Viceroy Butterfly

The viceroy butterfly is one of the many species of animals that use mimicry as a means for protection and convenience. This is because it is often mistaken for the monarch butterfly which has the reputation of being unpalatable and distasteful. However, the viceroys are also found to be unfit for predatory consumption. This is a classic example of Mullerian mimicry, where two poisonous species mimic each other to be more unpleasant and notorious.

The brownish colors and the vein like lines of the viceroy butterfly are its main characteristics. Aside from that, it is also best described by the white spots that are present in the edges of its wings. Also there is the presence of a black line that stretches across its hind wings. This black line as well as the way they hold their wings when gliding are the things that distinguishes a Viceroy butterfly from the monarchs. They hold their wings horizontally unlike the monarchs which hold theirs at an angle.

They are usually found in the meadows, marshes and swamps of most of the United States as well as southern Canada and Northern Mexico. Actually, they can be found in many wet regions that are abundant in willows, aspens and poplar trees. This is because these trees are the favorite food of the caterpillars of the Viceroy butterfly.

This butterfly, which is considered the state butterfly of Kentucky, is so widespread that its numbers are not that threatened unlike other species of butterflies. Add the fact that they produce two or three generations every breeding season and they will not be going away soon.

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

The swallowtail family of butterflies is well – known for the long tails on their hind wings which when spread open is made to look like the tail of a well – known bird called the swallow. Of these, one of the most well – known and also considered as one of the most beautiful is the zebra swallowtail butterfly.

The zebra swallowtail butterfly got its name from its very distinctive black and white stripe patterns which is similar to those found on the zebra. This characteristic is one of the few ones that help distinguish it from other swallowtail butterflies. Also, it is also notable for its triangular wings, long tails as well as the red and blue markings that are found on the bottom tips of its wings.

This butterfly, which is also known as the kite swallowtail and the pawpaw butterfly only lays it green, spherical eggs on the Asimina triloba or the common pawpaw tree. Here the caterpillars hatch and begins to eat the tree after it has eaten its own eggshell as well as some of its siblings. During this stage, it is protected from some predators by the gland on its neck called osmetrium which gives off a strong unpleasant odor when the caterpillar is threatened. Then like all butterflies, it enters into the pupa stage before finally becoming a full – grown butterfly in the spring.

The zebra butterfly which incidentally is the official state butterfly of Tennessee is usually found in the eastern United States, South – East Canada as well as some areas that are found in North – East Mexico.

Ulysses Butterfly

The Ulysses butterfly is a variety of an Australian swallowtail butterfly that has a wingspan of about 14 cm or 5.5 inches. It is also known as the blue mountain butterfly and it inhabits the tropical rainforest areas and suburban gardens of Northeastern Australia. It usually flies at the top of the trees but lands in the clearings every time it feeds. It usually appears as bright blue flashes every time it flies which makes it difficult to follow especially for would be predators and enemies. Its other important characteristic is drab brown underside which is often mistaken for a tree bark the moment it lands and rests.

The female of this species is different from the males because of the little blue crescents that are located in their black sections of their hind wings. These crescents are what attract the males during the mating season. The attraction is so great that males are often attracted by many other things as long as it is bright blue in color. Also, this attraction to blue objects is used by collectors who want to catch a Ulysses butterfly.

The Ulysses butterfly is usually seen on the Melicope Eiteryana which is commonly called Euodia. This is because this tree, which grows clusters of small pink flowers straight out of its branches, is the favorite food of this particular type of swallowtail butterfly. Also, this is where the females lay its eggs and the caterpillars that result feed on the plants until they pupate and finally become an adult butterfly.

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

As their name suggests, a tiger swallowtail butterfly is characterized by the yellow and black stripes that are similar to the ones found on real tigers. However, this is a characteristic that is commonly found on the males as some females often possess black colors. They are strong fliers with wing spans that range from 7.9 to 14.0 cm. They are also called swallowtails because of the pointed tips of their hind wings which form a shape that is similar to that of tails of swallows when they are opened.

The tiger swallowtail butterfly is included in the Papilionidae family which also includes the apollos and the birdwings. It is considered to be one of the most recognizable species of butterflies and is commonly found in the grasslands and woodlands of Eastern United States as well as Canada. Here they feed on nectar especially those found on the shrub of the abelia plant.

A tiger swallowtail butterfly has no particular defense against predators and so it begins its life as a caterpillar which looks like bird droppings to disguise it from predators. It then eats form the plant where it was born which is usually tulip trees, wild black cherry, aspens and birch. Later on, it develops distinctive eyespots which are often mistaken to that of larger creatures. Later on it changes into a pupa then into an adult. The females of some species tend to mimic the appearance of the much posionous pipevine butterfly so that it will not be eaten by predators.

The Peacock Butterfly

If you have seen a large butterfly that has large and colorful eyespots on its wings that are likened to those found on a peacock, chances are you have seen a peacock butterfly. These eyespots, when combined with its reddish brown color, create a pattern that is often used as a sort of defense mechanism against any predator or enemy. To make it even more effective, it produces a rustling sound by rubbing its wings together making it sound like it’s bigger than it really is. Its underside, which is mottled brown, serves as a camouflage when the butterfly is resting as it makes the butterfly appear like a piece of bark.

The peacock butterfly, which is classified as Inachis io in the family Nymphalidae is commonly found all through out Britain as well as the temperate regions of Western Europe and Asia. They are usually seen in orchards, gardens and other places where there are a lot of flowers especially that of nettles and hops for its caterpillars and thistles and buddleia for the adults.

They usually live for eleven months which is quite a long time for any insect. They hibernate through the winter in hollow trees, crevices, stone walls and even houses and emerge in the spring to lay their eggs on nettles. This means that a peacock butterfly regenerates only once every year, with the adults dying out as soon as the caterpillars, which are characterized by the white spots and shiny spines on their black bodies, begins to hatch.

The Painted Lady Butterfly

The painted lady butterfly, often considered to be the most widespread butterfly in the world, likes to live in temperate and some tropical areas. They are found in the flowery meadows and mountaintops of the North American continent where 700 of the almost 125,000 species of butterflies are found. Aside from that, they can also be found some areas of Asia, Africa and Europe. They usually migrate from north to south in the winter and vice – versa in the spring.

Also called the thistle butterfly and the cosmopolitan, the painted lady butterfly is best described by its colors which include black, white and orange. They have four wings, a pair of forewings and a pair of hind wings that are symmetrical in pattern and shape. The colors of their wings form varying patterns of lines and spots with the black and white usually found on the edges of the wings and orange and black on the rest. The underside is grey, with white and red markings.

Like all kinds of butterflies, the painted lady butterfly undergoes 4 stages in its life cycle. They started as pale green eggs that are usually the size of a pinhead. They are usually laid in the leaves of thistle, mallow and hollyhock and they incubate for a period of 3 – 5 days before turning into the pupa or caterpillar stage. This caterpillar is identifiable by its yellow – green stripes, purple to black coloring and the long spines on each segment. It spends most of its time eating until it becomes a pupa. This is when the caterpillar hangs itself upside down on a branch with a silken string. After 7 to 10 days, the adult butterfly which we all know and love then emerges.

The Blue Morpho Butterfly

A blue morpho butterfly is one of the many species of Morpho butterflies that are known for their bright colors. They are usually identifiable by the shimmering, metallic blue color on the dorsal part of their wings which has the tendency to reflect light and the drab brown color as well as numerous eyespots on the ventral side of their wings. This brilliant display of colors, which is often said to be used in attracting a mate, is so noticeable that it is said to be visible up to one kilometer away.

This type of butterfly is commonly found in tropical rainforests of Central and South America as well certain parts of Mexico. They spend most of their time in the shrubs and small plants in the forest floor closed up and camouflaged from any potential predators. However they will also fly to other parts of the rainforest, from the clearings and rivers to the forest canopy, in order to find mates, food or just to warm themselves in the sun.

A male blue morpho butterfly is known to be territorial and will readily chase any other males if ever they venture into his territory. This is why many people tend to use bright blue decoys every time they want to catch wild morpho butterflies. Aside from, they are also lured with the use of fermented juices and fruits which is the main food of the adult blue morpho butterfly. Add the fact that they wobble in flight and they can easily be caught.

Their attractiveness has made them a target for collectors and artists from around the world. This has greatly threatened their numbers especially if you include the effect of the destruction on their natural habitats as well as the presence of their natural predators. However, this has been controlled by the appearance of commercial breeding programs and facilities.

The Birdwing Butterfly

The birdwing butterfly is named as such because there was a time when these butterflies were said to be mistaken by hunters for birds. This is because of the butterfly’s exceptional size, shape and bird – like flight. This has also made them very appealing to many collectors and artists who want to have at least a variety of birdwing butterflies in their collection and would go to any lengths just to accomplish that purpose. This has caused a large decrease in the numbers of some species especially adding the fact that many people don’t know much about them.

This particular family of butterfly includes the Queen Alexandra’s birdwing butterfly which is considered to be the largest butterfly in the world with wings reaching spans of almost 11 inches. Aside from that, the 2nd largest butterfly which is the Goliath birdwing is included here as well as the Caims birdwing which is Australia’s largest butterfly. However, this doesn’t that all species are large as some grow only to the size of normal butterflies like the Richmond birdwings.

The birdwing butterfly, which belongs to the family Papilonidae, is usually found in most areas of Mainland Asia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and most areas of Australia. They are typically seen in open wood lands and tropical rain forests where they feed on the nectar of the flowers on the forest canopy making them important agents of pollination. This means that they help a lot in maintaining the balance of the rainforest ecosystem. However, this important use has not made them safe from the many threats that affect their existence.

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