MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
#MON-600 Notecards Only
Also available in Notecard Assortment Packs #AST-502 and #AST-508

Early settlers who came to North America, particularly those from England and the Netherlands, were impressed by the sight of the beautiful orange and black butterfly. They named it "monarch" after William III, Prince of Orange, stadholder of the Netherlands, and later King of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Several generations of monarch are produced each summer. The generation that emerges in mid-to late-August is the one that migrates south in early Fall. All of the monarch butterflies living west of the Mississippi River migrate to winter roosts in California. Those living in Canada, and states east of the Mississippi, migrate to central Mexico. Instinct alone guides them on their long journey, which can cover 1,500 to 2,000 miles. In central Mexico, monarchs spend the winter months living in dense clusters on the branches and trunks of oyamel trees.

Between late February and mid-March most monarchs begin their return north. After mating multiple times, females will lay eggs on milkweed plants all along their flight path. Since reproductively active monarchs only live two to six weeks, it is their progeny that will continue the journey northward. How new generations of monarch butterflies find their way to the same roosts each year is a fascinating mystery still not understood by scientists.

Monarchs are the state butterfly in Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Vermont and West Virginia.

Text © 2002 Dianne Harrah, Drawing © 2002 Bill Harrah.
| Back to Top |

EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY
#TSW-600 Notecards Only
Also available in Notecard Assortment Packs #AST-505 and #AST-508

This large butterfly, found in eastern North America, is among 600 species of swallowtails found worldwide except in the Arctic. About 35 species of swallowtails live in North America. The tiger swallowtails' name comes from both its distinctive striped color pattern and the long extension on each hind wing, which resembles the tail of certain swallows. The male tiger swallowtail has a yellow and black striped pattern on the wings with yellow dashes on the black trailing edge. Females can be yellow or black, with the black form resembling the Pipevine swallowtail.

A number of adaptations help swallowtail caterpillars survive in the presence of predators such as birds and lizards. A y-shaped gland behind the head emits a strong odor when the caterpillar is disturbed. Different species of swallowtail caterpillars often avoid detection by resembling features of their environments, including bird droppings.

The eastern tiger swallowtail is recognized as the official butterfly in five states: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Text © 2002 Terry White, Drawing © 1996 Bill Harrah.
| Back to Top |

NOTECARDS: Black & white notecards are $7.00 per package. To cover postage and handling, add $3.00 for the first package of notecards, plus $1.00 for each additional package. Small orders are shipped via First Class U.S. Mail. Bulk orders can be shipped via Parcel Post at lower cost. Virginia Sales Tax of 6% applies to orders shipped within Virginia. Dealer inquiries welcome.

Each package includes eight notecards and eight plain white envelopes packaged in resealable crystal clear plastic bags. Notecards and envelopes are made from non-yellowing acid-free recycled stock. On the back of each card are interesting facts about the subject pictured on the front. All cards are blank inside. Closed cards measure 5.5 x 4.25 inches. The blank area inside an opened card measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches.

Order Form

Copyright Notice
Drawings Copyright © 1992-2023 Bill Harrah, Wolf Run Studio (SM), All Rights Reserved. Wolf Run Studio is a service mark of Bill Harrah and has been in continuous use since 1992. All of the images on this website are in tangible form and are fully copyrighted. Each has an invisible digital identification which is traceable through the Digimarc Corporation. Viewers of the Wolf Run Studio website are allowed to browse and print out images for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute copies of images or image files to anyone else for any reason. Images may not be reproduced or used in any form or any manner, or displayed on any website without the express written consent of Bill Harrah.

Text Copyright © 1992-2023 Terry White or Dianne Harrah. Text on this website is used with permission from the authors. Viewers of the Wolf Run Studio website are allowed to browse and print out text for personal, non-commercial use only. Text may not be reproduced or used in any form or any manner without the express written consent of the authors.

Information Accuracy
The information for the written description of each animal has been carefully researched by the authors and is believed to be accurate. New scientific observations, however, could make some information out-of-date. If you are a professional zoologist, and have new information that you are willing to share, please contact Dianne Harrah .