This is a demonstration website to show some of the capabilities of the Adobe Muse product. It is intended to showcase an example of an educational site to supplement classroom materials. All photos are by the author of this site (Mark DuBois) unless otherwise noted. All facts presented are accurate (as far as I know). If you see something amiss, please notify me (the contact form will work).

Click on any of the thumbnail images above to see the larger photo. These will also display as a slide show (wait a couple of seconds after selecting one of the imagees above.

Order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)

There are over 120,000 species of butterflies and moths in the world. These insects are characterized by typically having 4 wings (which are covered with scales). They have sucking mouthparts (like a straw) and undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Immature stages are typically called caterpillars.

 

There are over 2,000 described species of butterflies and moths found in Illinois.

 

One of my fondest childhood memories was the first time I observed a buckeye butterfly (examine slide show on the left).

 

Although I have become a specialist in ants, I still collect butterflies and moths. I find it easiest to collect moths at mercury vapor lamps in the evening.

 

An alternative approach to collecting butterflies and moths is to use various baits and traps. For example, in the tropics, one can often use rotten pineapple and bananas to attract these insects.

 

Another approach (with moths) is called sugaring (based on the European wine roping). One takes a mixture of beer, rum, brown sugar and a ripe banana and paints it on trees. The moths are attracted and get drunk on the beer and rum (and can easily be collected). Europeans use pieces of rope soaked in a superstaurated solution of wine and sugar for a similar effect.