SaveNature.Org Teacher Guides SaveNature.Org Backyard Biodiversity rotecting ecosys- California has about 1,500 endemic plants, more than any other state in tems at home and the U.S.! There are also many wonderful butterflies found here. Adult around the world is butterflies need a source of nectar while their caterpillars often need a Pimportant for the preserva- different species of plant to feed on. Native habitats along with the native tion of biological diversity. foodplants which butterflies need to survive are disappearing rapidly. Planting a butterfly and By using native plants in your backyard, school or community garden, hummingbird garden is a you can perhaps create a haven for butterflies, birds and other creatures. great way to get involved The following lists will help you and your students get started as small in local conservation and scale conservationists. learn about the diversity of plants, insects, and other Some Native California Nectar Sources for Butterflies life in your area. Nur- Plant Species Common Name turing a garden teaches Achillea borealis var. califonica Yarrow students about our connec- Aesculus califonica* Califronia buckeye tion to the earth. Students Asclepias spp. Milkweed learn a respect for all life (A. speciosa, A. eriocarpa, A. fasicularis) and what is needed to Aster adcendens Aster Aster chilensis Common California Aster support it as well as valu- Ceanothus thyrsiflorus* Blue Blossom, Wild lilac able lessons about working Cirsium spp. Thistle together. Erigeron glaucus Seaside daisy Eriodictyon spp. Yerba santa Eriogonum latifolium, E. spp. Coast Eriogonum, Buckwheat Eriophyllum spp. Woolly sunflower Objective: learn about ecosys- Helianthus gracilentus Sunflower tems and the diversity of life Heliotropium convolvulaceum var. califonicum Heliotrope locally and globally. Heliotropium curassavicum Heliotrope Heracleum lanatum Cow parsnip Ages: Primary, Intermediate Heteromeles arbutifolia* Toyon and Advanced Layia platyglossa Tidy-tips Lomatium spp. Lomatium Materials: Additional teacher Monardella antonii Mint guides - Exploring Rainforests Monardella villosa var. neglecta Coyote mint and Ecosystems and Insects avail- Salix lasiolepsis* Arroyo willow able from CES. Salvia mellifera (popular with many species) Black sage Senecio spp. Senecio Subject: Science Stachys pycnantha• Short spiked hedge nettle Stachys chamissonis• Hedge nettle Resource: Stachys bullata• Hedge nettle Trichostema lanatum Woolly bluecurls California Native Plant Society * denotes shrub or tree 1722 J St., Suite 17 • denotes plant that has urticating or irritating hairs Sacramento, CA 95814 Tel: 916-447-2677 Some non-native shrubs such as Lantana and Buddlea (Butterfly Bush) are valuable nectar sources for butterflies as well. ©2009 SaveNature.Org, 699 Mississippi Street, Suite 106, San Francisco,CA 94107 phone:(415)648-3390 fax:(415)648-3392 email: [email protected] web: www.savenature.org SaveNature.Org Teacher Guides: Backyard Biodiversity Page 2 Some Common California Butterflies & Their Food Plants Butterfly Native Larval Food Plants Non-native Larval Food Plants Brushfooted Butterflies - family Nymphalidae American Painted Lady Everlasting (Gnaphalium spp., G. califor- (Vanessa virginiensis) nicum, G. purpureum), Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margartacea) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Cryptantha (Cryptantha spp.) fiddleneck Mallow (Malva spp.) (Amsinkia spp.), thistle (Cirsium spp.), lu- pine (Lupinus succulentus) West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella) Nettle (Urtica holosericea), checkerbloom Mallow (Malva parviflora), Tree mallow (Sidalcea malvaeflora) (Lavatera), hollyhock (Althaea rosea) Red Admiral (Vansesa atalanta) Nettle (Urtica holosericea) Baby tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) Buckeye (Junonia coenia) Monkey flower (Mimulus spp.), Owl’s-clo- Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), snapdragon ver (Orthocarpus purpurascens) brooklime (Antirrhinum majus), foxglove (Digitalis (Veronica americana) purpurea) Califonia Sister Oak (Quercus spp.) (Adelpha brewii califonica) Lorquin’s Admiral (Basilarchia lorquini) Willow (Salix spp.), cherry (Prunus spp.) Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) Willow (Salix), Poplar (Populus) English elm (Ulmus procera) Elm (Ulmus) Chalcedon Checkerspot Sticky monkey flower (Mimulus aurantia- (Euphydryas chalcedona) cus), figwort (Scophularia spp.), Penstemon (Penstemon spp.) Satyr Anglewing (Polygonia satyrus) Califo- Nettle (Urtica spp.) nia Tortoiseshell Califonia lilac (Ceanothus ramulosis, C. (Nymphalis californica) thryrsifloris) Mylitta Crescentspot (Phyciodes mylitta) Native thistles (Cirsium sp.) Edith’s Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha) Indian paintbrush (Castilleja) owl’s clover Plaintain (Plantago spp.) (Orthocarpus), lousework (Pedicularis) Swallowtails and Parnassians - family Papilionidae Pipe Vine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) Pipe Vine (Aristolochia californica) Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) Native Umbels (Umbelaceae), cow parsnip Fennel/Anise (Foeniculum vulgare) (Heracleum lanatum) Pale Swallowtail (Pterourus eurymedon) Blueblossom /Wild lilac (Ceanothus thyrsi- floris), Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), Coffeeberry (Rhamnus calfornica), Redberry (Ramnus crocea) Western Tiger Swallowtail Sycamore (Platanus), Chokecherry (Prunus (Pterourus rutulus) virginiana), Willow (Salix sp.) Gossamer Wings - family Lycaenidae Brown Elfin (Incisalia augustinus) Blueblossom /Wild lilac (Ceanothus thyrsi- floris) Echo Blue (Celastrina ladon echo) Blueblossom /Wild lilac (Ceanothus thyrsi- floris), Oak (Quercus) Common or Gray Hairstreak oak (Quercus), mint (Lamiacea), corn (Zea Mallow (Malva spp.) (Strymon melinus) mays) and varius legumes Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) Deer Weed (Lotus scoparius), lupine (Lupi- nus spp.), wild pea (Lathyrus), vetch (Vicia) SaveNature.Org Teacher Guides: Backyard Biodiversity Page 3 Some Common California Butterflies & Their Food Plants (cont.) Butterfly Native Larval Food Plants Gossamer Wings - family Lycaenidae (cont.) Acmon Blue (Icaricia acmon) Buckwheat (Erigonum latifolium) Gorgon Copper (Gaeides gorgon) Buckwheat (Erigonum latifolium) Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus) mistletoe on oak and ash (Phoradendron) Golden Hairstreak (Habrodais grunus) Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) Sylvan Hairstreak (Satyrium sylvinus) Willow (Salix sp.) Whites and Sulphers - family Pieridae Veined White (Artogeia napi) Coast Rock Cress (Arabis blephoraphylla) Creamy Marblewing (Euchloe ausonides) Coast Rock Cress (Arabis blephoraphylla) Common Sulpher (Colias philodice) Clovers (Trifolium), lupine (Lupinus spp.) Milkweed Butterflies - family Danaidae Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) Metalmarks - family Riodinidae Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo) Buckwheat (Erigonum latifolium) Satyrs or Browns - family Satyridae California Ringlet (Coenonympha califonia) native grasses (Poaceae) Large Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) native grasses (Poaceae) True Skippers - family Hesperiidae Propertius Duskywing (Erynnis propertius) Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) oak (Quercus spp.) This is only a partial list and some of these butterflies have patchy distributions. You may wish to check a local field guide for further information on the distribution of specific species. Natural history museums are also good resources for information on local species. Native California plants are not always easy to find in a nursery. Try calling or writing a local arboretum or native plant society. They will often have plant sales of their own and should be able to tell you where to buy or order California natives. The office in Sacramento puts out a newsletter - Native Plant Society of California Bulletin - which lists native plant sales around the state (their address is on page 1). How insects fit in: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Arachnidia (mites, spiders, ticks, scorpions) Class: Crustacea (crabs, lobsters, shrimp...) Class: Diplopoda (millipedes) Class: Insecta (insects including butterflies) Class: Chilopoda (centipedes) Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia (humans...) Class: Aves (birds) CES Teacher Guides: Backyard Biodiversity Page 4 To thrive, hummingbirds need an abundance of flowers in bloom throughout the year with copious nectar. They fiercely defend a territory so they need shrubs, trees and other natural barriers to separate territories and provide perching sites. A water source is also necessary. In addition to nectar, they eat small insects which are a source of protien. Hummingbirds use spider webs to build their nests. Three hummingbird species are common in California: Anna’s Hummingbird: male with green back and red crown Allen’s Hummingbird: male with green crown and red throat Rufous Hummingbird: male with rufous back and red throat Hummingbird Food Plants for California Landscapes SHRUBS HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS Autumn Sage Salvia gregii Agapanthus Agapanthus Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii California Fuschia Zauschneria californica Bottlebrush Callistemon spp. Columbine Aquilegia formosa California Rhododendron Rhododendron californica Delphinium Delphininum sp. Cleveland Sage Salvia clevelandii Island Bush Snapdragon Galvezia speciosa Common Monkey Flower Mimulus cardinalis Fuchsia-Flowering Ribes speciosum Gooseberry VINES Manzinita Arctostaphylos spp. Bougainvillea spp. Bouganivillea Pineapple Sage Salvia elegans Tecomaria capensis Cape Honeysuckle Penstemon Penstemon cordifolius Mandevilla laxa Chilean Jasmine Red Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum Clematis lasiantha