Ariela Alfonso, Woodside Elementary School
Bergen County
First Place, Bergen County, Arogos Skipper (c) Ariela Alfonso
Arogos Skipper Butterfly
There I was, peacefully feeding on a knapweed, when all of a sudden, a huge explosion of smoke from the distance frightened me. Hi, my name is Summer and I’m an Arogos Skipper Butterfly (Atrytone arogos arogos) and I’m endangered. I live in the northern part of New Jersey, where many prairies are. However, many wildfires occur and agriculture has taken away most of the land from my kind. Please help my friends and family before it’s too late.
As a female butterfly, I reproduce by depositing eggs carefully underneath the different types of plant leaves. Once my “babies” break out of their eggs, the first caterpillar out of many is born. They grow by a steady diet of leaves and other vegetation, with me nearby. My diet specifically includes knapweeds, milkweeds, thistles and blazing stars. Others may consider my appearance as natural. Flying through the air, people see a blend of brown, orange and gold on my wings.
Lately, I’ve been feeling unprotected. Humans have taken part of destroying my habitat. I would feel better if my little caterpillars are safe, knowing that they are out of harms reach. All I ask is that you lend a hand to our kind by preventing wildfires and stopping the farmers taking more of our land. Don’t let our population die off. We are as important to the world as humans or any other animal out there.
Written by:
Ariela Alfonso
Woodside Elementary School, River Vale
Teacher: Mr. Eric Mitchell