The Butterfly Woman of Seaview
Volume 49, Issue 10
By April Jimenez

With the precision of a surgeon, Margaret Hofbeck carries the newborn Swallowtail Butterfly outside to her garden, a quiet haven filled with vivid greens, purples and yellows. She gently untacks the wire mesh from the homemade cage and whispers encouraging words to the hesitant butterfly.

In seconds, the ritual is complete: the butterfly spreads its wings and takes to the sky.

The Seaview resident and renowned wildlife and nature photographer has dedicated her last three summers on Fire Island to assisting the delicate life cycle of the Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly (EBST).

Hofbeck discovered her passion for butterflies and the EBST particularly, by accident.

Although not formally trained, Hofbeck is an Eastern Black Swallowtail expert, having spent years studying their behavior.

“A few years ago I was curious what was happening to my parsley garden so I took one of the caterpillars in the house and kept feeding it parsley, decided to see what happened.”

Her curiosity paid off as she watched the green and yellow creature become a chrysalis and eight days later emerge a fabulous black and blue butterfly.

The butterfly lady was hooked. She has released 90 so far this season.

She began to invest all of her time and energy into researching and gaining resources to successfully raise butterflies. Hofbeck laughs heartily as she says, “I am a butterfly midwife of sorts.” Indeed she is, her kitchen is a veritable nursery and incubator. Netted jars filled with parsley are methodically labeled with chrysalis date, length of incubation and expected birth date, next to a calendar tracking feedings and cleanings. By taking the near-ready caterpillars in the house she protects them from predators such as praying mantises, spiders, wasps, parasites and poor weather conditions – increasing their chances of survival.

“I have a 95 percent success rate,” Hofbeck said.

Hofbeck takes her advocacy of the winged-beauties quite seriously. Her concern centers around how insecticides effect the caterpillar population.

“Many people don’t realize that the thick caterpillar in their garden is only days away from becoming a beautiful butterfly.”

Hofbeck’s ultimate payoff is the creatures’ successful release. After the eight to 12 day incubation period, which is specific to Fire Island – it is longer in other parts of the country; the butterfly wriggles gently out of its chrysalis and emerges wet and wrinkled, within a half an hour it is ready to take flight.

As soon as her latest birth flies away, Hofbeck turns her attention to an injured EBST who has been hanging around the garden for a couple of days. She points out its crippled wing and that it will probably spend its 14-day-life close to the garden.

Her affection is evident.

“The joy of seeing butterflies emerge after they change from a caterpillar is beautiful. I like to think that I release a little beauty on Fire Island.”

Hofbeck doesn’t spend all her time tending to butterflies, she is also a wildlife and nature photographer. Her latest venture, a calendar shot in the remote Galapagos Islands, was recently picked up by the American Museum of Natural History, where it will be sold exclusively.

She appeals to the masses asking that instead of killing the caterpillars in your garden, plant a parsley patch for them so when you find them, you can transplant them. “The reward is priceless.”