How to Grow Milkweed

If you want to learn how to grow milkweed seeds, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn how best to get your milkweed growing. Much like any other plant native to the Midwest, they go to seed in the fall, are exposed to cold and damp weather during the winter, and then Read More »

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A Simple Butterfly

Simple Butterfly finished

Our craft of the week is a butterfly in hopes spring will continue to warm up. This butterfly is one that caught my eye on Pinterest because it looked quite simple to make so I’m going to share how you make it.   Supplies: Paper of any color you like Pencil Scissors Compass/paper clip Stapler Read More »

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Six facts about viceroy butterflies

a viceroy butterfly

You see a black-and-orange butterfly flitting around, but it looks too small to be a monarch butterfly. This butterfly has very similar markings, except for the black line across its hindwing. What could it be? It’s a viceroy! Viceroys are mimics. Viceroy butterflies mimic monarch butterflies, and it was long thought that was because the Read More »

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A butterfly’s bilateral symmetry

butterfly symmetry coloring sheet

The line of symmetry is the imaginary line that divides something into two exactly equal and opposite parts. These two parts mirror each other; you can fold the figure in half and the two parts match exactly. Take a look at a monarch butterfly. Notice how the wings are identical but opposite; they are an Read More »

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How to tell apart four orange and black butterflies

four butterflies and their wingspans

An orange and black butterfly flits by. Many people immediately think “monarch,” but there are actually quite a number of orange and black butterflies in Iowa and throughout the United States. Three butterflies in the Iowa Great Lakes area that often get confused with the monarch butterfly are the painted lady, viceroy and red admiral. Read More »

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Moth or butterfly? Can you tell the difference?

butterfly and moth

Is it a moth or a butterfly? It sounds like a simple question, and there are a few simple ways to answer it: If it flies during the day, it’s a butterfly; if it flies at night, it’s a moth. However, there are diurnal moths — those that fly during the day, and there are Read More »

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How do monarch butterflies find their way south?

Those wonderful orange-and-black butterflies that we love so much. They fly overhead this time of year, and we know they are headed to their overwintering sites outside of Mexico City. But how do they get there? Plenty of studies have been done throughout the years to try to figure out how a brain the size Read More »

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