The recent warm weather of late June has had quite an impact on the Northland. Not only did these conditions bring out an explosive growth among the plants and mushrooms as usually seen a bit later in the season, but it also influenced the insects.
The long-awaited mosquitoes have made their move. They were quickly followed by a couple of summer flies: deer flies and horse flies.
But insects in the Northland are more than these pesky bugs that we are so famous (infamous) for. We also now have an abundance and diversity of some better-loved ones: fireflies, dragonflies, damselflies, moths and butterflies. Sometimes called flying flowers, butterflies may be the most appreciated of all insects.
Here in the Northland, July is the month of the greatest numbers of butterflies. Before this hot month is over, we will see butterflies with wing colors of white, yellow, orange, red, blue, and some even a drab brown. We will see ones as big as the palm of our hands and others that may be able to sit on our finger nails.
Many have mysterious and strange names like sulphur, cabbage, admiral, fritillary, satyr, ringlet, wood nymph and skippers. But for most of us, it is the large black and orange monarch and the black-yellow tiger swallowtail that we are most likely to know about and look for.
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Tiger swallowtails are found throughout the state, but they vary from north to south. The eastern tiger swallowtail is the representative in the south while our swallowtail is commonly called the Canadian tiger swallowtail. Both are large and yellow with black stripes (hence the tiger name), but the southern type is a bit bigger.
The name of swallowtail comes from the long growths on the tip of the hind wings that extends far beyond the rest of the butterfly. This is somewhat like the long tail feathers as seen in the bird, the barn swallow.
Besides being named after two kinds of animals, tiger swallowtails are just plain interesting to watch.
Emerging from their winter chrysalis each year in late May or early June (This year, the first was seen on June 5.), they spend the month with us, often lasting until mid-July. As they fly through our yards and parks, they'll visit whatever is in bloom at that time.
The list of nectaring plants are cherry blossoms, honeysuckle, lilac, blackberries, raspberries, irises, clovers and those still not in flower: milkweed, dogbane and thistle.
Frequently, they fly higher up in nearby trees. Here they place their eggs that will hatch later in the summer. The caterpillars proceed to feed on leaves of aspen, birch, cherry or willow. It is interesting to note that the young feed at night. By fall, they form a chrysalis in which they spend winter.
Occasionally, we may find congregations of these large butterflies on wet soil. Here they are gathering moisture and minerals. Often these groups are all males and have been called: "boys at the bar." Seen alone or as many, these beautiful butterflies add much to our summer days.
Larry Weber is author of the "Backyard Almanac" and "Butterflies of the Northwoods." He lives in Carlton County and teaches natural science at Duluth's Marshall School.
