Terrene Obuah, Chester Stevens School
Morris County
First Place, Morris County, Silver-bordered Fritillary (c) Terrene Obuah
Silver-Bordered Fritillary Butterfly
Do you have to go to flowers almost every day? Well, I do. Hi! My name is Boloria selene. I live in many places like wet meadows, bog margins and marshes.
My family and I usually go to the meadows because of the flowers. We have to eat nectar, violets, weeds, purple coneflower and other composite flowers. I guess you can say its fun, considering we get to fly! Speaking of violets did you know that when I was born, my mother had to watch me near violets?
I am very colorful. My wings are bright orange with black marks in a sparse pattern. My forewings are also orange and my hind wings, which are chestnut colored, have four metallic silver spots radiating out from the base to the margin. My family and I grow to be at least 1.6 inches to around 2.75 inches. We’re pretty small. In pictures we look pretty big. My mom says were small because we’re invertebrates, but I don’t think that’s why.
We have a very important role on the environment. We pollinate flowers and help plants to live to give off oxygen for all of you guys to breathe. We love plants and we love people.
There is a big problem. People are polluting my family’s home. That’s where you come in. If you want to help me and my family, please pick up the trash when you pollute, and actually try not to trash or pollute my home. People are also poisoning my home. If you continue, it could affect you. It’s already affecting my family. Most of my family is dying. My family and I are threatened. If you want to save yourself and save the world, save us!
Written by: Terrene Obuah
Chester M. Stephens School, Budd Lake
Teacher: Mrs. Elizabeth DiMarzo