction. There is such a thing as a butterfly farmer, just like a chicken farmer. Butterfly farmers have specialized containers for breeding native species and are certified to mail them to us. We receive them as pupae by FedEx and place them in the emergence boxes where they continue development and, hopefully, emerge safely.

What do you do with the dead butterflies? Can I have one for my collection? The bodies of expired butterflies are collected, sanitized and thrown away. We are not permitted to let our visitors take one home. However, USDA has approved of their use for educational purposes and the butterflies that are in good condition are pinned, dried and mounted. Tour guides use them for display and docents are welcome to look.

29 If I put some old fruit outside, will butterflies come? Yes (p.6). There are a few fruit nectaring species in the area, particularly the Red Spotted Purple. We do not recommend the practice, however, because many creatures enjoy fruit, notably ants and wasps.

What do you do with the butterflies when the show ends? See Introduction. After the exhibit closes, the butterflies are captured, placed in special envelopes, boxed and mailed to another exhibit. In 2004, they were sent to Sophia Saks Butterfly House in Chestertown, MD

Bibliography for Docent Study Guide 2005

1. DeVries, Philip J., The Butterflies of Costa Rica and Their Natural History, Princeton University Press, 1987.

2. Glassburg, Jeffrey, Butterflies through Binoculars, Oxford University Press, 1993

3. Schappert, Phil, A World for Butterflies, Their Lives, Behavior and Future, Firefly Books, Inc., 2000.

4. Schneck, Marcus, Butterflies, How to Identify and Attract Them to Your Garden, Rodale Press, 1990.

5. Scott, James A., The Butterflies of North America, a Natural History and Field Guide, Stanford University Press, 1986.

6. Woodbury, Elton N., Butterflies of Delmarva, Tidewater Publishers, 1994.

7. Xerces Society/Smithsonian Institution, Butterfly Gardening, Creating Summer Magic In Your Garden, Sierra Club Books, 1990.

OTHER SOURCES:

These sites include information on butterflies, some pictures, products, poetry, articles about butterflies and butterfly gardens, and more links:

www.butterflies.com, interesting, basic

www.butterflyfarm.co.cr, Costa Rica Entomological Supply, where we get our Costa Rican specimens

www.butterflywebsite.com, basic, kid-friendly site

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www.mesc.usgs.gov/resources/education/butterfly, for children www.naba.org, hot topics, pictures, national butterfly count information

www.npwrc.usgs.gov, check resources, search butterflies

www.nwf.org, Backyard Habitat, more than just butterflies

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