Ryall, M.E. (2008 June 4). Butterfly Corner. Washburn County Register, p. 17.

Butterfly corner
by Mary Ellen Ryall

It was Sunday morning and the weather was sunny and warm. The Monarch Butterfly Habitat was alive with a few butterfly species and crickets before the dew even evaporated from the leaves. A tiny American copper butterfly flitted about looking for its host plant sheep sorrel, a plant introduced from Europe. The plant species is not to be found in the habitat although the butterfly was seen nectaring on tiny wildflowers.

The American copper measures only 1 to 1 3/8 inches. The forewing is iridescent fiery orange-red and not hard to miss even if a small species. The butterfly’s eastern range was introduced from Europe during the Colonial period. The American copper’s extensive range probably results from being transported in a shipment of hay.

A variety of a tiny blue azure butterfly was also seen. It doesn’t take much to make butterflies happy. They simply migrate to disturbed areas and nectar sources. Somehow they are finding their way to the regeneration of a remnant prairie and the Monarch Butterfly Habitat in Shell Lake.