Butterfly Jungle at the San Diego Safari Park

A morpho likes my camera

Once a year, the San Diego Safari Park (part of the San Diego Zoo), fills one of their bird enclosures with butterflies. The butterfly exhibit only lasts a month and is insanely crowded on the weekends. In fact, you have to get a separate (included) ticket with an appointment time. Fortunately, it was Easter Sunday and we got there early so we were let in ½ hour before our appointment. Even then, it was already full of people. When we visited a butterfly garden in Mindo, Ecuador we were the only people there for most of our visit. The crowds were a disappointment. However, it was good to see how excited everyone was about the butterflies. Most people were captivated by the Blue Morphos who not only flash their stunning blue wings but also are quite happy to perch on peoples’ clothing, hair and hands.

Orange Julia

Most of the butterflies were tropical butterflies from Asia and South and Central America. There were orange Julias (Dryas Julia), various swallow-tails, zebra longwings (Heliconius charitonia), postmen (Heliconius melpomene), and many more. There were some locals as well like the gulf fritillary and giant swallowtail. I liked the white paper kites (Idea leuconoe) that flew above everyone, occasionally diving down into the fray. The butterfly I found most interesting was the red cracker (Hamadryas amphinome). Most of the time it seemed to rest away from the crowds on the back glass of the enclosure which no one could get to. Then one came out and perched on a boy. One of its wings was broken at the tip and fell off as the boy was holding it. This reminded me of another sad feature of this butterfly exhibit. Since most of the butterflies were tropical, the zoo didn’t raise them. Instead they ordered chrysalises from butterfly farms in Asia and South America. Unlike Mindo, where the butterflies would lay eggs that would become caterpillars and the life cycle would continue, this exhibit was a temporary habitat where in the end, all the butterflies would just die. There were no larval food plants. The nectar for the butterflies was from potted flowers or nectar feeders. All of them would be removed at the end of the exhibit.

Red cracker

I do admit, being in an enclosed space with all the colorful butterflies and flowers is a magical experience. I’m sure it is also a great educational experience for the children as well. The zoo workers were very good about making sure none of these exotic butterflies escaped. I also heard that local school children raised some of the butterflies used for the exhibit.

Tailed jay

Since the exhibit was so crowded, we were relieved to leave. We took the tram ride around the Africa savanna enclosures and then walked up the stairs of a tower leading back to the upper level of the park. At the top, we looked down at a grassy area next to some trees below where a beautiful new brood mourning cloak rested. Its wings were rich brown and not ragged like the old brood ones that had survived the winter. A western swallowtail also flew off into the trees.

Paper kite

Malachite

Swallowtail Grove in the San Elijo Lagoon Area

Western Tiger Swallowtail on a sycamore

The San Elijo Lagoon, North of Del Mar, is known for the waterbirds that hang out in the waters and shore reeds and trees. However, we went searching for butterflies. A few weeks ago we walked along the S.E trail and towards the end we came upon a grove of eucalyptus and sycamore trees. A lone swallowtail flickered across the path and disappeared into the trees. We waited a little then turned back. This time, we decided we would wait a bit.

A Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis)

A slight wind blew as we walked along the more open part of the trail. We wondered if it would be too much for the butterflies. Nevertheless, we saw a couple blues, an orange tip and some cabbage butterflies. As we reached a hill covered with shimmering yellow flowers, an orange butterfly flew across the path and down the hill; but we lost it.

Western Tiger Swallowtail on eucalyptus

Once in the grove, we soon saw a Western Tiger Swallowtail that quickly disappeared. We sat down on a very conveniently placed bench and waited. A hummingbird zipped up to the branches across from us. “I think it went to a nest,” Rowshan said. He zoomed in with his camera and found it. As I tried to locate it with my binoculars, the swallowtail returned. It fluttered off teasingly but another emerged from a forest. They seemed to be fascinated by a particular tree—a sycamore. I didn’t know it was a sycamore at the time. One of the benefits of watching butterflies is you learn a lot about plants as well.

Aggressive Mourning Cloak

Rowshan went over to the tree and several startled swallowtails flew off. They eventually came back, saw Rowshan and circled away. As this was happening, I noticed a mourning cloak. It aggressively chased the larger swallowtails adding yet another obstacle to Rowshan’s photographic attempts.

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis milberti)

The mourning cloak perched on a tree in front of me. Its wings were a bit ragged. According to one of the books I read recently, this is because the mourning cloak can last through the winter in its butterfly form. In the spring, the new broods hatch with rich brown wings. As I was watching the mourning cloak, Rowshan told me to look up. There directly above me was a beautiful silver shouldered hawk. It surveyed us for a while and then took off, perhaps startled when my binoculars reflected a flash of sunlight.

Dancing Swallowtails

Finally, a compliant swallowtail settled on a eucalyptus branch in the sunlight. Rowshan happily got his photographs. Then another flew up and they seemed to engage in a strange dance of circling, hovering and spinning. A third joined the frenzy. Then they dispersed.

We’ve decided to name the grove Swallowtail Grove in honor of the butterflies that live there. 

Mission Trails

Some kind of blue on locoweed

One of our favorite places to hike in San Diego city is Mission Trails Regional Park. We used to walk in the gorge part of Mission Gorge, or scramble up the Rock Climbers Trail. Now, we tend to avoid crowds by hiking in the North and South Fortuna mountains area. These trails lead through sagebrush scrubland up to cliffs overlooking the gorge.

Butterflies also love this area. The orange tips purposely flit up the path and blues fly among the buckwheat and locoweed plants. The hiking paths provide tempting mud spots for puddling and the hills of course provide places for hill topping.

Bramble Hairstreak

I should mention that this is a relatively new hobby for me. Rowshan became interested in photographing butterflies while we were traveling around the world. However, I've only recently started to learn about their habits, foodplants, and names. Due to this, I might misidentify butterflies (and plants). Any experts out there can feel free to post corrections.

That said, here are some butterflies that we met on our hike.

I can't get over how cute the Bramble Hairstreak is. Just look at its cute little snub nose, big eyes, and striped antennae. It's scientific name is Callophrys dumetorum. In the photos in the books, it looks brighter and the brown on the upper wing is more visible. However, maybe since their flight time is between February and April, this one is a bit faded. There were a lot of them around and there was even a little hilltopping party on one of the smaller hills.

Gabb's Checkerspot

I believe this next butterfly is a Gabb's Checkerspot (Chlosyne gabbii), but again the colors seem a lot lighter than those in the book. Do butterflies fade? 

This last one is a Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo). It is another butterfly that is fond of buckwheat. I hope to plant buckwheat in my garden soon since it is so popular with the butterflies here.

Mormon Metalmark

To identify the butterflies, I've purchased two excellent books. The first is An Introduction to Southern California Butterflies, by Fred Heath with photographs by Herbert Clarke. This is my main reference for information about SoCal butterflies. In fact, the information included on this page about food plants, scientific names, and flight times comes from this book. The other book is Butterflies through Bincoulars: The West by Jeffrey Glassberg. This is an essential field guide to butterflies and contains excellent photos of both side views and top views of butterflies. He also includes a scale on each page so you can get a good idea of the butterfly's actual size.

References
Glassberg, Jeffrey. Butterflies through Binoculars The West. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. 


Heath, Fred. An Introduction to Southern California Butterflies. 1st ed. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2004. 

Starting a Butterfly Garden

California Fuchsia and Silver Carpet

I started our butterfly garden. Since we rent and the house came with landscaping, I needed to put everything in containers. When Rowshan and I first decided to plant a butterfly garden we figured we’d just stick some milkweed, fennel, and passion vines in a pot and we’d have it. However, a little research convinced me I should go native and plant butterfly plants native to this region. Milkweed is fine because there are several native species. I quickly eliminated fennel. It is highly invasive and difficult to get rid of. Passionvine, to my disappointment, is also non-native. However, at least it isn’t invasive. In our last rental house we had a fabulous passionvine full of caterpillars and butterflies. We may still get one, but first I want to get the natives growing.

White Striped Sphinx Moth

After talking with the woman at Las Pilitas. I decided to start 2 containers: one with a Ghostly Red California fuchsia (Zauschneria californica) and Silver Carpet (also known as a California Aster) (Lessingia fliagenfolia) and the other with a Narrow Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) and Sierra Columbine (Aquilegia pubescens). To be honest, the columbine isn’t actually a butterfly plant but the woman at the nursery recommended it since it attracts hummingbirds and could go with the milkweed. The fuchsia is more of a hummingbird attractant than one for butterflies. However, California Dogface butterflies like the nectar so maybe some will visit. Also, it is a food plant for sphinx moths. She didn’t mention that when she sold it to me and I’m a little wary. About a month ago we saw a really cool white striped sphinx moth. It was very beautiful and striking. I’ve also seen photos of sphinx moths hovering like hummingbirds in front of flowers. The problem is that the caterpillar of the sphinx moth is the dreaded tomato hornworm. I’m trying to grow tomatoes. Oops! Well, on the bright side, I guess I can always move the hornworms to the fuchsia. 

Golden Aphids on the milkweed

The milkweed is a nectar plant for monarchs, acmon blue butterflies and west coast ladies. It is also a larval plant for monarchs and acmon blues. The sign for the milkweed advertised: “Comes with golden aphids.” The woman explained that they were part of the plant ecosystem and I shouldn’t remove them or the plant could suffer. Once I got home I did some research and found stories of the aphids killing people’s milkweed. The milkweed attracts this kind of aphid. People said it was impossible to get rid of but necessary to keep under control. So, I just went out and killed all the aphids. 

Narrow Leaf Milkweed and Sierra Columbine

After getting the plants I had to find the containers. I settled on large terra cotta planters for $10-11. They would have been difficult for R to make since they are so big. At home I put the partial shade planter next to a fence (milkweed and columbine) and the sun planter next to the lawn (silver carpet and fuchsia). I planted the plants and watered them. Now I just have to see if they will survive. 

Useful Links

• Las Pilitas: Plants for a California or Western Butterfly Garden: www.laspilitas.com/butterfl.htm
• Moosa Creek Nursery: Native California Plants:  www.moosacreeknursery.com 
• North American Butterfly Association: Butterfly Gardening Information: www.nababutterfly.com