red-spotted

pu

rple

Limenitis arthemis3"-3.5"

questio

n m

ark

Polygonia interrogationis

2"-3"

monarch

Danaus plexippus3.5"-4"

Gulf fritilla

ry

Argraulis vanillae2.5"-3"

white peacockAnartia

jatrophae2"

julia

Dryas iulia

3"-4"

eastern

tiGer sw

allowtail

Pterourus glaucus3"-5.5"

black sw

allowtail

Papilio polyxenes3"-3.5"

spicebush swallowtail

Pterourus troilus

3.5"-5"

pala

medes swallowtail

Pterourus palamedes

4.5"-5"

pipevine swallowtail

Battus philenor3"-5"

Gia

nt swallowtail

Papilio cresphontes3.5"-5.5"

zebra

Heliconius charitonia3"-3.5"

queen

Danaus gilippus

3"

red admir

al

Vanessa atalanta

2"

mourninG

clo

ak

Nymphalis antiopa

3"viceroy

Basilarchia archippus

3"

painted

ladyVanessa

(Cynthia) cardui

2"

common b

uc

keye

Junonia coenia2"-2.5"

SwallowtailS

this large family of butterflies contains some of the biggest species in the world. Most species live in the tropics, but some are also found in the temperate climates. About 560 Papilionidae species occur worldwide, but less than 40 inhabit North America.

the common name “swallowtail” refers to the tail-like appendages on the hindwings of many, but not all, species in this family. Should you see a medium to large butterfly with these tails on its wings, you are looking at a swallowtail of some kind.

these butterflies have a distinctive flight. Though their front wings beat quickly, their hindwings barely move. They are usually strong fliers.

all adult swallowtails have three pairs of walking legs, and adults of all species visit flowers for nectar.

BruSh-footed ButterflieS

this is a huge family of butterflies composed of over 5,000 species around the world. Most species live in the tropics, and just over 200 species are found in North America. They are highly variable in shapes, colors, and sizes, and there are more species in this family than any other.

Many members of this family appear to have just two pairs of walking legs. Look closer, however, and you will see the first pair is smaller and not used for walking. The front pair of legs is used to detect plant chemicals when choosing an egg-laying site. The legs are sometimes covered with dense tufts of scales, giving rise to the term “brush-footed butterflies” that is commonly applied to this family.

adults of some species are the longest-lived butterflies, surviving 6 to 11 months.

feeding behavior depends on the species; some groups seek flower nectar while others feed on sap flows, rotting fruit, dung, or animal carcasses.

NATIVE TO WISCONSINPhoto Credit: Lauren Ackein, Karen Adams, Stephen Durrenberger, Terry Hibbitts, Norbert Kondla, Tom Middagh, Katy Plantenberg

Family: PapilionidaePronounced: pap-ill-ee-oN-ah-dee

Family:

Nymphalidae

Pronounced:

nim-fal-ah-dee

which of theSe ButterflieS caN you fiNd today iN the coNServatory?

ButterflyGuide.indd 1 6/27/14 10:13 AM

(Most butterflies live 2 to 4 weeks.) Adult

Design by: Huston Design

spicebush sw

allow

tail

pipevine swallowtail painted lady

red admiral

EggA butterfly starts as an egg, and it takes about four days for an egg to hatch.

Larva = CaterpillarThe egg hatches into a tiny larva (caterpillar). The monarch caterpillar eats milkweed leaves for about two weeks as it sheds its skin four to six times, growing bigger and bigger into an adult caterpillar.

Pupa = ChrysalisAfter about two to four weeks, the adult caterpillar attaches itself head down to a twig, sheds its skin one last time, and forms a hard outer shell within just a few hours. Inside the pupa (chrysalis), the caterpillar changes into a butterfly.

Emerging Adult ButterflyIn about two weeks, the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. The butterfly waits until its wings are dry and stiff before it flies away.

Adult ButterflyAdult monarch butterflies will mate, the females will lay eggs on the underside of milkweed plant leaves, and the life cycle starts over. The whole process is called metamorphosis, which means “change of form.” Most adult butterflies live for about two to four weeks.

olbrich’s

bloominG butterflies

fuN factS

butterflies have six legs, like all other insects, but usually land on only four.

olbrich’s Blooming Butterflies features butterflies from the continental United States. As many as 19 species live here during the event. Use this guide to identify them – which butterflies can you find today?

during your visit, be sure to look at the Chrysalis Cases. We purchase our butterflies in the chrysalis stage from butterfly farms. After emerging from the chrysalises as butterflies, they are released into the Conservatory and live the rest of their natural lives among the tropical plants. (Most species of butterflies live about 2 to 4 weeks.)

Please look with your eyes and do not touch the butterflies. Even a gentle touch can harm a butterfly.

adult butterflies do not eat, they only drink. a butterfly sucks up flower nectar using a long feeding tube from its mouth called a proboscis [pronounced: pro-bahs-kiss].

butterfly wings are covered with thousands of tiny, overlapping scales that are fine as dust. scales help keep butterflies warm by absorbing sunlight.

butterflies are cold-blooded, which means their body temperatures are not regulated on their own. a butterfly’s body temperature changes according to the temperature of its surroundings.

looK!to avoid being eaten by

predators, some butterflies mimic the markings on

poisonous butterflies or have an underside that blends into

their surroundings when resting with folded wings.

Butterfly life cycle metamorphosis of a monarch butterfly

Egg

Larva

Adult Emerging Adult

Pup

a

ButterflyGuide.indd 2 6/27/14 10:13 AM