Explore the Adirondacks:
Native Species Butterfly House
Opening 18 June 2016

This site is no longer being updated with VIC program and event information. For current information on VIC programs and events, visit: www.paulsmiths.edu/vic. For current information on Adirondack nature trails and natural history, visit: http://wildadirondacks.org/.

 

List of Butterflies and Moths at the Paul Smiths VIC Butterfly House

Adjacent to the VIC Building is the Breck Chapin Memorial Native Species Butterfly House, featuring butterflies and moths in all stages of development. It is open from 11 AM to 4 PM, seven days a week throughout the summer, weather permitting. (On some rainy days, selected insects from the Butterfly House are taken indoors, and a temporary "indoor Butterfly House" exhibit is set up, with crafts and other indoor activities for children.) The Butterfly House will be open this year from 18 June through 28 August 2016. Admission to the VIC Butterfly House is free. However, if you would like to make a donation to fund projects to make the Butterfly House even better, there is a donation box at the exit.

Visitors can view native butterflies up close and learn about the life stages and migratory patterns of these colorful insects. Butterfly House volunteers are available to point out the species of butterflies in the house that day, provide information on the insect's life cycle, and identify specific plants that are favored by each species. Inside the Butterfly House, there are nectar plants for food and host plants for egg-laying and caterpillar feeding. There are also touch boxes and information handouts on butterflies and moths. Outside the Butterfly House is the Frank Hutchins Butterfly Garden, a garden designed to attract butterflies and named to honor the late Frank Hutchins, a longtime supporter of the VIC. 

The Butterfly House is supported by donations of Friends of the VIC, including the Adirondack Park Institute.

Frequently Asked Questions about Butterflies

What butterflies and moths will visitors see in the Butterfly House?

What a visitor will see depends on the weather, time of the summer, and the time of day. Canadian Tiger Swallowtails are an early summer butterfly which enjoys drinking lilac nectar. Monarchs can usually be seen all summer, since they are being raised in the Butterfly House, providing multiple generations. However, any single Monarch adult only lives about 3 weeks. The summer of 2012 was atypical. The weather was very warm and humid; as a result, some of the butterflies made their first appearance about three weeks ahead of time early in the summer. The unusual weather patterns have also affected the late-summer timing for Monarch Butterflies.

What is the best time of day to view the butterflies and moths?

The best time to view butterflies is the middle of the day on a warm day! Visitors are asked not to touch the butterflies, unless they choose to land on you. Also, do not wear bug repellent or sunscreens in the Butterfly House if you are hoping for a butterfly to land on you, since the butterfly could become sick from ingesting either

 

What is the most popular insect?

Monarch butterflies and caterpillars are very popular, but the native giant silkmoths (especially Lunas and Cecropias) are becoming equally popular!

Where do the insects in the Butterfly House come from?

The VIC nets the adults and brings them in. All the insects in the Paul Smiths Butterfly House are from the Adirondack Park, except those butterflies which migrate, such as Monarchs, Red Admirals, and Painted Ladies. Many of the butterflies in the Butterfly House are raised here. The adult butterflies lay eggs in the Butterfly House; and the eggs are hatched and reared. This summer, the VIC has an intern and several volunteers taking turns with collecting.

When was the Butterfly House built?

This summer marks the 20th birthday of the Butterfly House, which first opened in July 1993. It is named after the late Breck Chapin, who served as the coordinator of volunteer services at the Paul Smiths VIC from 1990 to 1998 and played a major role in the construction of the Butterfly House.  The facility also benefited from an international collaboration with the Montreal Insectarium, the largest insect museum in North America. 

How is the Paul Smiths Butterfly House constructed?

The Butterfly House is made of wood, metal poles, and netting.

How does the Paul Smiths Butterfly House compare to other facilities?

The Paul Smiths Butterfly House is the only such facility in the Adirondacks.  When the Butterfly House opened in July 1993, it was one of the first of its kind in the US to concentrate on native species butterflies and is still one of very few that does so.  Most other facilities (especially in the North) are year-round indoor facilities which house both tropical and native species butterflies.  The Paul Smiths Butterfly House, by contrast, reflects what is really happening in the Adirondack Park, at the exact time that it is happening.  All insects in the Butterfly House are collected by VIC volunteers from the immediate area or raised in the Butterfly House. 

Is this the only butterfly house in the Adirondacks?

The Paul Smiths Butterfly House is the only such facility in the Adirondacks. Several other facilities have butterfly gardens, similar to the one adjacent to the VIC Butterfly House.

Does the Paul Smiths Butterfly House conduct group tours?

The Butterfly House limits visitors to about a dozen individuals at a time. A larger number is not safe for the butterflies and moths.

Can visitors bring in photos of insects and ask for help in identifying them?

Yes! One of the main missions of the Paul Smiths Butterfly House is to provide information on these colorful insects, so visitors are encouraged to bring their questions and photos to the Butterfly House.

How long do butterflies and moths live?

Butterflies live between 2 and 3 weeks, depending on species. The Spring Azure lives only two to four days, while the Mourning Cloak may live as long as ten to eleven months. The life span of Monarch Butterflies vary, from three weeks in the spring and summer to about ten months in the fall and winter. Large silkmoths live between 8 and 10 days.

Where do butterflies go in the winter?

Butterflies have several strategies for coping with the harsh seasonal conditions that characterize the Adirondack region. Some butterflies hide in woodpiles, inside trees, or in houses. They enter a sleep-like condition called diapause that is probably triggered by decreasing day length. Some future butterflies overwinter as caterpillars hidden in a hibernaculum -- a leaf that is chewed and rolled into a winter nest and hangs from a twig with silk spun by the caterpillar. Slowed metabolism or arrested development in the case of eggs, caterpillars, or chrysalids allows butterflies to conserve their energy during the cold winter months.

Other butterflies migrate to escape the cold. Eastern Monarchs migrate south to Mexico, journeying 2500 miles; another generation returns. It is thought that the Painted Ladies migrate from warm southern areas or Mexico, while Red Admirals are thought to migrate from overwintering grounds in Florida and Texas.

What do butterflies eat?

Most butterflies have the ability to live off fat reserves left over from the constant munching they did as caterpillars. However, they also feed from tree sap and nectar in their adult state. Although their searches for flowers appear to be random, sensory clues play an important role. Butterflies can see ultraviolet light, which helps them identify a preferred plant. They can also determine the health of the plant by scratching it.

What eats butterflies?

The butterfly's main predators are spiders, birds, frogs, snakes, rodents, bats, dragonflies, assassin bugs, and ambush bugs. In addition to defenses such as coloration and tailed wings, butterflies also have scales on their wings which seem to come off like powder. Scientists theorize that this adaptation is used to escape from spiders; butterflies shed their scales to release themselves from spider webs.

Why are butterflies distinctly colored and patterned?

The bright colors of the butterfly serve as a vital aspect of the butterfly's defense. For instance, the bright orange wings of the Monarch Butterfly tell predators: "Don't eat me; I am toxic." Birds that have eaten a monarch vomit within fifteen seconds and do not fully recover for up to half an hour.

The swallow-like tails of some butterflies and the eye spots found on many butterfly wings also serve as a mechanism to ensure survival. These patterns and projections draw the predator's attention away from the most vital part of the butterfly's anatomy -- its body.

Some butterflies, such as member of the Satyr family, have dull colors. These butterflies inhabit partially shaded woods; and their brownish coloring provides a natural camouflage.

What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth?

There are three main differences separating moths from butterflies: antennae, body size,and wing position when resting. Moths tend to have more robust and hairy bodies, feathery antennae, and rest with their wings spread out. Butterflies usually have narrower bodies, antennae that are wiry and end in a club, and rest with their wings folded. Another useful clue is to note what time of the day the insect is active; in general, moths are active at night and butterflies during the day.

What's the difference between a male and a female?

The primary difference between a female and a male is body size. Female butterflies are born with all their eggs and therefore have a more pronounced abdomen. Males have a narrower abdomen; and most have claspers that aid in gripping the female when mating.

Where can I find butterflies in the wild?

Butterflies can be found in a variety of habitats. Most prefer open fields with many flowers, but some butterflies can be found in cooler, moister areas, such as woods. Some butterflies prefer eating sap from trees (as opposed to nectar from flowers) and can be found on birch and willow trees. One family of butterflies -- Satyridae -- are frequently found in the woods. They have dull brown coloring, in order to blend in with their environment.

How can I garden to attract butterflies?

You can create an environment that butterflies find appealing by planting native flowers in clusters and planting caterpillar and nectar food plants that bloom throughout the summer season. Avoid the use of pesticides and provide attractions such as mud puddles to entice the insects to visit near your home.