Spring is just around the corner.....

Phenology is the study of the timing of life history events for plants and animals, such as, when does a certain flower bloom each year, or when does the first tiger swallowtail butterfly emerge in the spring? Over the next few months, send us your firsts – the first butterfly of the season, first bee, first dragonfly, or other “first” insects you see active outside.

For March, we’re also focusing on butterflies. Some butterflies spend the winter as adults, seeking shelter under tree bark or in other protected crevices. So on the warmer days of March, you might see an eastern comma, question mark, or mourning cloak butterfly basking on the bark of a tree or flying by in the woods. Keep your eyes open for these beautiful butterflies! And don't forget to send in your observations of these butterflies or other interesting invertebrate sightings!

Mourning Cloak

Eastern Comma

Question Mark

Posted on March 8, 2013 09:55 PM by americanmuseumofnaturalhistory