What Attracts Butterflies?

Butterflies are drawn to people in our live Butterflies exhibit. We can't be certain why they might land on a particular person, but entomologist Dr. Ralph Berry knows all about why local plants attract butterflies. Tomorrow at 2 pm, he'll explain why butterflies depend on aspen, willows, juniper and other plants for survival.

Dr. Berry (he'll probably let you call him Ralph) led summer nature walks here and collected specimens of these host plants that influence the biology of butterflies and moths. He's had snowbrush, rabbitbrush, ponderosa pine and other plant specimens in a refrigerator here so he can use them during his talk tomorrow.

"I have to see what condition they are in," he said.

We hope no one mistook them for a snack.

He'll also have his collection of butterflies for reference. Dr. Berry, a professor emeritus in entomology at Oregon State University is also the co-creator of our live Butterflies exhibit. After talking with him, you can explore the exhibit and see if one of our vibrant Peleides blue morpho butterflies chooses to land on you, just as one did on one of our Museum staff recently.

January 8: High Desert Perspectives: Butterflies and Moths of the High Desert at the High Desert Museum, 2 pm