For a brief second, the world comes alive with color as an elusive butterfly flits across the path. Then there is Edwards' hairstreak , living its life intrinsically tied to the ants and oak trees of the refuge's hardwood forest, as seen in the photo by Dr. Ron Royer of Minot State University. Salyer refuge is one of seven sites in North Dakota undergoing extensive butterfly research. Perhaps someday an established butterfly trail complete with brochures will greet those out for the day, seeking some of the butterfly's elusive elegance.
Butterflies are diurnal, active during the day.
In fact, being cold-blooded creatures, they become more active as cool morning temperatures give way to summer warmth. That all depends on what butterflies you want to find. J. Clark Salyer offers woodland butterflies, such as Edwards' hairstreak and grassland butterflies like the Melissa blue. The numbers and types of butterflies on the refuge change not just daily and weekly, but hourly as well depending on temperature, wind and location. But butterflies tend not be like the adaptable deer of the big game world.