CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

Butterflies are some of the most beautiful and interesting creatures on Earth. A
butterfly garden is an easy way to see more butterflies and to help them, since
many natural butterfly habitats have been lost to human activities like building
homes, roads and farms. It is easy to increase the number and variety of butterflies
in your yard. Butterfly gardening involves planning your garden to attract, retain,
and encourage butterfly populations. Butterfly gardening is designed to create an
environment that attracts butterflies, as well as certain moths. Butterfly gardening
is often aimed at inviting those butterflies and moths to lay eggs as well.

Some people only like to look at the butterflies, while others like to take pictures as
well. Others try to help the butterfly population by planting native plants which
rare or threatened butterflies feed on.[1] Done correctly, butterfly gardening can
increase the populations of butterflies.[2] Many butterflies are becoming less
abundant as a result of habitat destruction and fragmentation, and they do not feed
on the plants regularly found in gardens. Others may also help in tagging monarch
butterflies, which helps scientists monitor the monarch population and their
migratory routes. Butterflies also serve as flower pollinators and attracting the
butterflies can also assist in the pollination of nearby plants. Typically, flowers of
plants that attract butterflies also attract other insect pollinators.

Efforts to increase butterfly populations by establishing butterfly gardens require

particular attention to the target species' food preferences and population cycles, as
well to the conditions needed to propagate their food plants.

What better way to start a butterfly garden than to raise your own butterflies for it?
This can be an activity that the whole family can enjoy and learn from. You will
first want to design and start your butterfly garden. Then you will need to either
learn how to gather and raise butterflies from eggs, or you can purchase a butterfly
kit and follow the instructions. This is the easier way to go, and with the
instructions you shouldn’t have any problem raising healthy butterflies. Then
release them into your garden and you have a ready-made butterfly habitat.
 CHAPTER TWO

ECOLOGY OF BUTTERFLY

Plants For Nourishment And Plants To Lay Eggs On

There are two different functions that plants serve for butterflies: nectaring plants,
plants that the butterflies will sip nectar from and host plants, species specific
plants that they can lay their eggs on (and the caterpillars will eventually eat).

Nectaring Plants

Most butterflies only eat flower nectar. Different species of butterfly usually prefer
different flowers, but they will generally feed on many types of flowers from
plants, shrubs, vines, and trees.

Host Plants

When it comes to laying their eggs, however, butterflies only lay them on the plant
that the caterpillar will eventually eat (this differs from species to species). The
eggs are frequently laid on the underside of leaves. Caterpillars mostly eat leaves;
usually the leaves that they were laid on. The chrysalis (pupa) does not eat, but
needs a sheltered environment. It frequently hangs from a twig and is often
camouflaged.

Good Plants For Butterflies

Plan your garden so that there are flowers much of the year, so that there is a
steady supply of nectar for the butterflies.

Sunlight :

Butterflies use sunlight to regulate their body temperature. They need sunlight to
keep themselves warm, but the outside temperature can also become too hot for
them. A good butterfly garden should provide both sunny places and shady places
where butterflies can cool off while they eat. The following are common, easy-to-
grow plants that attract many butterflies
ADAPTATION FEATURES OF THE BUTTERFLY

Camouflage

Most butterflies and moth protect themselves from predators by using camouflage.
Some butterflies and moths blend into their environment so well that is it almost
impossible to spot them when they are resting on a branch. Some butterflies look
like dead leaves (like the Indian leaf butterfly), others look like the bark of a tree
(e.g., the carpenter moth).

Poison

Some butterflies are poisonous. When a predator, like a bird, eats one of these
butterflies it becomes sick, vomits violently, and quickly learns not to eat this type
of butterfly. The sacrifice of one butterfly will save the lives of many of its kind
(and other species that look like it - see the section on mimicry below).Many
poisonous species have similar markings(warning patterns). When a predators
learns this pattern (after becoming sick from eating one species), many species
with similar patterns will be avoided in the future . Some poisonous butterflies
include the Monarch (which eats the milkweed plant to become poisonous), the
Small Postman butterfly, and the Pipevine swallowtail.

Mimicry

Mimicry is when two unrelated species have similar markings. Batesian mimicry is
when a non-poisonous species has markings similar to a poisonous species and
gains protection from this similarity. Since many predators have become sick from
eating the poisonous butterfly, they will avoid any similar looking animals in the
future, and the mimic is protected. Müllerian mimicry is when two poisonous
species have similar markings; fewer insects need to be sacrificed in order to teach
the predators not to eat these unpalatable animals. Tropical Queens Monarch
butterflies are two poisonous butterflies that have similar markings. Another
example is the poisonous Viceroy which mimics the poisonous Monarch butterfly .

Flying

Flying is a major defense of butterflies. The speed varies among butterfly species
(the poisonous varieties are slower than non- poisonous varieties). The fastest
butterflies (some skippers) can fly at about 30 mile per hour or faster. Slow flying
butterflies fly about 5 mph.

ADAPTATION FEATURES OF THE CATERPILLAR

Caterpillars are soft bodied and slow moving. This makes them easy prey for
predators, like birds, wasps, and mammals to mention just a few. Some caterpillars
are even eaten by their fellow caterpillars (like Zebra swallowtail larva which are
cannibalistic). In order to protect themselves from predators, caterpillars use
different strategies, including:

Poison

Some caterpillars are poisonous to predators. These caterpillars get their toxicity
from the plants they eat. Generally, the brightly colored larva are poisonous; their
color is a reminder to predators about their toxicity. Some poisonous caterpillars
include the Monarch and the Pipevine Swallowtail.

Camouflage

Some caterpillars blend into their surroundings extraordinarily well. Many are a
shade of green that matches their host plant . Others look inedible objects, like bird
droppings (the young Tiger Swallowtail larva). Eyespots Some caterpillars have
eyespots that make them look like a bigger, more dangerous animal, like a snake.
An eye spot is a circular, eye-like marking found on the body of some caterpillars.
These eyespots make the insect look like the face of a much larger animal and may
scare away some predators. Hiding Some caterpillars encase themselves in a folded
leaf orother hiding place.

Bad Smells

Some caterpillars can emit very bad smells to ward off predators. They have an
osmeterium, an orange, y-shaped gland on their neck which gives off a strong,
unpleasant odor when the caterpillar

is threatened. This keeps away dangerous wasps and flies that try to lay eggs in the
caterpillar; these eggs would eventually kill the caterpillar as they hatch inside its
body and eat its tissues. Many swallowtails have an osmeterium, including the
Zebra Swallowtail .

IMPORTANCE OF A BUTTERFLY FARM

Intrinsic value

Butterflies and moths are intrinsically valuable and are worthy of conservation in
their own right. Butterflies and moths are part of Life on Earth and an important
component of its rich biodiversity. Butterflies and moths are a highly diverse group
comprising over 250,000 species and make up around one quarter of all named
species.

Aesthetic value

Butterflies and moths are part of our natural heritage and have been studied for
over 300 years. Butterflies and moths are beautiful. Butterflies are often portrayed
as the essence of nature or as representing freedom, beauty or peace.

Educational value

Butterflies and moths have fascinating life-cycles that are used in many countries
to teach children about the natural world. The transformation from egg to
caterpillar to chrysalis is one of the wonders of nature. Other educational aspects
include the intricate wing patterns and iridescence, and as examples of insect
migration.

Scientific value

Butterflies (and moths to a lesser extent) are an extremely important group of

‘model’ organisms used, for centuries, to investigate many areas of biological
research, including such diverse fields as navigation, pest control, embryology,
mimicry, evolution, genetics, population dynamics and biodiversity conservation.
The long history and popularity of butterfly study have provided a unique data
resource on an insect group unmatched in geographical scale and timescale
anywhere in the world. This has proved extremely important for scientific research
on climate change.
Health value

People enjoy seeing butterflies both around their homes and in the countryside.
Over 10,000 people record butterflies and moths in the UK alone, involving getting
outside and walking considerable distances. Over 850 sites are monitored each
week in the UK and collectively volunteers have walked the equivalent of the
distance to the moon counting butterflies. Several hundreds of thousands of people
garden for wildlife in the UK, many of them specifically for butterflies and moths.

Ecosystem value

Butterflies and moths are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy

ecosystems. They indicate a wide range of other invertebrates, which comprise
over two-thirds of all species. Areas rich in butterflies and moths are rich in other
invertebrates. These collectively provide a wide range of environmental benefits,
including pollination and natural pest control.

Moths and butterflies are an important element of the food chain and are prey for
birds, bats and other insectivorous animals (for example, in Britain and Ireland,
Blue Tits eat an estimated 50 billion moth caterpillars each year). Butterflies and
moths support a range of other predators and parasites, many of which are specific
to individual species, or groups of species. Butterflies have been widely used by
ecologists as model organisms to study the impact of habitat loss and
fragmentation, and climate change.

Economic value

Thousands of people travel abroad each year looking for butterflies and moths.
Eco-tours bring valuable income to many European countries and developing
countries around the World (e.g. the valley of the butterflies in Rhodes and the
Monarch roost in Mexico). Every butterfly and moth has developed its own suite
of chemicals to deter predators and parasites, find a mate, and overcome the
chemical defenses of its host plant. Each of these chemicals has a potential value
and could be exploited economically.
Benefit to the Community

Most types of agriculture in tropical countries require forest clearance and this
habitat destruction is a major cause of species extinction. Butterfly farming
requires intact forest, thus providing an economic incentive to conserve habitats.
As butterflies are bred and reared in enclosures with limited extraction from the
wild, farming has a negligible impact on the health of wild populations. Butterfly
farming allows the local community to diversify their income generating activities
and to work at home around childcare and domestic duties. It also raises awareness
among residents and decision makers of the benefits of conservation.
 CHAPTER THREE

FARM ESTABLISHMENT

Measures To Be Taken Before Establishing A Butterfly Farm

Step 1

Research first. Find out which butterflies are common in your area. Observation
over a few days and the use of a butterfly field guide will help you in this pursuit.

Step 2

Choose "Host Plants" for your garden. Note from your research what the caterpillar
(larvae) of the local butterflies eat. Two excellent examples are:

Milkweed - this attracts the Monarch caterpillar.

Parsley - this attracts the Black Swallowtail caterpillar.

Step 3

Choose "Nectar Plants" for your garden. Nectar plants serve as the food source for
the butterfly. There is a variety of possible plants and some of them are shown
here. Excellent choices include:

A Butterfly Bush - this is suitable for a Swallowtail. Large plant: 4 feet (1.2m) tall,
6 feet (1.8m) wide, make sure it is hardy in your area. Some varieties are
considered invasive, so make sure, if you purchase one of these, that you keep it
dead-headed to prevent seed production.

Swamp Milkweed - suitable for the Snowberry Clearwing. This plant grows 3 feet
(.9m) tall and 18 inches (.5m) wide. It also serves as the host plant for Monarch
caterpillars.

Joe Pye Weed - this is suitable for the Swallowtail. It grows to be a very large plant
- 8 feet (2.4m) tall and 4 feet (1.2m) wide. It is a perennial.

Aster - Asters grow to 3 feet (.9m) tall and 2 feet (.6m) wide. It is a perennial.
Butterflies especially love native varieties.
Bee Balm - this plant grows 2 feet (.6m) tall and 18 inches (.5m) wide. It is a
perennial.

Zinnia - this plant is attractive to a range of butterflies and they especially like the
tall varieties. The plant generally grows 4 feet (1.2m) high and 1 foot (.3m) wide. It
is an annual and is easy to start from seed.

Pentas - suitable for Swallowtails. This plant grows 2 feet (.6m) high and 3 feet
(.9m) wide. It is an annual in cold climates.

Heliotrope - this plant attracts a range of butterflies. It grows to a height of 2 feet

(.6m) and a width of 1 foot (.3m), although it is possible to contain it in a pot. It
will remain a perennial in temperate zones but is only an annual in cold climates.

Step 4

Plan garden on paper. Draw up a plan, or decide where to add these suggestions to
a current garden. Keep in mind the full grown size of plants during this planning
stage. Also consider their needs for light and water.

Step 5

Purchase plants or seeds from garden center. You can also get these plants and
seeds online. Choose robust and healthy plants to give them a good start.

Step 6

Plant your butterfly garden. Make sure to keep new plants and seeds watered until
plants are well-established or seeds germinate. Keep the weeds at bay, to give the
plants a good chance.

Step 7

Observe and enjoy the butterfly activity in your garden. Watch for female
butterflies laying eggs on host plants. Make notes in a record book of the
butterflies that you observe and, if you can, take photographs to add to your record
book. A digital record book can be a useful and simple way to do this and can be
added to over the years. Observed changes in the types and numbers of butterflies
coming into your garden can be information shared with biologists, ecologists and
climate change specialists who use local variation information to ascertain species
increase or decline, as well as temperature fluctuations and change.

The Farming Process

In butterfly farming a small netted enclosure is prepared. It is planted with the food
plant for the target species of butterfly. A female butterfly is caught and placed in
the breeding cage to lay her eggs on the food plant. The freshly laid eggs are
harvested by the farmer and placed in a pest free container, where they will hatch
after 10 - 14 days. Upon hatching the caterpillars, or larvae, will be transferred to
their particular food plant in the farmer's plant nursery. The growing larvae are
tended by the farmers until they are ready to pupate, approximately 14 days after
hatching. At pupation, larvae attach by their abdomen to a suitable leaf or stick and
shed their skin to form the pupae. At this point the pupa are harvested by the
farmer to be sold. To ensure sustainability and unnecessary collection from the
wild, the farmer will retain a proportion of pupa to provide the next generation of
adults for the breeding cage.
 CHAPTER FOUR

Plant Species Visited By Butterflies

You should select a variety of nectar-producing plants with the aim of providing
flowers in bloom throughout the season. This will entice a continuous succession
of new visitors to a yard. It is especially important to have flowers in mid to late
summer, when most butterflies are active. Flowers with multiple florets that
produce abundant nectar are ideal.

Annuals are wonderful butterfly plants because they bloom continuously through
the season, providing a steady supply of nectar. Perennial plants, such as
coneflowers, lilac, butterfly weed, and asters, are visited regularly by butterflies.
Most plants in the mint family are also good nectar sources for butterflies. Avoid
double flowers because they are often bred for showiness, not nectar production.

Depending on your zone, some butterfly attracting plants include: purple cone
flowers (Echinacea purpurea), yellow cone flowers, sunflowers, marigolds,
poppies, cosmos, salvias, some lilies, asters, coreopsis, daisies, verbenas, lantanas,
milkweed (especially for the Monarch butterfly, whose caterpillars feed solely on
this plant), the butterfly bush (also called buddleia), zinnias, pentas, Bee balm,
Sage, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) or other Milkweeds, Lilac, Marjoram,
Hebe.

In general, butterflies prefer purple, pink, red, yellow, or orange blooms, flat
topped or clustered flowers, and short flower tubes.

Caterpillar host plants:

Milkweed, Hollyhock, Willow, Hibiscus, Clover

Nectar plants for adult butterflies:

Zinnia, Butterfly bush, Aster, Phlox, Goldenrod

CHALLENGES OF BUTTERFLIES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Butterflies have many predators, including mantids, wasps, spiders, birds, ants,
true bugs, and flies in the Tachinidae family. If these predators are becoming a
problem, they can be controlled with traps rather than pesticides, which may also
kill butterflies and their larvae. There are also diseases that afflict butterflies, such
as bacteria in the Pseudomonas genus, the Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus, and
Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, which only infects queen butterflies and monarch
butterflies.

In the absence of pesticides, aphids and true bugs may infest plants. Aphids can be
controlled by releasing ladybugs (Ladybirds) and other biological pest control
agents that do not harm butterflies. Another method of control is by spraying the
plants with water, or rinsing plants with a mild dish detergent/water solution
(although caterpillars should be relocated before suds are applied). Scented
detergents are fine; those containing Oxyclean should be avoided. The aphids will
turn black within a day, and eventually fall off.

With small home butterfly gardens, it is common for the larvae to exhaust the food
source before metamorphosis occurs. Gardeners of monarch butterflies can replace
the expended milkweed with a slice of pumpkin or cucumber, which can serve as a
substitute source of food for monarch caterpillars in their final (fifth) instar.[3]
 CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION

Butterflies are relatively weak fliers. Don’t put your garden in a windy, exposed
position. If your whole yard is windy, plant some shrubs or large, dense perennials
on the windward side of your butterfly patch, so that the butterflies can feed in
peace on the flowers in their lee. Beautiful flowers means more butterflies.
Butterflies are flagship species for conservation in general, and in particular for
invertebrates. Many are iconic and popular. People like butterflies. Butterflies are
used by advertisers and illustrators the world over as way of indicating that
something is environmentally friendly.

Butterfly farms can be situated in close proximity to areas of natural forest and
provide an alternative, sustainable income to rural communities. Let us try and
conserve the butterflies.