Butterflies in Bad Weather

When skies begin to darken before a rainstorm, just like when the sun sets at evening, butterflies seek shelter. This may be clinging to the underside of a leaf like the Julia Longwing in the photo. Other butterflies can be found deep within a stand of grasses or perhaps tucked under a man made overhang on a building. Rain is a big deal to a butterfly.

If you are a butterfly, rain is not a great deal of fun: The average monarch butterfly weighs in at around 500 milligrams. The average raindrop weighs a bit more than 1/7th of that, around 70 milligrams. Scientific American suggested that the impact of a raindrop on a butterfly would be similar to a human being hit with a water balloon with twice the mass of a bowling ball. Ouch.

During periods of high winds, butterflies will also seek shelter. Sturdy shrubs and trees become great butterfly shelter during strong storms and hurricanes. As soon as the rain has quit, the wind died back and the sun has returned, butterflies leap from their hiding places to continue patrolling, courting, egg laying and nectar sipping. What a life.