Butterfly Families

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Brushfooted Butterflies

Members of this large, diverse family, which includes admirals, true brushfoots, longwings, satyrs, milkweed butterflies and fritillaries, are named for their short, brushlike forelegs — which make them appear to have only four legs. Mostly medium-size (wingspans from 1 1/2 to 4 inches), brushfoots have wings that are often partly orange. They may have cryptic markings on their undersides to camouflage against tree bark or soil. Brushfoots are strong, fast fliers. Some, most notably monarchs, migrate long distances in spring and fall.

Many brushfoot caterpillars are covered with wicked barbs, which protect them from predators and parasitic wasps. They may feed in groups for safety, or rest during the day and feed at night. The chrysalides are often angled and knobby, with clearly defined wing shapes. They hang from branches, without silken girdles (strands of silk).

Admirals

Medium in size, with wingspans from 2 to 3 1/2 inches, admirals are attracted to tree sap and wet soil, but they also will visit garden flowers. Some gain protection from predators by mimicking unpalatable species: Viceroys look remarkably like monarchs, and red-spotted purples resemble pipevine swallowtails. Tiny caterpillars overwinter inside a rolled-up leaf, attached to a tree with silk. In spring, they crawl out to feed on new foliage.

True Brushfoots

Some of our most familiar garden butterflies fall into this category. Painted ladies, red admirals and California tortoiseshells often disperse from the Southwest in great numbers in late spring. Buckeyes spread north in summer, then migrate south in the fall. Mourning cloaks (shown at right) are widespread and frequent open woods and suburbs. Because of their long life spans, they need additional nutrients and seek minerals and amino acids from rotting fruit, tree sap, animal scat and carrion.

Longwings

Longwings, or heliconians, are tropical butterflies with long, narrow wings. They have wingspans of 2 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches. All use passion flowers (Passiflora) as host plants — a diet that renders caterpillars and adults distasteful to predators.

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