All types of butterflies are things of beauty. Every type of butterfly is nature's artful expression of natural transformation from a lowly earth crawling creature into a stunning insect that can take flight with its multicolored wings. Once one experiences the wonder of seeing one of natures most beautiful creations, the caterpillar is never viewed the same again. For each of us understand the potential that lies within this worm-like insect - the beauty that resides inside a seemingly ugly crawler. People treat them with respect for what they can become. The butterfly teaches humanity a lesson about judging based on outward appearances. All types of butterflies are natures way of keeping us humble, and filled with wonderful contemplation of creation. Since we are all part of that creation, the butterfly is a symbol, and a reminder, of the beauty and potential that resides within each of us.
Come along on an exploration of all things related to butterflies. At TypesofButterflies.net, we serve as a reference for books, quotes, pictures, and science resources to learn more about butterflies, and to celebrate their beauty through art and activities. Bookmark this constantly-updated page if you are a fellow lover of butterflies, like we are..
 _MG_2064 by user Niloufer Rodrigues from flickr. |
The wikiHow page on "How to Raise Butterflies." |
"May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond."
- Irish Blessing
"Butterflies are self propelled flowers."
- R.H. Heinlein
"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly."
- Richard Bach
"But these are flowers that fly and all but sing:
And now from having ridden out desire
They lie closed over in the wind and cling
Where wheels have freshly sliced the April mire."
- Robert Frost
"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
- Richard Buckminster Fuller
"'Just living is not enough,' said the butterfly, 'one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.'
- Hans Christian Anderson
"I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free."
- Charles Dickens
"And what's a butterfly? At best,
He's but a caterpillar, at rest."
- John Grey
"We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever."
- Carl Sagan
Read more butterfly quotes at Quote Garden.
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Butterflies, by Jennifer Hurtig, is part of a series of books written about barnyard animals. The book features large photographs and tells about the life cycle, diet, where they can be found, and more. |
The Butterfly Mounting Kit, from Amazing Butterflies teaches you how to mount butterflies. It includes 10 tropical butterflies tweezers, mounting board and paper, entomological pins, and mounting instructions. This company also supports butterfly habitat protection, so you can feel like you're making a real difference with your purchase.
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MonarchWatch is an amazing outreach program at the University of Kansas. MonarchWatch gets children involved in science by teaching them how to capture, tag, and release monarch butterflies. The program is the first of its kind, where "citizen scientists" are engaged in a large-scale research project. It's a great way for kids to be involved in research that can make a difference. The website itself has an impressive array of information including photos, drawings, information about migration patterns and conservation, and much, much more. |
Enchanted Learning - All about butterflies for kids to do research and learn more.
Beal Early Childhood Center - From the impressive curriculum of this early childhood center, this page includes photos, diagrams and an amazing depth of information on butterflies.
Beal Main Butterfly Page - The main butterfly page at Beal Early Childhood Center includes links for caterpillar info, chrysalis info, life cycle, facts, kinds of butterflies, butterfly greenhouse, and even teacher information.
The Emergence of a Monarch - This is one photographer's gift to the internet community - a photo montage of the sequence of transformations a Monarch goes through. A great web page to teach children about the process.
Creative Kids At Home - This is a wonderful project to do with a class or with your own children. Use a simple pattern, but vary the colors and types of paper to make the butterfly unique. This site includes not only paper butterflies, but butterfly crafts from coffee filters and handprint butterflies.
Rick Mikula - Rick Mikula, author and butterfly expert, visits schools and provides lectures to children about butterflies. Rick was seen on Animal Planet, and his website is absolutely filled with photos, videos, conservation information, clip art, and everything else you could imagine about butterflies.
- Butterfly jewelry
- Live butterfly raising kits
- Single or multiple framed butterflies
- Butterfly wing art
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Garden Butterflies of North America, by Rick Mikula, is a beautiful portfolio of 40 of North America's most stunning butterfly varieties. The book provides their natural histories, and even information on how to create a garden that will attract them. |
Amazon - Features titles such as butterflies of the East Coast by Rick Cech, Butterflies through Binoculars by Jeffrey Glassberg, and Four Wings and a Prayer: Caught in the Mystery of the Monarch Butterfly by Sue Halpern.
Books about Butterflies and Moths - This amazing website consists of an alphabetical list of books about butterflies, moths and caterpillars compiled by a science librarian. This is one of the most comprehensive book lists I've ever seen online, and it even includes an individual link to buy each book at Amazon or elsewhere. An amazing resource.
This website lists the books from the Estabrook Library on butterflies. While there are very few links to purchase books, the page is a good research to find titles that you may not have read before.
| "This Butterfly Lunchbox would be wonderful for the child in your life who absolutely adores butterflies. This is an insulated Lunch Box with colorful butterfly species on the front. The sidebands even show the names of the species! Get it at Lunchboxes.com. |
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While some people opt for throwing rice or flower petals at a wedding - many people are turning to a unique and natural way to celebrate an occasion or a memorial. Many companies are now selling live butterflies to be released all at once. Usually this involved several dozen butterflies, placed carefullin cages. Then, at the opportune moment, all cages are opened and the butterflies erupt into a colorful mass of fluttering wings. A typical price is about $99 for one dozen Monarch butterflies.
The following companies sell (and ship) live butterflies for any occasion:
Butterflies Abound - Offers butterfly releases for graduations, anniversaries, and other memorable occasions.
Royal Butterflies - Right now they sell primarily Monarch butterflies by the dozen.
Renaissance Butterflies - This company sells Monarchs, Painted Lady, Gulf Fritillary, or mixed packages.
Simply Butterflies - A member of the International Butterfly Breeder's Association, Simply Butterflies provides live Painted Lady butterflies.
Amazing Butterflies - This company not only provides live butterflies for butterfly releases, but they aso offer teachers and students supplies to learn about butterflies, such as a butterfly pavilion, a butterfly garden, caterpillar refills and more.
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Butterfly Pavilian - Visit the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, CO for an absolutely captivating experience with butterflies. The 7,000 square-foot tropical rainforest is home to over 1,200 live butterflies. Visitors get to view all of the butterflies up close and personal, as well as all of the other animals at the conservatory, including water turtles, doves, finches, frogs, fish, as well as other exhibits of arthropods, sea animals, and vertebrates! |
eNature - Offers a butterfly field guide.
Types of Butterflies - Click on any butterfly type to learn more and get a coloring printout.
LoveToKnow - This article describes everything you could ever possibly want to know about all types of butterflies.
Field Museum - Provides "Butterfly Basics."
This website describes how to tell the difference between a moth and a butterfly.
Butterflies of the Great Swamp - Read this fascinating resource on butterflies of the great swamp.
50Birds.com - Provides butterfly and moth coloring pages.
Association for Butterflies - Visit the association and learn more about conservation.
LovetoKnow - This detailed article describes how to build a butterfly house!
FamilyFun - No project would be quite as fun to do with your kids as building a butterfly garden with them.
Academy of Natural Sciences - See the butterfly exhibit at the Academy. The website includes a number of galleries.
At the Lopaz Waterfall Gardens in Costa Rica, visitors walk among 20 species of butterflies which are free to flutter around the guests.
Visit This artist's stunning collection of close-up butterfly photography.
