Media's One Stop Resource Center

Press Kits

Press Releases

Image Library

Contact Us

Home

• Press Release
• Grand Opening of the New Butterfly Exhibit
• Winged Wonders Fact Sheet
• Exhibit Species List
• Butterfly Basics
• Butterfly Facts
• Frequently Asked Questions About Butterflies
• Interdependence of Butterflies and Flowers
• Silverspot Butterfly Project
• What You Can Do to Help Local Butterfly Populations

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP LOCAL BUTTERFLY POPULATIONS

Reconsider Butterfly Releases

It has become popular to release commercially bred butterflies at special occasions such as weddings, fairs and other events. Although a seemingly harmless practice, many scientists have stated that releasing butterflies into the wild has the potential of harming wild butterfly populations and ecosystems. Their concerns include the following:

• Some released, non-native butterflies could mate with wild butterflies, potentially polluting or reducing the genetic viability of wild populations.
• Massive releases of commercially raised butterflies may also skew data related to butterfly counts that help monitor the status of wild butterfly populations.
• Butterfly breeders, who are not properly permitted by appropriate regulatory agencies or who do not follow industry standards, could produce butterflies that carry diseases and parasites that might spread to wild butterflies.
• Since butterflies are considered potential plant pests, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and corresponding state agencies have the responsibility of regulating the butterfly breeding industry. USDA regulates and issues permits for breeding a limited number of butterfly species approved for release. The approval of species for release are also regulated by state agencies.

  If you are thinking about releasing butterflies for a special occasion, it is important to consider all of the above mentioned factors. Contact your state agency to determine which species/types of butterflies are allowed for release in your area. And make sure that the organization from which you are receiving the butterflies has all the proper governmental permits.

  Thank you for making an informed decision about butterfly releases. For more information, check out the North American Butterfly Association's release about this subject .
  

  Plant Your Own Butterfly Garden

  You can create a welcoming environment for butterflies in your own neighborhood. All it takes is water, a sunny location, and some good soil and space for plants.
  

  Learn which butterflies live in your region. Use this guide and books from the library to discover how to attract native butterflies.
  

  Learn which plants are native to your region. Butterflies depend on plants for their survival.
  

  Provide plants that help butterflies survive. Different plants are needed during different stages of a butterflys life. Make sure you have food plants for caterpillars as well as flowering plants that provide nectar for adult butterflies.
  

  Avoid using pesticides in your garden. If a garden is good for butterflies, it is also good for birds, other wildlife and you.

  Some Food Plants for Caterpillars

  Trees	Caterpillars
  black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), quaking aspen (P. tremuloides) and willows (Salix spp.)	western tiger swallowtail, mourning cloak and others (especially willows)
  Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and pines (Pinus spp.)	pine white
  Garden Flowers and Ground Covers
  hollyhock (Alcea rosea)	painted lady, west coast lady
  Kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)	spring azure, brown elfin
  Vegetables
  broccoli, cabbage (Brassica oleracae var.)	cabbage white
  beans (Phaseolu vulgaris var.)	gray hairstreak
  carrot, dill, fennel, parsley (Umbelliferae family)	anise swallowtail
  Common "Weedy" Species
  nettle (Urtica lyallii)	Milberts tortoiseshell, red admiral, satyr anglewing
  clover (Trifolium spp.)	common sulfur, orange sulfur

  Some Flowering Plants for Butterflies

  Plants	Bloom Time
  mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii)	June/July
  mountain balm (Ceanothus velutinus)	April/May
  pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)	August/September
  Garden Shrubs
  butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii)	All summer
  lilac (Syringa vulgaris)	April/May
  viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)	April/May
  Garden Flowers
  bee balm (Monarda didyma)	June/July
  black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)	All Summer
  lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)	June/July
  phlox (Phlox paniculata)	June- August
  purple cornflower (Echinacea purpurea)	July- September

  Information courtesy of Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA.

back to top

FTP Instructions to Retrieve Images from our Server

ftp://ftp.oregonzoo.org/dist/zoo/marketing/

• Drag appropriate photo to your desk top Please click on the above link to receive a photo.
• If you have problems then:
  1. Copy the above URL
  2. Open Internet Explorer
  3. Paste address into the address box
  4. Click return
  5. Drag appropriate photo to your desk top

This should work Problems? Please call Bill at 503-220-2448 or Linda at 503-220-5716

back to top