Investigations in Science: Butterfly Habitat Research
Created by K. Crossley 11/9/11
You will create a bibliography for this project using NoodleTools. You must use a minimum of three sources for this research project.
Encyclopedias
NoodleTools: Encyclopedias are considered a reference source – not duplicated from a printed work. Do NOT provide a URL.
Britannica School Edition – Search all levels of this encyclopedia to look for information about your butterfly, since many are in the High School version. If there is not an article about your butterfly, look under the article “Butterfly” to see if there is information about the family of butterflies your butterfly belongs to.
World Book Encyclopedia – In the article “Butterfly” you will find information about which butterflies belong to which family.
Online Databases
eLibrary – You can find general information about butterflies here, and a large article about the Monarch Butterfly. Use the search box to find your topic. Some articles will begin with “Why don’t you try” and they give different headings for your topic. If you get a large display with a photograph, click on “Expand this document” to see the whole thing.
NoodleTools: Look at the icon next to your article title on the search page. That will tell you if the article is from a newspaper, book, magazine, etc. Then look at the top of your article and sometimes the bottom to find the information you need to create your citation. To see the correct citation click on “Citation View” in the bar above the article title. Do NOT provide a URL.
Websites
NoodleTools: Cite as websites. DO provide a URL for websites.
General Info about Your Butterfly:
- Butterflies and Moths of North America: Baltimore – Type the name of your butterfly in the “Search by Common Name” box. When the scientific name appears, click on the scientific name to get info on your butterfly.
- BugGuide: Use the search box to type in the name of your butterfly. Click on the article name that sounds most useful below the photos. Then use the “Info” tab and other tabs to find out about your butterfly.
- Zipcode Zoo – You can search by many different characteristics, or just use the search box to find your butterfly. If you get a list of search results, click on the link that sounds closest to your butterfly name to get info on that butterfly.
- Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas – You can search by the family grouping of your butterfly, or look at the list on the search box “Search by Common Name” to find your butterfly name.
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Click on the first letter of your butterfly name and search the list to see if it is included on this website.
- Enchanted Learning: All About Butterflies - Look on this list to see if info about your butterfly is here.
Butterfly Habitat:
NoodleTools: Cite as websites. DO provide a URL for websites.
- Native Plant Center - On the left, choose the Soil Moisture you want. These are all plants that are native to the Piedmont region of Maryland (where you live!)
- North American Butterfly Association: Butterfly Garden and Habitat Program – Use the links to find out about butterfly garden plants and caterpillar food plants. Click on Regional Garden Guides and then on the dot in Maryland to find information about plants useful to butterflies of the Piedmont section of Maryland.
- Gardens with Wings - You can enter your park's zipcode in the search box to find butterflies available in your area. Click on the box for your butterfly, and then "View Butterflies and Plants." You will get a list of nectar and host plants, and you can click on any of them to get a description of them. On the left, under "Other Ways to Attract Butterflies" see what other things you might want to include in your habitat.
- ButterflyBushes: Butterfly Host Plants – This site lists host plants for many different butterflies. In the description of the plants it tells which specific butterfly uses that plant as a host.
- Washington Area Butterfly Club: Butterflies Occurring in the DC Area - Find your butterfly species and click on the name to link to a page about that butterfly, including caterpillar hosts, adult food and habitat.
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Wild Acres Program: Creating a Wild Backyard -General info about creating a butterfly garden, with a list of some useful plants.
- The Butterfly Website: Butterfly Gardening – Here is a list of caterpillar host plants and butterfly nectar plants for many types of butterflies.
- USDA: Forest Service: Celebrating Wildflowers: Monarch Habitat Needs – The habitat needs of the monarch butterfly are explained.
- American Beauties: Native Plants - Choose the characteristics of the area where you are creating your butterfly habitat to find native plants to use. Be sure to pick "Butterflies" under "Attracts Wildlife."
Animals in Habitat:
- Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, WIldlife and Heritage Service: Animal Bits - Find information on Maryland animals here. NoodleTools: Cite as a website. DO provide a URL for websites.
- World Book Online: Look up "Maryland". Use the Table of Contents on the left side to find "Plant and Animal Life." Here you will find native species listed.
NoodleTools: Encyclopedias are considered a reference source -- not duplicated from a printed work. Do NOT provide a URL for these databases. - e-book: Grzimek's Student Animal Life Resource
NoodleTools: Look at the top of the article under "Source" to find information for your citation. Cite as a reference source -- online -- other -- yes, I will provide publication details. "Editors" are NOT listed as authors. Database is Gale Virtual Reference Library. Do NOT provide the URL.
Montgomery County Parks: Choose one of these local parks as a setting for your butterfly habitat.
NoodleTools: Cite as websites. DO provide a URL for websites.
Black Hill Regional Park - Brookside Gardens
- Cabin John Regional Park
- Little Bennett Regional Park
- Rock Creek Regional Park
- Wheaton Regional Park
Habitat Design/Cost Analysis: Look up the materials and plants you need to create your habitat at one or more of the gardening websites below.
NoodleTools: Cite as websites. DO provide a URL for websites.
- Home Depot Garden Center
- Meadowbrook Nursery
- Shady Gardens Nursery
- Dave’s Garden – Access limited at school, please use this site from home. Here you can find out information about plants to include in your habitat. Type the name of your plant into the “Common name” search box. Your results will appear below. Choose the exact type of plant you want to include, and click on its name. To find out a price, click on “____ vendors have this plant for sale.” Note whether they are offering seeds or plants. Lastly, choose one vendor who is selling what you need and click on “purchase this from ________” to get the price.
Photos:
Britannica Image Quest – Type your butterfly name in the search box to find images of your butterfly.
NoodleTools: Cite as Painting, Sculpture or Photograph - photograph from an online database – online. If you find information that the image is from a museum or collection, make the first choice. If no information is given about a collection or museum, choose second option. Look under “Credit” for the artist/photographer, collection or museum. The title is under “Caption.” The year it was created is found under “Date” at the bottom. The database is Encyclopedia Britannica Image Quest. Do NOT enter a URL.
