tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914334377668813101.post8202353991504797447..comments2013-08-02T08:13:02.344-05:00Comments on Backyard Wildlife Management: Butterflies are "Cold-Blooded"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914334377668813101.post-1533849233301157722013-08-02T08:13:02.344-05:002013-08-02T08:13:02.344-05:00Hello Sri:
Sorry it took me a while to get back t...Hello Sri:<br /><br />Sorry it took me a while to get back to you.<br /><br />Here are my brief answers to your questions:<br />1. Most butterflies feed on the nectar of flowers. They will also "puddle" (drink water from wet soil), especially during hot weather. Thus, you will want to look for them where there are nectar producing flowers and where there is wet soil (for example, along streams, ponds, and lakes) in hot weather. You may attract some species by placing fruit in an outdoors location - some will feed on the juices and some even prefer the juices of rotting fruits. Some will feed on rotting meats and animal carcasses as well. Butterfly houses can be a good place to photograph them. You may be able to find all live stages (egg, larvae or caterpillar, pupa, and adult) to photograph. However, you have to look at the adults closely because many will have wing damage, etc.<br />2. It is nearly impossible to catch and handle a butterfly totally unharmed. The minimum that will happen is you will rub protective scales from their wings by handling them. Biologists catch them in nets on a handle. You can likely find them for sale on the internet. I'd suggest avoiding rare species since you may harm the individual. You have to handle them by the wings after catching them or they will try to flap them and likely do damage to themselves.<br />3.Yes, you can cool them and they will become less active. Of course, you can overdo this a harm or kill them. Be sure not to place them in the freezer - it will kill them if left there too long. Subjecting the same butterfly too many times to the refrigerator is likely harmful as well. There are some alternatives depending on what you want to photograph. For example, I have taken good photos of the wing scales using dead butterflies (ones I found dead). In addition, you can find some species in their roosting locations (where they rest) if you learn these. On cool mornings or evenings they can be photographed with ease if they are roosting. Of course, it takes some time to photograph them at the magnification you are talking about. Wind and other factors can be irritating and the butterflies can awaken and begin to move once they begin to warm. Of course, this warming will happen when you take them out of a refrigerator as well unless you keep them in some type of cool environment. Again, I recommend you not subject more rare species to the refrigerator routine.William R. Gateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379804225536645690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914334377668813101.post-18127872291806645432013-07-29T04:56:23.545-05:002013-07-29T04:56:23.545-05:00Hi William,
Thanks for the info. I am i...Hi William,<br /> Thanks for the info. I am into learning macro photography and i have a great interest in butterflies. Few things i want to know from you are<br /><br />1. Location where i generally find them, For e.g I have seen dragon flies wander over small water channels. Same way is there any specific condition to find butterflies<br />2. How to catch butterflies unharmed? I want to take very high magnification shots (5x) and i need to have them in captivity for that. But i don't want to hurt them in anyway<br />3. I heard that keeping butterflies in fridge for sometime slows them down and can take pictures. But does it harm it?<br /><br />Thanks for your time.<br /><br />Regards,<br />SriSrinath Muralidharanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10094479891223956058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914334377668813101.post-44707232083333589312008-07-19T08:57:00.000-05:002008-07-19T08:57:00.000-05:00Hello faddisfamily. There are a number of websites...Hello faddisfamily. There are a number of websites that have pictures of caterpillars (they may call them butterfly/moth larva or larvae) for identifying them (Here is one for the state of Idaho - http://www.uidaho.edu/so-id/entomology/caterpillars.htm). I'd try to use one from a natural resources agency, university, museum or other site that is likely to have it crrectly identified. One in or for your state or a nearby state would be ideal. Here is a site for butterfly and moth information for North America - http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/faq/identify. It has pictures of some caterpillars. In addition, you can find field guides and similar books that have pictures of caterpillars of a few of the more common species. Examples are the Peterson's or Audubon field guide series (each has at least one for moths and butterflies) and "The Butterfly Book" by Donald and Lilliam Stokes published in 1991 (a good overall guide to butterlies and butterfly gardening). Just be aware that most moth and many butterfly caterpillars will not be easy to identify by these means. <BR/><BR/>Have a great day,<BR/>BillWilliam R. Gateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379804225536645690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-914334377668813101.post-54611548832040411462008-07-18T17:32:00.000-05:002008-07-18T17:32:00.000-05:00Say you find a caterpillar in your yard -- how do ...Say you find a caterpillar in your yard -- how do you go about identifying what it is???faddisfamilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11395253181375096368noreply@blogger.com