Angela Zhang ’28
Writer/Illustrator
Occupied with my bustling agendas for the first two weeks of the semester, I never truly had a chance to observe the butterflies on campus closely. There were simply two kinds of butterflies on my mind back then: the yellow ones and the orange ones. This is until one noon when I meticulously observed the butterflies resting on the bushes beside Malott, and caught the subtle differences in the patterns of their wings. And behind these subtle differences, were many distinctions between completely different species. Situated in a garden-like environment with a diverse array of flowers, Scripps’s campus is home to various species of butterflies. Undoubtedly, their colorful wings are one of the most graceful arts of nature around us, so let’s take a closer look at the different butterfly species found on campus and how exactly to distinguish one from the other. Next time, when you pass one of these tiny neighbors of ours, you’ll be able to call out their names with confidence!
Western Tiger Swallowtail
The Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) was the first butterfly I spotted during this fall semester. It is a large swallowtail butterfly native to North America, commonly found in California. They have a pair of grand wide wings, with bright yellow as the main color, black edges enclosing both sides and dark blue spots adorning the end. Their most prominent feature, however, is the bold black stripes spreading outward from their center, ranging from long to short. Additionally, as a swallowtail butterfly, it also has its iconic tails painted in yellow and black stripes. Thanks to these simple but graceful stripes and their large figure, the western Tiger Swallowtail is easily identifiable while standing around the entrance of Malott.
Anise Swallowtail
Another butterfly species from the genus Papilio that is very similar to the Western Tiger Swallowtail is the Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon), which I spotted near the entrance of the Claremont Colleges Library. If you look from afar, it is almost impossible to distinguish them, as they both have very similar wings, predominantly in bright yellow, black patterns on top, dark blue dots at the end, and that iconic pair of swallowtails. Even more so, the distribution of the Anise Swallowtail resembles the Western Tiger Swallowtail’s, as both mainly reside in Western North America. What makes the Anise Swallowtails special though, are their delicate and dense black patterns that dominate most of their wings’ surface, spreading in multiple directions. The part of the wing close to their body is also black, blending some of these black lines in, like a gradient spreading from the center of their body. What an elegant design of nature to make two distinctly beautiful species out of the same two colors!
Monarch Butterfly
Orange butterflies are, if not the first, then the second most commonly seen on campus. One species of them is the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), the most common species in North America and on the Scripps campus, often spotted at the entrance of Student Health Services. Their entire body is covered in vibrant orange as if they are messengers of sunlight, with a dazzling afterglow when the sun’s rays pass through their wings. Simple black lines then run through the orange, converging and enclosing at the end of the wing. Finally, the end of their wings are also featured with little white dots, completing their iconic look. While creating a magnificent view to the human eye, monarch butterflies are aposematic, utilizing their bright orange to warn predators of their poisonous traits inherited from their main food source, milkweed.
Gulf Fritillary
Last comes the Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae incarnata), last identified at seal court. Although both butterflies are orange, it is easy to distinguish the Gulf Fritillary from Monarch butterflies. From a distance, their wingspan is smaller than Monarch’s, and up close, the patterns are oppositely oriented. While Monarch butterflies have their black stripes at the center of the wing, and white dots at the end, it is quite the opposite for Gulf Fritillary. Their wings, primarily in orange-yellow, are dotted with infrequent silver spots in the middle, and thin black strips only at the edge. Moreover, Gulf Fritillary has its entire thorax and abdomen in bright orange, casting a special sense of unity and continuity when appreciating their beauty. Similarly to Monarch butterflies, their beauty is also a warning. The Gulf Fritillary secretes odorous chemicals in response to predator exposure.
Looking to the future
If you’re also someone who’s been keeping a close eye on these little guys, you’d know that they seem to have disappeared recently. Remember that week of scorching temperatures, forest fires, and the subsequent rapid cooling last month? , We’re not the only victims. Butterflies, being cold-blooded animals, are particularly sensitive to temperature changes. Their optimal survival temperature is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and anything higher or lower could hinder their bodily maintenance. While adjustments could be made to combat the milder temperature fluctuations, for instance, on a cool morning, you might spot them in sunny spots, rapidly vibrating their wings to absorb energy (yes, they enjoy sunbathing too!), the extreme temperature swings can be fatal to them, leading to dehydration or slowed metabolism. Although revitalization of the group may take a while, it is also most certain that our neighbors will return in the coming October weeks. When they return, be sure to look out for their natural glamor and grace.
