August 27, 2003

Summer break flies by for TC 'butterfly girl'

Eight-year-old raises and releases nearly 50 monarch butterflies

By Gretchen Murray
Special to the Herald

       She's only eight years old, but already Paige Harrigan is making a name for herself. She's quickly becoming known as the "butterfly girl" to her family and friends because of her summer project. The third grader at Courtade Elementary has spent her vacation time raising and releasing monarch butterflies.
      Paige's friend, Kimmie Berreth, 9, got her interested in the project. Kimmie's father, Ron Berreth, loves the butterflies with their distinctive orange and black markings, and researched them extensively when he was considering raising them as a business venture.
      Sharon Harrigan said her daughter, Paige, looks for milkweed plants almost daily since summer vacation began. She looks for monarch eggs laid on the underside of the milkweed leaves or monarch caterpillars which continuously feed on the leaves. When she finds one, she gathers it, plant and all.
      "The butterflies lay their eggs on the under part of the leaves so they will be protected from the birds, rain and enemies," Paige said.
      So far she has raised and released more than 46 monarchs.
      Finding eggs and caterpillars with Paige is a relaxing pastime for the whole family and is a great excuse to get out and take long walks said Harrigan.
      Butterflies take about a month to go through a four-stage metamorphosis. The eggs hatch into caterpillars which shed about four or five times before forming into shiny green and gold-speckled chrysalises. From that stage it takes about 14 days to emerge as an adult butterfly.
      During those weeks, Paige keeps her caterpillars' containers clean and makes sure they have plenty of milkweed to eat.
      "They (larvae) eat milkweed which is poisonous to other animals and humans, including dogs," Paige said. "Eating milkweed makes them poisonous and protects them from their predators."
      Paige has observed that the chrysalises always hatch in the morning.
      "Something in nature tells them they need the whole day to dry their wings, she said."
      Her parents feel the project is great way for Paige to learn a little biology this summer.
      "I think I got a lot just from learning how to tell if they're boys or girls," Paige said while showing the markings on the wings of a female. "And I learned that each side is identical."
      Once released, the adult butterflies will live only another two to six weeks unless they begin a migration to Mexico. The family enjoys watching the newly-released butterflies that will stay around the yard for a day or two before beginning their journey.
      Paige plans on raising and releasing her monarchs until the weather turns colder and she can no longer find eggs.
      In the meantime, she has passed on her knowledge to several of her friends. The Harrigans are aware of seven or eight other families in the neighborhood who also are raising the butterflies.
      "I also have my friend on the west side of town doing it, and she may pass it on to her friends over there," Paige said.
      With Paige getting so many friends involved in raising monarchs, she's insuring there will be more returning next year.
      "If kids find one or two and are taking them in and raising them, they have a better survival rate because they are free from their natural predators, Ron Berreth said.
      Sharon Harrigan appreciates the quality time the family has spent on the project.
      "You always hope your children will remember the things you did with them," she said. "I hope Paige will remember the year we raised 48 butterflies."