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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper July 2016 Page 37
Christine Schoene Maccabee
not just one, and encourage Courtesy Photo
neighbors to do so as well. That
way there is not as much habitat
fragmentation, and the butterflies
On The Wild Side and bees can easily fly from one
patch to another.
On many occasions I have
seen the tiny pygmy, or elfin blue
butterfly (as I call them), so I
The Swallows Are Back suspect it may be fairly common.
It is no more than a half inch
wide and has powdery blue
Blues are little sparkling gems of the butterfly wings. Insects are quite clever at
surviving in spite of habitat loss,
world, belonging to the family of gossamer and it seems the smaller they
wings (Lycaenidae), whose local populations are, the better. Larger ones, such Eastern tailed blue butterly.
periodically go extinct. as the monarch, have a longer
— Butterfly Book by Donald & Lillian Stokes life cycle and, since they migrate, It might not happen overnight, but
need lots of habitat. Most blues are someday you might be lucky enough
usually about the size of a quarter, to see a gossamer blue butterfly float
When I first saw an eastern tailed relationships most people are not but are still in need of plenty of out of nowhere and land on a clover
blue butterfly, I was startled. I stood aware of, but which is absolutely clover or lupine to thrive. Perhaps in your yard. That moment of pure
stock-still as it opened and closed its fascinating, as most things natural I will grow a patch of alfalfa next beauty will confirm for you, as it
small wings—brown when closed, are. Let me explain… summer and see what happens. did for me, the importance of doing
and when opened, well, words Briefly, the larvae of blues Nothing important in life is ever something and never giving up.
cannot describe the beauty of the secrete a sweet honeydew from accomplished if we are complacent, Even if you look closely at your
blue color flashing before my eyes. their abdomens to which ants are or indifferent. We can sit around clovers, you may not see these
It sat on a flower for only a few attracted for feeding. The larvae also angry, or depressed, singing the larvae, as they are no more than a
moments, opening and closing its have glands all over their bodies that blues all our lives, or we can do our third of an inch long, but good luck
wings in the sunlight, as I stood there secrete amino acids, a component small part to help protect a fragile trying. Perhaps you will find a four-
in awe. I treasure those few moments of protein, which the ants can get ecosystem right in front of our eyes. leaf clover.
as some of the most rewarding in simply by stroking the body of the
my efforts to create habitat for rare larva with their antennas. Due to Christine is a Master Wildlife Habitat Naturalist in the Catoctins. She welcomes
and endangered species, and I hope this, ants protect this food source feedback, so if you see a blue butterfly, or wish to speak with her about your
to see more breathtaking blues this by repelling insect predators and own concerns or interests, do contact her at [email protected].
summer. parasites that would do harm to the
Many years ago, I learned of caterpillars. In a study made of this
the problems the blues are having peculiar association, it was found CALL TODAYFOR AFREE TREE EVALUATION
with habitat loss: the Karner blue that four to ten more caterpillars
in New York and the Xerxes blues survive in the presence of ants. Great BY OUR ARBORIST
in California are both victims of odds, I would say!
urbanization. So, when I moved So if you who have a terrible
out here on my eleven acres, I was aversion to ants, just know that they
determined to plant as much lupine are one of the most important and
as I could. The entire life cycle of amazing eusocial insects in the world
blue butterflies depends on ample and deserve our respect. Even though 800-383-4595
lupine, clover, and even vetch and some are considered agricultural
alfalfa, all of which are in the legume and household pests, in the right
family. For awhile, I had an entire place, ants “bind together many
bank filled with lovely blue lupine, terrestrial ecosystems,” according to
which I grew from seed. However, the esteemed Edward Wilson, author
after several years, certain other of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book
native plants crowded it out and ANTS. Personally, I work around
now I must protect the areas for ants, and only on a rare occasion
lupine from them—which can be might I kill one.
rather intensive work. The flowers Back to the blues. I do get the
and leaves of lupines are beautiful, blues when I see all the clover
so it is well worth the effort. mowed down in huge yards where
The good news is that blues can nobody ever walks. Bees love them
also carry out their entire life cycles also for their nectar, so clovers serve Tree Removal/TT/Trimming
on clovers, even white yard clovers, multiple purposes. However, here Pruning
and clovers grow easily on their on my property, I must deal with
own. Now, on my property, in small the “mower man,” and I do. This Stump Grinding
islands throughout the lawn, I am summer I am creating “blue butterfly
allowing clovers to grow. They must zones,” and am soon to laminate Lot Clearing
not be disturbed, as possibly eggs signs with a picture of a blue
are being laid on them, and larva butterfly on it to be placed on a stake MD Tree Expert Lic #904
are feeding on them. As well, tiny in the middle of its clover habitat. ISA Cert. #MA-4258A
ants are protecting them. Ants?, you If you have the heart to do this as Licensed & Insured
ask. Yes, ants are critical for their well, and a mower man who will
survival. This is another one of those accommodate your interest, then do
little known essential symbiotic it. I suggest having several patches,
Christine Schoene Maccabee
not just one, and encourage Courtesy Photo
neighbors to do so as well. That
way there is not as much habitat
fragmentation, and the butterflies
On The Wild Side and bees can easily fly from one
patch to another.
On many occasions I have
seen the tiny pygmy, or elfin blue
butterfly (as I call them), so I
The Swallows Are Back suspect it may be fairly common.
It is no more than a half inch
wide and has powdery blue
Blues are little sparkling gems of the butterfly wings. Insects are quite clever at
surviving in spite of habitat loss,
world, belonging to the family of gossamer and it seems the smaller they
wings (Lycaenidae), whose local populations are, the better. Larger ones, such Eastern tailed blue butterly.
periodically go extinct. as the monarch, have a longer
— Butterfly Book by Donald & Lillian Stokes life cycle and, since they migrate, It might not happen overnight, but
need lots of habitat. Most blues are someday you might be lucky enough
usually about the size of a quarter, to see a gossamer blue butterfly float
When I first saw an eastern tailed relationships most people are not but are still in need of plenty of out of nowhere and land on a clover
blue butterfly, I was startled. I stood aware of, but which is absolutely clover or lupine to thrive. Perhaps in your yard. That moment of pure
stock-still as it opened and closed its fascinating, as most things natural I will grow a patch of alfalfa next beauty will confirm for you, as it
small wings—brown when closed, are. Let me explain… summer and see what happens. did for me, the importance of doing
and when opened, well, words Briefly, the larvae of blues Nothing important in life is ever something and never giving up.
cannot describe the beauty of the secrete a sweet honeydew from accomplished if we are complacent, Even if you look closely at your
blue color flashing before my eyes. their abdomens to which ants are or indifferent. We can sit around clovers, you may not see these
It sat on a flower for only a few attracted for feeding. The larvae also angry, or depressed, singing the larvae, as they are no more than a
moments, opening and closing its have glands all over their bodies that blues all our lives, or we can do our third of an inch long, but good luck
wings in the sunlight, as I stood there secrete amino acids, a component small part to help protect a fragile trying. Perhaps you will find a four-
in awe. I treasure those few moments of protein, which the ants can get ecosystem right in front of our eyes. leaf clover.
as some of the most rewarding in simply by stroking the body of the
my efforts to create habitat for rare larva with their antennas. Due to Christine is a Master Wildlife Habitat Naturalist in the Catoctins. She welcomes
and endangered species, and I hope this, ants protect this food source feedback, so if you see a blue butterfly, or wish to speak with her about your
to see more breathtaking blues this by repelling insect predators and own concerns or interests, do contact her at [email protected].
summer. parasites that would do harm to the
Many years ago, I learned of caterpillars. In a study made of this
the problems the blues are having peculiar association, it was found CALL TODAYFOR AFREE TREE EVALUATION
with habitat loss: the Karner blue that four to ten more caterpillars
in New York and the Xerxes blues survive in the presence of ants. Great BY OUR ARBORIST
in California are both victims of odds, I would say!
urbanization. So, when I moved So if you who have a terrible
out here on my eleven acres, I was aversion to ants, just know that they
determined to plant as much lupine are one of the most important and
as I could. The entire life cycle of amazing eusocial insects in the world
blue butterflies depends on ample and deserve our respect. Even though 800-383-4595
lupine, clover, and even vetch and some are considered agricultural
alfalfa, all of which are in the legume and household pests, in the right
family. For awhile, I had an entire place, ants “bind together many
bank filled with lovely blue lupine, terrestrial ecosystems,” according to
which I grew from seed. However, the esteemed Edward Wilson, author
after several years, certain other of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book
native plants crowded it out and ANTS. Personally, I work around
now I must protect the areas for ants, and only on a rare occasion
lupine from them—which can be might I kill one.
rather intensive work. The flowers Back to the blues. I do get the
and leaves of lupines are beautiful, blues when I see all the clover
so it is well worth the effort. mowed down in huge yards where
The good news is that blues can nobody ever walks. Bees love them
also carry out their entire life cycles also for their nectar, so clovers serve Tree Removal/TT/Trimming
on clovers, even white yard clovers, multiple purposes. However, here Pruning
and clovers grow easily on their on my property, I must deal with
own. Now, on my property, in small the “mower man,” and I do. This Stump Grinding
islands throughout the lawn, I am summer I am creating “blue butterfly
allowing clovers to grow. They must zones,” and am soon to laminate Lot Clearing
not be disturbed, as possibly eggs signs with a picture of a blue
are being laid on them, and larva butterfly on it to be placed on a stake MD Tree Expert Lic #904
are feeding on them. As well, tiny in the middle of its clover habitat. ISA Cert. #MA-4258A
ants are protecting them. Ants?, you If you have the heart to do this as Licensed & Insured
ask. Yes, ants are critical for their well, and a mower man who will
survival. This is another one of those accommodate your interest, then do
little known essential symbiotic it. I suggest having several patches,
