Butterflies

On Saturday I went with two friends to a butterfly class at the DNR offices near Carlos Avery.  Our instructor was the famous local nature blogger and master naturalist - Ecobirder.  He spoke to us last year about dragonflies and we spent some time in the field collecting and identifying dragonflies. Because of the rain we were unable to search for any butterflies.  Instead we enjoyed  his photo. The Ecobirder is an excellent photographer.  We learned that butterflies are different from moths because their antennae have little round balls at the ends.  The antennae on moths end without any shapes or else with hooks or claws or feathery structures at the tips.  Butterfly abdomens are slim and smooth.  Moth abdomens are generally stout and hairy.  Butterflies are generally colorful.  Moths are generally black and white; but not always.  More butterflies are active during the day using the sun to keep warm.  More moths are active at night using their own flapping to keep warm.  Butterflies fly in a wicky wacky fashion and are difficult to catch in a net.  The flights of moths are straighter and somewhat more predictable.  Handling a butterfly will damage the powdery scales on their wings.  Dragonflies have sturdy wings and handling them will not do any damage.  But if enough scales are lost on a butterfly wing they loose the aerodynamic function and will be unable to fly.  The 2013 season has been hard on butterflies.  Having snowfalls late in April and into May is hard on these fanciful creatures.  So if you see any butterflies this summer, take a moment to appreciate them.