Butterfly expert depicts beauty

Sue Anderson’s audience left her Lunch & Learn presentation ready to brave even the nastiest Central Oregon weather to go butterfly hunting.

The lepidopterist guided her listeners through the natural history of Central Oregon butterflies and finished with an assortment of colorful slides of different species.

“We do yearly counts of butterflies in the Green Ridge area and the Ochocos,” Anderson told the group.

Another beautiful area to visit is Mary’s Peak, located outside Corvallis (off Highway 34), according to Anderson.

She also described and illustrated the butterfly’s life-cycle from egg to chrysalis, caterpillar and finally adult.

“Many of the adult butterflies only live a few weeks, during which time they mate and help produce a new generation,” said Anderson.

Important equipment for butterfly observing includes a good butterfly net, field glasses and reference books. Anderson demonstrated her colorful butterfly bag that carries her equipment into the field. Camera buffs may also capture colorful close-ups of butterflies gathering nectar from favorite plants.

Knowing the types of areas and flora that butterflies enjoy helps in the search for these colorful insects. Thistles are particularly attractive to butterflies. They also may be found associated with buckwheat and Sweet William plants, according to Anderson.

“With a ‘real’ butterfly net, you can capture, observe and then release them back into nature,” she said and demonstrated the technique with her net.

“We’re really lucky to be living here in central Oregon with so many diverse habitats,” Anderson said. “With the mountains and high desert, there are a greater variety of plants supporting a larger variety of butterfly species.”

She suggested butterfly observing as a wonderful family outing.

“Kids particularly can enjoy these outings and it teaches them a reverence for life,” she said.

Anderson suggested books on butterflies for her audience.

“Among the best is “The Butterflies of Cascadia” by Robert Michael Pyle which covers most of our local species. I carry it in my butterfly bag,” she said.

For more information about COCC Lunch & Learn programs call 383-7270.