Butterfly Gardening Glossary

Butterfly Gardening Terms & Meanings:

annual - a plant that grows, flowers, and produces seed in a single growing season. Marigolds, zinnias, impatiens, and sunflowers are all examples of annuals.

biennial - a plant whose life cycle is two years. It grows during its first season, then blooms in its second season. Foxgloves and hollyhocks are examples of biennials.

caterpillar - the larval stage of either a moth or a butterfly.

chrysalis - the pupa stage of a butterfly. The chrysalis is often mistakenly called a cocoon. The chrysalis forms when the butterfly caterpillar sheds its skin for the final time, and a hardened outer covering forms to cover the changing pupa inside. Chrysalis means gold in Greek. Many - though not all - chrysalises have gold spots or markings. pl - chrysalides, chrysalises

cocoon - the pupa stage of a moth. The cocoon is a covering that protects the pupa inside as it changes into a moth. Cocoons are formed from silken threads spun by the last instar caterpillar. Some species of moths will also incorporate leaves into their cocoons. After the cocoon is formed, the caterpillar inside will shed its skin for the final time, and a pupa with a hardened outer coating will form.

herbicide - a substance that kills plants. Some herbicides are selective, killing only certain types of weeds or plants, while others will kill all plants.

host plant - the plant that adult butterflies and moths will use for egg laying. Many species of butterflies and moths will only lay their eggs on one or a few types of plants, while others are less selective. The eggs are only placed on plants that the emerging caterpillars will eat. Hollyhock, thistle, and mallow are all host plants for the painted ladies butterfly. Milkweed plants are host plants for monarch butterflies.

insecticide - a substance that kills insects. Insecticides are often used to kill insects that are considered to be pests. What constitutes a pest is all relative, though. Some gardeners consider anything that eats their plant leaves to be a pest...this would include butterfly caterpillars, though! Some insecticides only work while they remain on the plant surface. Others are considered to be systemic, meaning they enter the system of the plant and remain there for a long period of time, killing anything that eats the plant.

larva - the juvenile stage of many insects. For butterflies and moths, the larval stage is the caterpillar. Larvae later turn into adult insects, after passing through the pupal stage. pl - larvae

lepidoptera - the scientific classification of the order of butterflies and moths. The name comes from the Greek language, and literally means scale wings. Butterflies' and moths' wings are covered with thousands of iridescent scales which give them their color

metamorphosis - the complete physical change which many species of insects undergo. Butterflies and moths begin as larvae which hatch from eggs, then form pupae inside chrysalises (or chrysalides) or cocoons, then emerge as adults.

nectar plant - a plant whose blooms allow butterflies, some moths, and hummingbirds access to nectar. Buddleia (butterfly bush), lantana, Joe Pye weed, zinnia, sunflowers, and phlox are all examples of good nectar plants.

organic - something which is natural as opposed to synthetic. Butterfly gardeners are often urged to garden organically, because many garden chemicals harm butterfly populations along with "pest" populations. This is often true, but one should keep in mind that organic pest controls can be harmful to butterflies as well, and caution should be exercised when using any pest control method.

perennial - a plant that dies down to the ground in cold weather, but remains alive beneath the soil to emerge again when the weather warms. Phlox, some milkweeds, asters, and coneflower are all examples of perennials.

pesticide - also called insecticide; a substance that kills insects that visit the plants or surfaces on which it has been applied.

puddling - drinking from a mineral-rich water source. The males of some species of butterflies will visit damp soil, mud, wet compost, etc. in large groups. This is referred to as puddling, and allows them to obtain minerals they need, but which are not found in the nectar flowers they visit.

pupa - the stage when the larva (caterpillar) is turning into an adult butterfly or moth.

pl - pupae