Between butterflies and moths Missouri is home to species in almost all shapes and sizes, but the variety that gets the most attention are the monarchs. Their annual migration to and from Mexico is as amazing as their bright orange and black patterned wings.
Nothing I could write could depict the incredible images of their massive flight and remarkable journey, but what needs to be told are the challenges their livelihood faces. Hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies travel from the United States and Canada, but their destination in the mountains of central Mexico is facing habitat destruction and their homes in North America are being crippled by herbicides and insecticides.
Monarch butterflies need milkweed plants for their egg laying and larvae development. Crop fields, pastures and roadside ditches sprayed with weed killers to increase production and reduce labor costs significantly limit butterfly habitat.
A portion of that lost ground can be made up in small plots as simple as a backyard garden area. The state Department of Conservation offers information for developing habitat in a space as small as 100 square feet. (Think 5x20 or 10x10.) The habitat can also be achieved with several smaller plots totaling the same amount of space.
The area needs to receive adequate sunshine, at least six hours each day, and the plants that attract monarchs and other butterflies grow best in loose and well drained soils. Milkweeds and nectar producing flowers should be planted close together but not crowded.
Six varieties of milkweed are considered native species in Missouri and produce different colors of flowers. Planting more than one type adds variety, and they can be custom selected for soil type and sunlight penetration. Among the native perennial nectar plants to consider are asters, butterfly plants, cone flowers, blazing stars and goldenrod.
The conservation department field guide lists more than 100 species of butterflies, moths and skippers and some of their names are as colorful as their wings. You can check out the Baltimore checkerspot, clover looper, dainty sulphur, grapeleaf skeletonizer, juniper hairstreak, painted lady, southern dogface, and xanthotype geometers, among seemingly endless others. There are more than 700 species in North America, not including Mexico, which counts about 2,000. Worldwide the estimate of different butterflies and moths is about 28,000.
Butterflies and skippers are closely related. They fly during the daylight hours and their caterpillars pupate on plant leaves. Butterfly antennae are usually rounded at the tip, while skipper antennae curve backward like a hook. Their bodies are also generally thicker, similar to moths.
Moths fly mostly at night and are attracted to lights. Their antennae are often feather-like, and they have plump, furry bodies. Most are less colorful than butterflies, but some can be glorious and have wing spots that look like huge eyes. They usually spin their cocoons on the ground, and unlike most butterflies their caterpillars can be destructive.
Butterflies can be important pollinators, and silk comes from the caterpillars of an Asian moth species.
Getting outdoors anytime will provide the opportunity to see butterflies, but you can also experience them at the Butterfly House at Faust Park in Chesterfield. The Missouri Botanical Gardens facility is open, but because of coronavirus concerns advanced reservations are required to limit the crowd size. Masks are required for all visitors ages 6 and older.
For more information call 314-577-0888 or visit missouribotanicalgarden.org.
John Winkelman is the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas to share, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can follow John on Twitter at @johnjwink99.