When it comes to beautiful, eye-catching insects, butterflies are arguably peerless. Even very small children might be amazed at the sheer diversity of colors and patterns on a butterfly’s wings. As we get older, this fascination rarely goes away – no other insect features so often in artworks, clothing, and decorations.
Knowing exactly what species of butterfly you’re looking at can often allow you to appreciate the experience on a deeper level – beyond the joy of beholding something pretty. Once you understand what you’re looking for, you might have an easier time actually looking for specific species, and even becoming an avid butterfly-spotter.
Choose the right time
Butterflies are not active constantly. Like every other species, they tend to be dormant at some parts of the day. During the middle of the day, they’ll be out searching for nectar if the weather is rainy or excessively windy. A calm summer’s day tends to be best. If you’re going to be taking photographs, look for slightly overcast conditions.
Use equipment and technology
Butterflies tend to fly away if you get too close to them. If you want to work out what species you’re looking at, a pair of binoculars might be useful. There are also smartphone applications, like eButterfly and Seek, which will offer fairly accurate on-the-spot identification. You might take precautions when you’re using these applications. A good VPN for iPhone offers more protection over who can access and read the data that you’re sending.
Focus on key habitats
Just as it makes sense to look only at certain times, you’ll also want to think about where you’re looking. If there isn’t enough food and shelter to sustain the population, then butterflies will be rare. Look for sources of nectar, like flowers and grasses. Fields and riverbanks tend to be fertile hunting grounds.
If you’re in search of a specific kind of butterfly, then you’ll want to consider where they live. For example, stinging nettles tend to be breeding sites for Comma and Red Admiral butterflies.
Learn key identification clues
There are around 750 species of wild butterfly in the United States. If you want to be able to distinguish all of them, then you’ll need to be able to parse the often subtle distinctions between them. The best approach is to consider the shape of the wings and the markings visible when those wings are closed.
