Living on a Wing and a Prayer
by K.J. DeBoard

In all their divine elegance and grace, butterflies are not only magical creatures but they are harmless and cherished by many both young and old. A romantic and adorned figure, butterflies have been a source of inspiration to artists, musicians and poets ever since the creation of civilization. Completely harmless, humankind feels deep affection for butterflies.  Some cultures believe to have one purposefully land on you signifies great honor, good fortune and trust.

Although butterflies survive in extreme conditions, they are sensitive to environmental changes and many are threatened, endangered or even extinct. An important part of our ecosystem, the population of these winged creatures is growing less each day. Why are these precious winged creatures disappearing? Sadly, the truth is that mankind is the butterfly’s worst enemy. We threaten butterflies by our use of insecticides and the destruction of their habitat more than any other natural environmental phenomenon.

Many conservationists are working together to improve our environment in which animals and nature can coexist with mankind. We need to stop the wholesale destruction of their habitat and curtail the use of insecticides. What we all can do is cultivate a butterfly garden at our homes, offering plants that attract, nourish, and allow the full life-cycle of the butterflies to flourish. Then, perhaps, our children and our children’s children can enjoy them. The continuance of these angels of the air requires more than a wing and a prayer. We must be deliberate in our actions and become aware of the issues that affect our environment.

Butterflies
an interview with Hope

Q: What is your interest in butterflies?

Hope: I got interested in butterflies by going to the zoo and seeing the butterfly exhibit. I also got some caterpillars sent to me for my birthday. I watched them turn into a chrysalis and within a week or so I had four Painted Lady butterflies. My mom and I got a small tent, and put in some fruit, nectar water, and flowers for them. Now I study them in my own backyard.

Q: Why are butterflies important?

Hope: They pollinate and they help the environment. Before there were bees in North America, there were butterflies and they did all the pollinating. The Europeans brought bees with them when they colonized North America. We need butterflies because if all our bees die out, they will be the only one's left pollinating. Some native plants are pollinated only by butterflies, so if the butterflies died, so would the plants.

Q: What is hurting butterflies?

Hope: Taking down their habitats by the construction of homes, towns and building cities. Insecticide also is killing butterflies. The butterflies date back to before the dinosaurs. There are some very rare butterflies, and we need to help get their numbers back up.

Q: How can we help the butterflies?

Hope: Plant more butterfly gardens; donate money to organizations that want to save butterflies. Also, don’t use insecticide unless you really have to. Roses are not good for a butterfly garden; you need to plant mainly wildflowers. The butterflies eat the nectar and get moisture from puddles of water.

Go online and see what their caterpillars eat and plant those plants. Go to a nursery and buy those plants, then you’ll have the caterpillars. They may not have the plants, but they will have the seeds.

There are lots of Monarchs now, but their habitats are in danger. Monarchs need open, grassy fields with milkweed. Most people tear milkweed out of the ground, but they are destroying their habitat when they do that. Monarchs can live by roadsides, gardens, and grassy fields. They migrate to Mexico and California in the winter and can be found all over all of North America in the summer.The greatness of butterflies should last forever.