Perhaps one of the most beautiful insects in the world, the butterfly has over 17,000 species worldwide, with 750 species in the United States.

And while most people know the four stages of a butterfly. There is a lot more to these fascinating creatures.

They have been on earth for over 200 million years and have been studied for over 300 years, referenced in the Bible, Shakespeare, and today are considered symbols of freedom, beauty, and peace.

Their long history of scientific study and the popularity of the butterfly has proved extremely important in scientific research on climate change, habitat loss, and fragmentation.  

A good indicator of a healthy environment and ecosystem are the presence of butterflies. They are also an essential part of the food chain and are prey for birds and bats as well as being great pollinators.

Other fascinating facts about butterflies are they can lay from one to 100 eggs, but the female dies after laying her eggs. However, the male dies 6-8 weeks after mating. On average, a butterfly's lifespan is a month, but depending on type, size, and climate, some can live for only a week, while otters can live as long as nine months.

Butterflies also only drink liquid, but they can't survive on nectar alone; they need minerals and salts and will occasionally sip from muddle puddles to get the minerals and salts they need for reproduction. This is called puddling and occurs more often in males because the males transfer the minerals and salts to the females during mating to help improve the viability of her eggs. 

With some species on the endangered list, Butterfly houses have become very popular, with over 100 in the Us. Butterfly houses allow people to view without touching and learn more about these spectacular insects. People are so fascinated and enthralled with butterflies that the butterfly garden has sprouted up in people's homes and parks.

Contact your local Grange to help the butterfly population and learn how to grow your own butterfly garden.  

Click the link below to watch the video:

https://youtu.be/mUhZlHl9Lf0