Butterfly Species

Swallowtail butterfly identification usually starts with one obvious clue: many swallowtails are large butterflies with extended “tails” on their hindwings. But that is only the beginning. Some swallowtails have long, graceful tails. Others have short tails, broken tails, or tails that are hard to see when the butterfly is moving. A few swallowtails may even appear almost tailless at first glance. The most reliable way to identify a swallowtail is to look at a combination of features: wing shape, body size, color pattern, hindwing markings, flight style, habitat, and nearby host plants. Swallowtails belong to the family Papilionidae, a group … Read more

Painted Lady Butterfly Habitat The Painted Lady butterfly habitat is surprisingly broad. This species does well in dry open areas, but it can also be seen in gardens, meadows, roadsides, parks, farmland edges, and other flower-rich places. In good migration years, it seems to turn up almost everywhere. One reason for this wide distribution is flexibility. Painted Ladies are not tied to just one narrow habitat type. As long as there are nectar sources for adults and host plants for caterpillars, they can make use of a range of environments. That adaptability helps explain why they are found across much … Read more