The butterfly count is centered in the Farmington Valley and includes Avon, Canton, Simsbury, Farmington, West Hartford, and more.
Don't be alarmed if you see people in the community with nets. Volunteers will be out and about to identify and count any visible butterflies.
Why? Butterflies are environmental indicators, and they reflect the health of the environment. Therefore, the CT Butterfly Association participates in this study to monitor any changes.
What is the difference between moths and butterflies?
Moths typically have thicker bodies and hairy antennae. They spend most of their life cycle in cocoons that they spin. Some moths may spend over a year in their cocoons. Once they emerge from a cocoon, some never eat and live just for a few days to lay eggs and die.
Butterflies typically have thin antennae and skinny hairless bodies. Rather than cocoons, they create a chrysalis. Once they emerge from a chrysalis, their journey is quite different. For instance, Monarch butterflies born in the North East journey over three thousand miles to Mexico to overwinter and reproduce, new generations of Monarchs begin to journey up North.
Unfortunately, 90% of the Monarch's population has declined. Their decline may be due to various factors, including agricultural practices, over collecting, climate change, and pesticides. For instance, unusually low temperatures in Mexico have frozen millions of Monarchs to death.
Other butterflies in the study include many different varieties. Jay discussed why many butterflies like Painted Lady or Viceroy are orange. It's because Monarch butterflies solely eat Milkweed, which is a bitter taste to predators. By mimicking an orange color, other butterflies hope to convey the same message.
Other species discussed included varieties such as Morning Cloak, Swallowtails, and the invasive Cabbage White. Their interesting habits, such as eating mud and other unpleasant organic matter for salt and minerals. This area typically counts 35-40 different species, and other regions like Southbury, CT, have counted over 50.
Volunteers will count in all butterflies in this study, and anyone can participate. Jay asks if you send a list to include a $3.00 donation to the CT Butterfly Association. You can take a picture and send it RNBC70@gmail.com.
Rollie asked about how a spraying service like Mosquito Joe affects the population. Jay made a point that we know that Round-Up is a proven carcinogen, and we continue to sell it and use it. We must be conscientious of what we put in our lawns because it can take many years to study and understand the effects of these pesticides. The petrochemical business has a strong lobby as well. Jay told a story about a couple devastated by the loss of bluebirds on their property. Their neighbors had been spraying chemicals, and he believes that they died due to their susceptibility to pesticides.
Jay also pointed out pollinator gardens and native gardening is helpful to populations. It is important to have host plants that caterpillars can feed on. However, he warned to be careful of garden centers and the varieties they sell. For example, some garden centers sell Milkweed that is not beneficial to Monarchs, and some Monarchs will mistake that for their host plant and die because it is inedible. Katelyn recommended EarthTones in Woodbury that solely sells native plants.
Don Bonner asked about Jay's butterfly net if it will hurt the butterflies. Jay said the netting is very light and soft, but he can identify butterflies without a net, and it was for entertainment purposes!
