1001 Nights - Overwintering habitats of butterflies By Dawn Sutherland

As far as anyone knows, Monarchs are the only butterflies who really get out of town for the winter. The only butterfly with a major and much studied migration route, Monarchs may make a journey of several thousand miles to the tall pine preserves in central Mexico where they will spend the winter months.

So what do the other species do to withstand the blasts of winter?

Depending on the species, butterflies overwinter in all four lifestages. Hairstreaks overwiinter on their host plant in the egg stage. Swallowtails generally overwinter in the chrysallis stage. The wintering chrysalids appear dull brown. Summer swallowtail chrysallids are bright green.

Left, a Black Swallowtail chrysalis. Swallowtails generally overwinter in the chrysallis stage. The wintering chrysalids appear dull brown. Summer swallowtail chrysallids are bright green.

Some species create a structure called a "hibernaculi" in which they house themselves over the winter months. The young larvae of the Viceroy, White Admiral and Red Spotted Purple roll up willow leaves, their host plant, stitch them shut and attach themselves to a twig with a silky thread. The first warm days of spring often bring the young larvae out who start dining on the new willow leaves.

Overwinterng larvae created by some species called a "hibernaculi" in which they house themselves over the winter months.

On a mild, sunny early spring day, you may spot a Mourning Cloak taking the air. Butterflies in the Anglewing family overwinter in the adult stage, often finding protected places in the bark of a shagbark hickory or obscure nooks of barns and sheds.

Left, a Painted Lady Larvae Hybernaculi

On a mild, sunny early spring day, you may spot a Mourning Cloak taking the air.

In a small way, you can support the butterfly populations in your area by becoming familiar with common species and finding which ones overwinter in which stage. And by leaving those old violet leaves in place over the winter, you may have more fritillaries next spring!