Welcome to Week 5 of Drake White video Blog. Drake is a Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park.
She has been venturing out into her backyard every day during quarantine to teach us how to look for butterfly activity in our very own yards or park.
We would love to see photos of what you are finding in your yard or neighborhood! Please share with us by posting your images on social media and tag us! Happy bug-hunting!
April 23, 2020 - Day 29 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Hoverflies are beneficial pollinators & predators. Adult hoverflies feed on flower nectar and help pollinate some crops and flowers, but it is the larvae that are important predators in the garden. The tiny, nearly invisible larvae scour the undersides of plant leaves for aphids, and eat them as their primary food source.
April 24, 2020 - Day 30 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Meconium is the red fluid that butterflies eject after they emerge from the chrysalis. Meconium is a metabolic waste product from the pupal stage that is expelled through the anal opening of the adult butterfly. Though it looks like blood, meconium is not blood.
April 25, 2020 - Day 31 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
American Beautyberry is a wonderful understory tree. Great for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife, but also a natural mosquito repellent. This is definitely one native to add to your landscape.
April 26, 2020 - Day 32 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Frogfruit is a native ground cover that is a wonderful replacement for lawns. It’s also great for problem shady areas, wet areas, or full sun. It is the host plant for the Common buckeye, Phaon crescent, and White peacock butterflies, and wonderful nectar source for pollinators.
April 27, 2020 - Day 33 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Some butterflies don’t always use nectar to feed. Some prefer tree sap, dung, or over ripe fruit. Those butterflies include, Red Admiral, QuestionMark, Tawny emperor, and Hackberry emperor.
April 28, 2020 - Day 34 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Monarch butterflies are tagged in Fall (August-November end), and it’s important you know how to properly hold them. Get your practice now, so you're ready for tagging in Fall.