Butterflies

Butterfly Populations Succeed When Natural Forests Surround Their Grasslands  (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)
Open grasslands that were surrounded by natural forests were far more inviting to various butterfly populations than those that were surrounded by agricultural fields.

Butterflies of North Carolina: Their Distribution and Abundance (N.C. State Parks)
This website is more than just an atlas; it is a compilation of information about all of the 177 butterfly species that have been recorded in North Carolina

Butterflies of North Carolina Summary by County (N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation)
Click on the map to find a list of butterfly species present in your county.

Hummingbirds and Butterflies (N.C. State University Cooperative Extension)
Whether you devote a large area of your property to wildlife gardening, or just a small patch, you can provide essential caterpillar host plants and nectar sources to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Monarch Butterfly Profile (Woods for Wildlife)
The monarch butterfly is a federal at-risk species. It will feed, fly, and reproduce throughout the U.S. and southern Canada for several generations in a single year. Monarchs typically begin laying eggs in NC beginning in April, first emerging in May. Different generations of Monarchs will continue laying eggs throughout the summer.

Monarch Butterfly Recovery (video) (American Forest Foundation)
The monarch migration can be saved if there is commitment to offset annual losses of habitat by planting milkweeds and nectar plants in areas from which they have been extirpated and develop the capacity to plant milkweeds over large landscapes.

Garden Trees That Attract Butterflies (The Spruce)
One way to invite butterflies to your garden is to plant flowering trees. The adults will visit and dine on the nectar, carrying away pollen with them and pollinating other plants as they go. These 11 species all feature nectar-rich blossoms that will entice butterflies.

Introduction to Monarch Biology and Conservation in the Southeast (on-demand webinar)
Learn about monarch biology basics (food requirements, other habitat factors, natural enemies, migration, etc.), their phenology (when to find them in the southeast), their status (how monarchs populations are doing) and what we know about habitats that best support them regionally. We’ll also briefly consider threats facing breeding and migrating monarchs and will review recent research on threats posed by various pesticides to monarchs.

Essential Aspects of Monarch Habitat in the Southeast (on-demand webinar)
With a focus on monarchs in the southeastern U.S., learn about the specific habitat needs of larvae and adults, including details on host and nectar plants and their ecology.

Establishment and Management of Habitat for Monarchs and Its Value for Other Wildlife (on-demand webinar)
Participants will learn some nuances of Farm Bill programs for monarch conservation, about Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guides for monarch conservation c/o http://nrcs.usda.gov/monarchs, and considerations for seed mix design, site preparation, planting, short-term maintenance, and long-term habitat management using disturbances such as fire, grazing and mowing.

Butterfly Tree Hosts
An illustrated chart of common butterflies and their tree hosts.