A Butterfly Lover’s Delight

I do not know about you but I love butterflies! I suspect most people do, even though few have much interest or affinity for insects in general. But butterflies are special. Popular interest in butterflies, particularly Monarchs, is shown by frequent articles about their habitat issues and their migrations. Years ago, we visited the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Pacific Grove, California, where we saw huge clusters of butterflies hanging from eucalyptus and pine trees. They were huddled together in hanging bundles and were so non-descript that at first we did not know recognize them. Apparently, they form these long cluster formations, resembling nothing more exciting than dead leaves, to conserve heat. The trees offer a perfect microclimate to provide the necessary humidity, light, shade, temperature and protection from the wind. The eucalyptus trees also provide nectar nourishment for the butterflies when the temperature is warm enough – above 55 F – for them to fly and feed.

But there are so many other butterflies that are just as beautiful. When we travel, if we see a butterfly house listed as a tourist attraction, we visit. Unfortunately, most of these exhibits have few butterflies relative to the volume of the butterfly houses, and it becomes practically impossible to photograph them.

Locally, however, we are very fortunate in having the Butterfly Garden exhibit located in the Bronx Zoo.  The original exhibit opened in 1996, although it has undergone some changes since then. Multitudes of butterflies and moths – two groups that belong to the order Lepidoptera – swoop freely around an area covered by a netting, with double doors at each end to prevent escapes.

When you enter the netted area, there is a path flanked by feeding stations, flowering plants and trees. You sense that you are in a primeval garden, watching butterflies alighting where they can freely sip on nectar. Sometimes the butterflies land on visitors’ shoulders or heads, making for a great photo op. Sometimes they seem to be sunning themselves or snoozing – perched for long minutes in one spot – with their wings wide open. Then the photographer has time to focus and can get a great close-up. Sometimes a butterfly will stay in one spot for several minutes, while slowly opening and closing its wings. This is a more challenging shot. I even noticed that some were perched on the netting over our heads, as if they were posing, but a zoom lens gives a terrific picture.

The exhibit also includes an incubator that allows caterpillars to successfully molt to pupa, and finally into the recognizable adult end stage filled with dramatic color. Most of the pupae are brownish and unremarkable, but there are some that are an attractive aquamarine color.

Just to round off the butterfly imagery, there is a pool filled with butterfly koi. For those who have not seen these magnificent fish, let me describe them. We all recognize goldfish large and small. They are a form of carp and were originally bred, over a period of a thousand years, in China, where the various colorations were bred, including orange, white, yellow and red-white mixes. Koi were developed in Japan in the 1820s. To my eye, they just look like oversized goldfish. But butterfly koi... they are, indeed, something special. Developed in the mid-20th century by Japanese breeders who sought greater hardiness in the standard koi, the fish are adorned with greatly enlarged fins and tails – making it appear as they are swimming with long and graceful, diaphanous scarves. 

Today, home gardeners have many ecological concerns. Interest in native plants is high and many want to draw butterflies to their gardens. Factors for attracting butterflies include food – various nectar producing plants that bloom in succession over the summer – water, wind-breaking shrubs or tall plants, as well as rocks to bask on. There are so many plants, both perennials and annuals, that are attractive to specific butterflies. For example, clover attracts Sulphurs and Whites, parsley attracts Black and Anise Swallowtails, violets attract Frittillaries , hollyhocks attract Painted Ladies. The options are endless.

For years, I have seen a Red Admiral perch on exactly the same location by my front door. Knowing that the butterflies do not survive from one year to the next, I can only wonder what is attracting them to that specific spot. We see Swallowtails of all varieties throughout the summer. I am already on the lookout!