Links on the topic of butterflies
Monarch Watch http://www.monarchwatch.org/
National Geographic once referred to the monarch butterfly as a
"multinational asset." Each year, huge swarms of these familiar orange and
black creatures migrate thousands of miles southward from Canada and the U.S. to winter in
south-central Mexico. Follow their journey south, learn more about their amazing
life cycle, read up on lesson plans, and get students involved in butterfly gardening by
checking out the resources at this fabulous monarch site.
Butterflies of North America http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm
Sponsored by the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, this
site invites visitors to identify unknown butterflies by browsing a collection of
thumbnail photos. Once you've identified them, you can jump to a description of the
species (with information on size, identifying characteristics, life history, flight,
caterpillar hosts, adult food, habitat, species range, conservation status, and management
needs).
Moths of North America http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/mothsusa.htm
Moths are distinguished from butterflies by being nocturnal and dull colored. They
also lack clubbed antennae. Find out more about U.S. moths and the species
inhabiting northern Mexico at this information-rich Web site. It contains photos of
over 200 species. Each photo links to a distribution map and a textual description
with information about wing span, identification characteristics, life history, flight
patterns, caterpillar hosts, adult food, habitat and range.
Children's Butterfly Site http://www.mesc.nbs.gov/butterfly/Butterfly.html
Kids just want to have fun! At this site they can both play and learn.
It offers pictures of butterflies common to Great Britain, western Europe, and
North America, a coloring page showing the monarch's life cycle, answers to frequently
asked questions, plus and opportunity to have questions answered by an expert.
Gypsy Moth in North America http://www.fsl.wvu.edu/gmoth/ The pesky
gypsy moth is one of North America's most devastating forest nuisances. Feasting on
the foliage of hundreds of plant species, these insects are often single-handedly
responsible for the partial or total defoliation of forest canopy. At this
USDA-sponsored site, you can find out more about their life cycle and natural enemies,
view distribution maps of their habitat range, and discover what's being done to prevent
or postpone the establishment of gypsy moth populations in a forest near you.
Electronic Resources on Lepidoptera: Butterflies and Moths http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/lepidoptera.html
Billed as "the most complete and comprehensive website on Lepidoptera on the
Internet," this electronic reference will be appreciated by butterfly and moth
enthusiasts for its dozens of colorful pictures (highlighted with brief descriptions),
essays on mimicry and commas (members of the genus Polygonia, not punctuation!), plus
click-on links to geographical and topical indices.
Source: Technology & Learning November 1999 - Carol S. Holzburg, Ph.D
