![]() ![]() But the biggest concern, was that there were very few skippers. Only a few butterfly species were observed, as compared to counts in the recent past when as many as 35 species were seen. Overall, it had not been a good count at Revis. Others saw zebra swallowtails and summer azures, but it was the day of the pearl crescents. ![]() ![]() "I saw a great spangled fritillary and a wood satyr," said one person. The larva of this butterfly is known to feed on more than 100 plant species!īy noon, the count at Revis was completed, and people gathered in the parking lot to compare notes. Other butterflies, like the painted lady, aren't so particular. The relationship between the caterpillars and the host plant is sometimes so strong that the caterpillars will starve to death before they will eat anything else. The host plant for the zebra swallowtail is paw paw, snout caterpillars prefer hackberry leaves, Ottoe skipper larvae eat little bluestem grass, and the Creole pearly eye dines exclusively on giant cane. The selection of these areas as census sites was not an arbitrary decision.īesides" being known for their diverse butterfly populations, the sites also have a large number of plant species, Many butterflies, like other insects, depend upon a specific host plant for food during their larval stages. In most cases, census workers had to be able to identify individual butterfly species on sight. On this particular count, the number of adult, live butterflies was counted by species at Revis, Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak and Long Branch nature preserves in Mason County. The information that is obtained is used to determine species distribution and population sizes. Each year, the date of the event is centered around July 4 on selected sites that occur with Yes, butterflies are counted annually, much like waterfowl, nesting song birds and upland game. By the year 2000, the number of counts had increased to 421 in 44 states, three Mexican states and five Canadian provinces. Snout! Pearl crescent! Viceroy! Hackberry! The annual butterfly count was underway!īutterfly counts began in the United States in 1975, when only 29 counts were conducted. Of minutes, everyone was hiking through loess hill prairie, shouting names to a person holding a clipboard. Weather conditions were good as it wasn't windy and no rain was in the lorecust. Some held clipboards and pencils, while others held either one or two pocket-sized books. It was decorated with butterflies.Īllison was among the 15 people congregated in the parking lot at Revis Hill Prairie Nature Preserve south of Easton in Mason County last July. The hat of 10-year-old Allison Scroggin was a clue as to what was about to take place. Sipping water and minerals from mud, males often conglamorate in a characteristic called "puddling" (Berger and Lederhouse 1985).It's the 27th year for an American tradition. Sweetbay magnolia, (Magnolia virginianais) is a major host plant in Florida. Common host plants are those of the families Magnoliaceae and Rosaceae. This large butterfly produces at least three and possibly four flights in Florida (Scriber 1996) begining in late Febuary or March. Females are dimorphic having a morph with black or grey replacing the yellow on the wings, darker bands may still be visable. The ventral forewing margin has a yellow bar that is broken into spots. The postmedian area of the hindwing is black with yellow spots on the lower margin and small red and blue spots on the inner margin. Males are yellow with four black bands on the forewings, the outer edge of the forewing is black with a row of yellow spots and black veins. Zebra longwing butterflies are fairly common throughout Florida and is most abundant in South Florida hardwood hammocks and thickets, they will often group together in a quiet spot.Įastern Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio glaucus Wingspan is from 3 to 5 1/2/ inches. Larvae absorb toxins from the vine, giving adults an unpleasant taste to predators. ![]() Zebra longwing begins laying eggs shortly after emerging from the chrysalis and will lay from 5 to 15 pinhead sized eggs on Passion vines, the larval host plant for this beautiful butterfly. It is relatively long lived among butterflies having a life span of several months as compared to weeks for most butterfly species. Found throughout Florida, being most abundant in South Florida. The designated Florida state butterfly, the Zebra longwing has long, narrow wings with distinctive black and pale yellow stripes, it flies in a slow graceful manner. Zebra Longwing Butterfly - Heliconius charitonius The Zebra Longwing butterfly is unique in that it is able to feed on a flowers pollen as well as the nectar, this is an excellent source of protein and scientists attribute their long life span to this fact. ![]()
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