Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is getting warmer, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Basically, anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. Our last article discussed types of pollution and how they affect the environment. Today, we’ll be highlighting a particular creature that we’ll be seeing more of as the weather continues to get warmer– Butterflies! If you’re interested in learning all about these beautiful insects, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started.

Butterflies are insects known for their often large and brightly colored wings and fluttering movements. These beautiful creatures have a four-stage life cycle, including egg, larva, pupa, and adult. During this life cycle, they undergo complete metamorphosis, which is a transformation or change of physical form. Let’s take a closer look at the four-stage life cycle.

• Egg: Eggs are laid on plants by female butterflies. Butterflies will lay their eggs on certain plants that will provide food and proper nutrition for the hatching caterpillars. They are generally laid between spring, summer, or fall, depending on the species of butterfly. The size of the egg also varies, but they tend to be very small– About 1 to 3 mm in diameter. Eggs generally last about 3 to 7 days before they begin to hatch.
• Larva: The larva of butterflies and moths are known as caterpillars. During this stage, caterpillars eat quite a bit, which is why it is important for female butterflies to lay their eggs on the proper plants. Food is stored to be used when the larva reaches the adult stage. Caterpillars grow very quickly, resulting in the shedding of their skin about 4 to 5 times, and after about two weeks they are ready to pupate. This refers to the change caterpillars undergo to reach the pupa stage. 
• Pupa: Perhaps the most interesting part of the life cycle, this stage occurs when the caterpillar forms into a chrysalis. A chrysalis is a hard, shell-like casing that forms from the molting of a caterpillar. During this stage, the caterpillar stops eating and will typically hang upside down from a tree branch as the chrysalis forms. Depending on the species, the chrysalis can be buried in leaves or underground. Cells grow rapidly and transform into the legs, wings, and eyes of a butterfly. This stage can last anywhere from two weeks to two years, depending on the species.
• Adult: The adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis and after a rest period, blood is pumped into the wings, allowing them to expand. Now, the butterfly is ready to start the reproductive process and will begin flying around in search of a mate. Then, the life cycle will begin all over again! 

The life cycle of a butterfly just might be one of the most captivating and interesting things in the world– It’s no wonder that humans have studied this cycle for thousands of years! Now that we’ve taken a look at the process in which butterflies develop, let’s take a look at what exactly butterflies do and why they are important. Butterflies are pollinators, which means they help carry pollen from the stamen, the male part of a flower, to the stigma, the female part of the same or another flower. This keeps flowers and flowering plants alive and thriving, which helps keep the agriculture industry flowing and the crops alive. Without pollinators, we wouldn’t eat! If you are interested in learning more about pollinators, we discussed their importance in one of our previous articles. 

Besides pollination, butterflies play an important role in the food chain, because they serve as food for birds, lizards, bats, and other animals. Some species of butterflies serve as natural pest control by eating certain insects in the caterpillar stage. Because of these things, the sight of butterflies means that an ecosystem is healthy and thriving. Scientists often monitor butterflies to see the effects of climate change. Just as climate change has affected other species, it is affecting butterflies as well. Butterflies are highly sensitive to temperature and climate because they depend on environmental cues to begin activities like reproduction, migration, and hibernation. As weather patterns change, butterflies may become confused and fall out of their routine, making them more vulnerable. 

While all butterflies are affected by climate change, it has seemed to hit Monarch butterflies in particular. Monarch butterflies depend on milkweed– In fact, Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed. Climate change and other factors such as deforestation and pesticide use have led to the decline of milkweed, thus limiting the Monarch’s food source. The Monarch is also the only species of butterfly known to make a two-way migration like birds do. They cannot survive cold winter climates, so they travel to places such as California or Mexico, depending on whether they are located in Eastern or Western North America. Over the last 20 years, Monarch populations have fallen by more than 80 percent. 

Now, let’s bring it a little closer to home and discuss what kinds of butterflies can be found in the Lowcountry! South Carolina is home to various species of butterflies– Approximately 165, to be exact. These species include Monarchs, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Common Buckeye, Painted Lady, Cloudless Sulphur, and more. The Lowcountry is also one of the best places to see Monarch migration! These orange and black beauties can be seen in the spring, usually in late May, as they begin their trek up the coast. In the fall, generally between October and November, they can be seen again as they migrate from Canada to Mexico. Since parts of the Lowcountry are rich in maritime forests and marshes, this is a perfect area for these butterflies to stop and charge up with some nectar along the way! Since adult Monarchs only have a life span of 2 to 6 weeks, and their migration is nearly 3,000 miles, not all of them will make the migration journey. It takes 3 to 4 generations of Monarchs to reach their migrating destination. We are truly so lucky to witness this spectacular event!

If you want to get a look at butterflies up close and personal in your own backyard, there are a few ways you can attract them. It is important to remember to be respectful to butterflies, and all wildlife species– Don’t get too close, touch, or disturb them! Here are a few things you can do to get butterflies to pay you a visit:

• Plant a wide variety of flowers, especially native flowering plants. Not only do flowers provide food, but they also give butterflies a place to lay their eggs. Pro tip: Most butterflies are attracted to bright colors!
• Try planting flowers in a sunny area and strategically placing them to provide shelter in windier conditions.
• Use little or no pesticides or insecticides.
• Place flat stones in your garden or yard for butterflies to perch on and rest.
• Don’t pick dandelions– They can be a great source of nectar!
• Place your overripe fruit outside for butterflies to eat, but be aware of other animals or insects it may attract.
• Fill a container with water, rocks, and sand to create a moist, muddy environment– Butterflies love mud puddles and will suck up minerals from the water, called puddling.
• Leave some overgrown areas in your garden to provide shelter, especially during the winter for some species.

As you can see, butterflies are exceptional creatures that serve a multitude of purposes in our environment, including pollination. Keep an eye out for butterflies as the weather continues to warm up! We hope that you found this article informative and helpful! At Coastal Expeditions, we are always looking for ways to help with environmental conservation. As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!