Channel 57: Tracking Mitchell’s Satyr butterflies

The first week in July is when the molting and mating period begins for the Mitchell’s Satyr, so butterfly watchers are on the lookout at Sarrett Nature Center in Benton Harbor, reports Channel 57: ABC in South Bend. The nature center is one of the few places in the world to find the butterflies. They live only in what’s called a fen, a warm water marsh with a highly basic PH level. The plants growing there are exclusive to the rare natural habitat and the Satyr only lays its eggs on plants that grow in the fen. The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and Michigan DNR are now searching local river basins to find more Mitchell’s Satyr habitats since its numbers have gotten so low. “We’re looking over all the river valleys in lower Michigan,” said Chuck Nelson, director of Sarrett Nature Center.

For more, please read the rest of the story.

Source: Channel 57