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 Miami Blue Butterfly
Hemiargus thomasi bethunedaberi
Photo credit: NPS |
The Endangered Butterflies of Florida
To begin: what is a Butterfly?
A Butterfly is an insect with large colorful wings
that has several lives, like amphibians, they
go through stages or transformations.
The majority of Butterflies drink the nectar of flowers,
but a few eat animal waste and a variety of other
things that have nothing to do with flowers.
As seen below, some Butterflies prefer the scent of
other things, as in this one's daily visits to our yard.
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Photo credit: Walkingfox |
Most Butterflies are active during the day, so
their beautiful colors are quite visible.
Many of them travel great distances to
return home and move on to the next
stage of their lives.
We have two Endangered Butterflies in Florida:
the Miami Blue and the Schaus Swallowtail.
Most people who live in Florida treasure
the multitude of Birds to be found here,
but just as beautiful, though not as widely known,
are the 187 gorgeous Butterfly species we have.
This is the most of any state East of the Mississippi.
Butterflies like Bees, are critical
components
of our fragile Ecosystems, they both assure
that beautiful things
will continue
to grow by pollinating all of them.
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Zebra Longwing
Heliconius charitonius
Photo credit: State of Florida |
In 1996, the Zebra Longwing was designated
as our Official State Butterfly and it can be
found year round in all parts of the State,
especially in the South and the Everglades.
It is a daily visitor to our yard here
in the Ocala National Forest.
The only thing there seem to be more of
than Butterflies
in our yard some days, are the
Wildflowers that bring them.
Our Mimosa Tree is a favorite eating place not only
for Butterflies, but for the Hummingbirds too.
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Photo credit: Walkingfox |
What is the difference between a Butterfly and a Moth.
A Moth usually has a wider body and dull colorization, while
a Butterfly has a narrow body and normally brilliant coloring.
Moths are usually smaller than Butterflies, but not always.
The Endangered or
Threatened Butterflies on this site are:
April is
Florida Butterfly Month
October 18-19 2008 in Gainesville
Florida Butterfly
Fest
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Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly
Photo credit: Dr. Emmel UF Zoology |
Read how one person can make a difference
in reversing a species' extermination:
Science Daily
Dr.
Emmel, the man and his missions
Places to learn more:
Defenders of Wildlife
Butterflies
Florida Museum of Natural History
The Butterfly Rainforest
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Butterfly
Viewing
Florida Natural Areas
Butterfly
Gallery
National Park Service
Biscayne National Park
New York Times
New Butterfly Center Goes to UF in Gainesville
North American Butterfly Association
Butterfly Questions
University of Florida
Florida Butterfly Sheet
Butterfly Gardening in Florida
Walking with
the Alligators
Write to Gator Woman
Keep Florida Wildlife Wild and Alive~
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Last edited
November 08, 2008
Gator visitors
since July 01, 2008
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