Despite appearances, butterflies have much to do, and little time in which to do it. Most Sonoran butterflies have a life expectancy of only one to a few weeks. In that time they must find a mate, generate and provide for offspring, at the same time dodging predators and staying fed. With a little patience, and a sense of what to look for, you can see butterflies at work. Here are a few examples:

This butterfly might be laying eggs. Watch it carefully, and it might “tag” a spot on the plant (like a leaf) with the tip of its abdomen. After the butterfly flies away, go to the plant and very gently turn over the leaf it touched. You might see a tiny egg. Most butterfly eggs are white or yellow, but some, like those of the pipevine swallowtail, are bright orange.

A butterfly perches at the base of a red, trumpet-shaped flower. It seems to be feeding (its tongue is extended), but it is nowhere near the opening of the flower.

Chances are this butterfly is feeding. Many red, trumpet-shaped flowers are designed to attract hummingbirds, which have long beaks and long tongues. If a butterfly’s tongue (its proboscis) is too short to reach deep enough into the flower, it can’t get any nectar. So sometimes the butterfly learns (yes, butterflies can learn) to take a shortcut by inserting its proboscis into the side of the flower near the stem.

Another butterfly is perched on a flower at a funny angle, and even though you get pretty close, it does not fly away.

Look a little closer, and you may see that this butterfly has fallen victim to a tiny predator called a crab spider. Crab spiders do not catch their prey in webs as typical spiders do. Instead, they wait quietly on a flower and ambush any insect visiting the flower. Crab spiders may be yellow, white or pale pink, enabling them to match their flower perches very well. They are harmless to people. If you look on the ground below the spider you might see more butterfly wings on the ground - remnants of previous spider meals.

A butterfly is sitting on the ground with its wings spread, doing nothing. Occasionally it darts away, but it soon returns to the same spot and spreads its wings again.

The world is very big, and butterflies are very small, so it can be difficult for them to find mates. Remember, they don’t have much time. Some male butterflies simply search everywhere because there is no telling where a female might be. Others, like the butterfly described above, find a location that female butterflies might pass through and perch there to wait.

Good locations can be dry streambeds, caterpillar food plants, exposed hilltops, or a garden wall. A waiting male keeps his wings spread to allow the sun to warm the flight muscles in his thorax. That way he’s always ready for takeoff. When something flies overhead, the male chases it. If it’s a bird, or the wrong species of butterfly, he’ll turn back, cruising once or twice over his site before landing near his original perch. But if it’s a butterfly of his own species the male will continue in pursuit. Usually, he’ll be able to chase other males away before returning to his spot. If he’s chasing a female, and she’s interested in mating, she’ll soon land. If she has already mated, she will keep flying, and the male will return to his site to take up watch again.

If you find a butterfly that appears to be on watch, take care not to disturb it and find a shady spot for yourself. With a little luck, you’ll see the butterfly chase something, return to his perch, and carefully position himself so he can soak up more sun.

A person wishes to observe what butterflies and other insects are up to. What kind of equipment is needed, and where should he or she look?

You don’t really need any equipment, but a pair of close-focus binoculars can make watching and identifying insects much easier. A camera with a magnification function will allow you to record what you see, and you’ll end up with nice pictures you can share with others. Where should you look? For butterflies, wet places with plenty of flowers are good, but you can find them almost anywhere, including in your own back yard.