Butterflies & Moths

The Master Gardeners of Missouri is a great program and full of interesting opportunities! I completed their course this past June and have been volunteering as a docent at the Roston Native Butterfly House. It is located in the Nathaniel Greene Memorial Park and part of the Springfield Botanical Gardens. Its a wonderful and magical place to spend a few hours! (all photo’s are my own and taken while volunteering)

This fun destination is FREE and hosts “native to Missouri” butterflies and moths. I have loved learning and growing in my knowledge of these fascinating insects! If you read my Japanese Beetle post you know I do NOT like bugs. However, I have found that gaining knowledge has led me to be more tolerant of the “creepy crawlies” (I’m talking to you caterpillars!) and I’ve been brave enough to actually get them onto my hand and also even PICK UP some of the more gnarly looking caterpillars. (Gasp!) Its a fact that some of the ugliest caterpillars turn into the most beautiful butterflies and stunningly patterned moths.

I have learned a lot of interesting facts about butterflies and moths since volunteering at the Butterfly House:

• A good way to tell a moth from a butterfly is by their antennae. Butterflies have a little ‘club’ at the end of each one of theirs while moths do not. Moth’s also can have antennae that look like feathers (see the Luna Moth above)
• Butterfly caterpillars make a chrysalis but Moth caterpillars make a cocoon.
• Both insects are very specific to what types of plants they lay their eggs on – some VERY specific. Example: Monarch butterflies ONLY lay eggs on milkweed – and sometimes only a certain type of milkweed. No milkweed? No Monarch butterflies!
• There is a program where volunteers catch & release Monarch butterflies on their return migratory path back to Mexico. The goal is to place little trackers on their wings. Scientists in Mexico have recorded several Monarch butterflies that were tagged from Springfield MO!
• Butterflies are very territorial and will chase off other butterflies. Some are very aggressive as well. I personally witnessed a male Monarch dive and attack another male Monarch and took it to the ground. They wrestled on the ground until the intern had to break up the fighting and kick the more aggressive male out of the butterfly house. LOL! They have little tiny claws on the end of their legs and when fighting they ‘hug’ the other butterfly and try to rip open its opponents belly. Who knew those Monarchs could be so vicious!

Adding the knowledge of host plant types, that butterflies and moths need to survive, has been a great addition to my gardening pursuits. I will be more conscience of what I plant, what I use to control pests and look more closely at that creepy crawly wandering on my plants! It might be something that I’d be very sad to destroy in my ignorance.

I encourage you to look up butterflies in your area and see what kinds of host plants they need for their larvae AKA caterpillars. Its a fun and interesting hobby! Thanks for letting me share. 🙂

Have a Blessed and Wonderfully Gnomie Day!

Eileen