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Get ready for a day of discovery and learning on National Learn About Butterflies Day on March 14! This special day was first created in the mid-1980s to help educate people about these beautiful, delicate creatures. Butterflies have been around since prehistoric times and there are over 28,000 species of them all over the world. From their bright colors to their graceful flight patterns, it's no wonder why butterflies fascinate us so much!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1983</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Initiation of the Holiday</div><div class='timeline-text'>National Learn About Butterflies Day was first celebrated, with the aim of educating people about butterflies.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1985</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Museum Exhibit</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History mounts its first comprehensive exhibit on butterflies, attracting international attention.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1991</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Launch of Butterfly Gardens</div><div class='timeline-text'>Community butterfly gardens began gaining momentum across the U.S, providing people a firsthand experience to learn about butterflies in their local habitats.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2006</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Butterfly Education Shows</div><div class='timeline-text'>Educational TV shows and documentaries began to feature episodes dedicated to butterfly species and conservation efforts, increasing awareness about their diversity and ecological importance.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2014</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Monarch Butterfly Decline</div><div class='timeline-text'>Studies show that the Monarch butterfly population had declined significantly, sparking renewed interest and efforts in butterfly conservation.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Virtual Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, National Learn About Butterflies Day goes online, promoting butterfly learning and conservation through virtual platforms.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Observe Butterflies</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Visit a butterfly garden or park and observe the different types of butterflies and how they interact with each other and the environment.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a Butterfly Garden</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Design a butterfly garden in your own backyard or patio. Plant flowers and plants that attract butterflies, such as milkweed, coneflower, and bee balm.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Raise Caterpillars</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Find caterpillar eggs or larvae to raise in a jar or other container. Monitor their development, feed them leaves, and eventually release them into the wild.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Read Up on Butterflies</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Learn about the biology, behavior, ecology, and evolution of butterflies by reading books on the subject. Or use apps like iNaturalist to find out more about local species.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go to a Butterfly Festival</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Attend a local butterfly festival to learn more about these amazing creatures while having fun with activities such as butterfly walks, talks, crafts, and live music.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Butterflies are beautiful</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Butterflies come in all sorts of beautiful shapes, sizes, and colors. From the majestic monarch to the fluttery blue morpho, butterflies offer us a stunning reminder of how truly breathtaking nature can be!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Butterfly watching is fun</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Taking some time out to watch butterflies is not only fascinating, it's also incredibly relaxing. Spend an afternoon on your porch or in a nearby meadow and you might just spot multiple impressive species during their migration - it's a treat for any nature enthusiast!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Butterflies help pollinate our food</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>From fruits and vegetables to cotton plants, butterflies provide invaluable assistance with the critical process of pollination. Without them, our gardens and crops would not produce as much food as they do now - so why not celebrate National Learn About Butterflies Day by planting butterfly friendly flowers in your yard?</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Butterflies Taste With Their Feet</h3><p class='facts-content'>Their taste sensors are located in the feet, and by standing on their food, they can taste it to see if it's suitable to lay their eggs on.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Butterflies Cannot Fly If They Are Cold</h3><p class='facts-content'>Butterflies need an ideal body temperature of about 85 degrees fahrenheit or 30 degrees celsius to fly. If the temperature drops too low, they are unable to fly.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>A Butterfly’s Lifecycle is Made Up of Four Stages</h3><p class='facts-content'>These stages include egg, larval called caterpillar, stage of pupa or chrysalis, and adult butterfly - a fascinating process known as metamorphosis.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Largest Butterfly Species Has Nearly a Foot Wingspan</h3><p class='facts-content'>The female Queen Alexandra's birdwing from Papua New Guinea can reach up to a wingspan of about 11 inches or 28 cms, making it the largest butterfly in the world.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Butterflies Have Been Around for at Least 50 Million Years</h3><p class='facts-content'>The earliest known butterfly fossils date to the mid Eocene epoch, 40–50 million years ago, demonstrating their long association with our planet's ecosystems.</p></div></div>
National Learn About Butterflies Day is celebrated on March 14 every year. In 2024, National Learn About Butterflies Day will occur on a Thursday.
2023
Mar 14
Tuesday
2024
Mar 14
Thursday
2025
Mar 14
Friday
2026
Mar 14
Saturday
2027
Mar 14
Sunday
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