Butterfly of the Month - October 2023
Behold the
West Coast Lady Butterfly
This winged wonder calls Western North America home, flitting around from the sunny southern shores of British Columbia all the way down to Baja California Norte. But don’t be surprised if you spot one on your travels to Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, or parts of Mexico too. This adventurous butterfly has even been known to pop up as far east as central Kansas, eastern North Dakota, and southern Ontario. These butterflies spread their wings and flourish in a wide range of habitats, from gardens and fields to roadsides and foothills. They aren’t picky and even enjoy hanging out in places that have been roughed up a bit. Source
Male butterflies have a unique way of attracting mates. They perch on flowers or leaves and wait for receptive females to come by. Once a female is spotted, the male will flutter his wings to display his beauty and charm her. This behavior is known as courtship, and it is essential for the survival of the species.
When the female butterfly is ready, she’ll gingerly deposit one egg at a time onto the topside of a leaf on the plant in the mallow family. These crafty critters are strategic with their egg placement, opting for spots where the soon-to-be-caterpillars will find plenty of food. Once the little ones hatch, they eagerly chow down on leafy goodness. Lil’ baby caterpillars get busy weaving cozy nests right in the heart of leaves, complete with silk and frass. But as they get bigger and bolder, they level up their game, connecting multiple leaves together like a boss. SourceÂ
When the female butterfly is ready, she’ll gingerly deposit one egg at a time onto the topside of a leaf on the host plants in the mallow or nettle family. These crafty critters are strategic with their egg placement, opting for spots where the soon-to-be-caterpillars will find plenty of food. Once the little ones hatch, they eagerly chow down on leafy goodness.
Lil’ baby caterpillars get busy weaving cozy nests right in the heart of leaves, complete with silk and frass. But as they get bigger and bolder, they level up their game, connecting multiple leaves together like a boss.
When the winter chill sets in, our butterfly friends take a well-deserved snooze and snuggle up in a cozy nook to catch up on some much-needed rest. Soon after, as the sun starts to warm things up, they stretch their wings and flutter out into the world to start their romantic escapades all over again.
Adult butterflies typically hibernate during the colder months of the year. They will find a safe, sheltered place where they can rest until the weather warms up again. Once spring arrives, the butterflies will emerge from their hiding places and begin their mating rituals once again. Source
Adult butterflies feed on nectar from flowering plants.
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