Butterflies spring free

As I walk around the mountains I am in awe. The abundance of life springs forth from seemingly nowhere: grasses from barren sands, buds from dormant trees, colorful flowers from dry hillsides. Animal life is prolific as well, especially the butterflies.

Recently I have been inundated by the fluttering of these insects. They fly so close that I can feel the wind of their wings on my face. They swirl in a tornado of dance with one another, so high that I lose them in the blue sky. I watch them hover over a tree, landing, only to be lost in perfect camouflage.

And it is only after watching them for a long while that I realize that they are in communion with more than their own species. Not only are they communicating with one another, they also have a significant and essential relationship with other species in the chaparral.

They do not and cannot rely only on their own species for survival; they must recognize this and work mutually, outside of themselves to ensure the propagation of future generations. By watching the mourning cloak butterfly, Nymphalis antiopa, I wondered, do I recognize the absolute necessity of interspecies relationships?

The mourning cloak is a member of the order Lepidoptera. Moths and butterflies are found in this order. Members are characterized by their large size, two pairs of wings and the shinglelike scales that cover their body and wings. Within California there are 240 species of butterflies, representing all of the nine families found in North America. All species in this order undergo complete metamorphosis, having a larval (caterpillar), a pupal (usually in a co

coon) and an adult stage.

Mourning cloaks are in the family Nymphalidae, which has more members than any other family of butterflies- 50 species in California alone. Mourning cloaks have deep brownishblack wings bordered by creamy white with iridescent blue spots inside the border. The underside of the wings is a mottled brown with a dull yellow border. The underside serves as perfect camouflage when perched on a tree. The wingspan is between 2 ¼ and 4 inches.

Three phases of existence

The adult morning cloak occasionally feeds on flower nectar, pollinating different species. Most commonly they feed on the sap of oaks. In the early spring mating begins, and eggs are laid on the host plants. Common host plants in the Santa Monica Mountains are willow and white alder, Alnus rhombifolia. The eggs are laid in groups circling the twigs. The eggs are at first pale yellow, turning red and then

black just before hatching.

Once hatched the caterpillars eat immediately and continuously, reaching a size of 2 inches. They are black with red spots and hearty spines. The caterpillars continue to eat until they reach full size, when they begin to pupate. Adult

mourning cloaks

emerge from their cocoons in June or July. Mourning cloaks are a longlived butterfly that overwinters, meaning they hibernate through winter, appearing once again in spring.

Partners for life Right now is an excellent time not only to spot the adult mourning cloak but also to search the twigs of the white alder for eggs. The alder is a single-trunked tree growing 50 to 80 feet tall with a 2foot diameter. Like the mourning cloak, the deciduous alders are also coming out from a winter's hibernation, budding with new leaves. The leaves are alternate and simple with serrated edges, 1 ½ to 3 ¼ inches long. When in flower the tree produces catkins about a quarter to a half-inch long. The flowers appear prior to the budding of the leaves.

The bark is thin and gray with mottled whitish patches. The white alder is found in riparian habitats providing wonderfully cool shade in the hottest summer months. As this tree needs constant water it is abundant along creeks and is a pioneer species in these areas. An excellent place to see these trees is the underpass at Tapia Bridge along Malibu Canyon or just south of the S curves along Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Beyond providing food for mourning cloaks, alders offer firewood and lumber. The bark is used to make red dye while the roots can be woven into baskets. The catkins are edible, and the inner bark can flavor soups. When dried it is mixed with flour for breads.

Medicinally, parts of the alder can treat diarrhea, hemorrhaging and stomach ailments. The bark can be used as an astringent or as a wash for rashes. Presently, alder is most valuable in clear-cut areas. It is essential in preventing watershed erosion and provides protective habitats, allowing key species to propagate and thrive, helping to rebuild healthy ecosystems.

And I am thankful for these ecosystems. This is where waters are filtered clean, soils are kept fertile, plants produce seeds, animals thrive and where I grasp the importance of interspecies relationships.