WE – at any age – can help butterflies and make a difference.
The number and the variety of butterflies are declining across the United States.
By learning more about butterflies, students can play a key role in protecting them now and in the future.
Let’s start today!
Butterflies of the Month
Martial Scrub Hairstreak
This butterfly is uncommon and rare (considered imperiled) in South Florida
- Scientific Name: Strymon martialis
- Wingspan: 1 1/8 – 1 3/8 inches.
- Life History: Young caterpillars feed on new leaves, flowers, and fruits; full-grown caterpillars can feed on older leaves.
- Caterpillar Host Plants: Florida trema and bay cedar
- Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including bay cedar, lantana, Brazilian pepper, shepherd’s needle, and lippia.
Giant Swallowtail
This large and striking butterfly is very abundant in South Florida
- Scientific Name: Papilio cresphontes
- Wingspan: 4 – 6.25 inches.
- Life History: Females lay single eggs on host leaves and twigs. Caterpillars resemble bird droppings.
- Caterpillar Host Plants: Trees and herbs of the citrus family (like wild lime), prickly ash, hop tree, and common rue.
- Adult Food: Nectar from lantana, azalea, bougainvillea, dame’s rocket, goldenrod, Japanese honeysuckle, and swamp milkweed
Zebra Longwing
This is the state butterfly in Florida, and it is seen regularly in our geography
- Scientific Name: Heliconius charithonia
- Wingspan: 2 3/4 – 4 inches
- Life History: Eggs are laid in groups of 5-15 on host plant leaves. The caterpillar is white with black spots and black spines. Butterflies roost in groups of 25-30 individuals.
- Caterpillar Host Plants: Different types of Passion-vines including Passiflora suberosa and Passiflora incarnata
- Adult Food: Butterflies feed on both flower nectar and pollen, enabling them to survive far longer than most other butterflies. Favorite plants include lantana and shepherd’s needle.
Latest News
Welcome bugs into your yard. You might just save the world.
Without insects, we’d be doomed. It’s time to make a happier home for them. Unfortunately, we humans are now in a position to declare victory in our long war on insects. The United Nations’ Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services has found 1...
Gallery
Atala Butterfly
Cassius Blue Caterpillar
Wild Lime
Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
Polydamas Caterpillars
Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
Plant
Fulvous Hairstreak and Atala Butterfly
Monarch Caterpillars
Plumbago
Cassius Blue Butterfly
Monarch Butterflies
Queen Butterflies
Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
Polydamas Eggs
Atala Butterfly
Martial Scrub Hairstreak
Gulf Fritillary
Giant Swallowtail Chrysalis
Atala Chrysalises
Queen Butterfly
Atala Caterpillars
Passionflower
Giant Swallowtail
Queen Butterfly
Monk Skipper
Zebra Longwing Emerging from Chrsyalis
Atala Butterfly
Ceraunus Blue
Cassius Blue
Monarch Butterfly
Giant Swallowtail
Atala Butterfly
Gulf Fritillary and Queen Butterfly
Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
Queen Butterfly
Polydamas Caterpillars
Fulvous Hairstreak
Monarch Caterpillar
Polydamas Swallowtail
Giant Swallowtail Caterpillars
Queen and Monarch Caterpillars
Julia Caterpillar
Zebra Longwing
Atala Butterflies
Queen Butterflies
Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
Red Admiral
Horace’s Duskywing
Atala Butterfly
Monarch Butterfly
Nanus Skipperling
Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
Zebra Longwing Caterpillars
Zebra Longwings Roosting
Queen Butterfly
Orange Barred Sulphur
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
Monarch Butterflies
Mallow Scrub Hairstreak
Ocola Skipper
Mallow Scrub Hairstreak
Giant Swallowtail
Ruddy Daggerwing
Monarch Butterfly – Tagged
Mallow Scrub Hairstreak
Zebra Longwing Eggs
Cassius Blue Caterpillars (camouflaged)
Tropical Checkered Skipper
Atala Caterpillars
Giant Swallowtail
Polydamas Caterpillars
Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
Zebra Longwing Caterpillar
Salvia
Zebra Longwing Butterfly
Zebra Longwing Eggs
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