Of all the insects, the metamorphosis of butterflies and moths is the best known. Butterflies with their nectar-sipping soda straw mouthparts may look carefree as they dance from flower to flower, but they take their sex lives seriously. Males can be very territorial, and once females are ready to lay eggs, they may have to fly miles to find an appropriate plant.

Once the eggs hatch, the larvae are eating machines. Within a few months they may grow to thousands of times their original weight. During this time they molt many times. Finally, once mature enough, they attach themselves to a stem or leaf and develop a case or crysalis. Inside this structure the amazing transformation to an adult butterfly takes places. Image! All the caterpillar's body structure breaks down within this case, and a new one develops. Miraculously, an adult emerges.

Why the long search of the female for an appropriate plant on which to lay eggs? Because the food source for larvae is different than that of adults, and typically the "host" plant is very species specific. So what are the "appropriate" plants? It depends on the species of butterfly.

The following lists some of the known host plants for the above photographed butterflies:

Two-Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) - Chokecherry, Single-leaf Ash, Arizona Sycamore and others

Leda Ministreak (Phaeostrymon alcestis) - Velvet Mesquite

Arizona Hairstreak (Erora quaderna) - Fendler Ceanothus, Arizona White Oak

Checkered White (Pontia protodice)- Crucifers

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)- Fern-bush, Choke Cherry, Rock Spirea

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) - This cosmopolitan butterfly has a wide variety of host plants: key in larval food is the Aster family including the thistles and Artemesias, Pearly Everlasting, and annual Sunflower. Other important families and plant groups are the Borages, the Mallows, the Pea Family - expecially Lupines, and the Mustards, including radishes.

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)- Common Buckeye aslo has a wide variety of hosts including the Plantains, Snapdragon family, Verbenas, and Ruellia.

Red Spotted Admiral (Limenitus artheis arizonensis) - Commonly called Red Spotted Purple as well. Willows Cottonwood, Quaking Aspen, Chokecherry are hosts.

California Sister (Adelpha bredowii) - The oak family is key to our Sister butterflies: Gambel Oak, Scrub Oak, Arizona White Oak, & Emory Oak.

Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata) - The host plant for this butterfly has not been widely documented, it is likely to be native grasses.

Queen (Danaus gilippus) - Host to the Queen are plants in the Milkweed family. Like the Monarch and Soldier butterflies, the bright color of the Queen warns predators that they are poisonous. This quality comes from the milkweed plants' sap that the larva ingest.

Silver Spotted Skipper - (Epargyreus clarus) - Pea Family: New Mexican locust, and Amorpha are common here.

Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) - the Pea family including Tick Clover, Amorpha, Alfalfa, red and white clovers, and American Vetch.

Small Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus scriptura) - The Mallow family, including Globe Mallow and Apricot Mallow

Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus) - Amaranth Family and Goosefoot Family including lamb's quarters

When we pause and realize the tremendous variety of native species it takes to raise a diverse butterfly population, it becomes immediately apparent that we, in our home landscapes, can do much to help the survival of butterflies as human and climatic pressures affect their native habitats and food sources. When you consider gardening for butterflies, include rich sources of nectar (which are much less species specific) and also remember to keep your habitat intact for caterpillars - and create habitat for them in your planning.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BUTTERFLIES, INCLUDING HOST PLANTS:

Butterflies of Arizona, A Photographic Guide by Bob Stewart, Priscilla Brodkin and Hank Brodkin is excellent (West Coast Lady Press).

Butterflies through Binoculars The West by Jeffrey Glassberg is an excellent field guide.

 

Nichole Trushell -- nichole@morganlandscapes.com

All photos by Steve Morgan & Nichole Trushell