If Rick Mikula hadn’t become a world-renowned butterfly expert, he could have become a stand-up comedian. When he shares his love of butterflies (and moths) with people, he combines the best of both worlds.

Mikula of Hazleton spoke Oct. 2 at Sweet Arrow Lake Clubhouse in an event hosted by the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association. He presented a wealth of information, managing to mix that with belly-laugh moments.

“He was great,” said Evelyn Kopinetz, of Minersville, who attended with her sons Charlie and Samuel. “Great for the kids and for the adults.”

Mikula didn’t grow up longing for a career involving butterflies, but it found him. One day about 40 years ago, he told the group, he saw a butterfly with interesting markings which seemed to be following him. On its wings was the shape of a silver question mark.

It was — no surprise — the Question Mark Butterfly, and fittingly, Mikula now had the answer for the path his life would take.

“As soon as the first butterfly was born in my house, that was it,” he said. “I have the greatest job in the world — I raise butterflies.”

After his encounter with the Question Mark Butterfly, Mikula started reading every book he could find about butterflies. He started his business by catching and raising butterflies for releases at weddings.

“I also found that people wanted to have butterflies to release at funerals,” he said. “In many cultures, they believe that when we pass, we become butterflies.”

From a novice, he became famous globally as an expert in butterflies and moths. He has developed the butterfly zoos for Dollywood and Hershey Park. He’s been featured on television shows such as Animal Planet, Discovery, the Weather Channel and more.

Did You Know?

There are 147 species of butterflies in Schuylkill County.

If you’re visiting a butterfly zoo, use vanilla scented perfume and the butterflies will be attracted to you.

A moth spins a single strand of silk to make a cocoon. That silk, unwound, would be one-half mile long! “So, if you have clothing that’s made out of silk, you should know that it’s dried up caterpillar spit that you’re wearing,” Mikula said.

Mikula has sponsored a bill to establish the Regal Fritillary as the Pennsylvania state butterfly. The butterfly is only found at Fort Indiantown Gap, and Mikula said it would be a way to honor our veterans.

A monarch butterfly can fly from Pennsylvania to Mexico in six to eight weeks. The monarch originated in Mexico, and thousands return there annually. Towns celebrate the butterflies’ return with a monthlong Festival of the Dead.

The majority of butterflies only live for two weeks; monarchs live for eight months.

People often guess the coming severity of a winter by the rust and black bands on the woolly bear caterpillar (which becomes the Isabella tiger moth).

“They get it right about as often as our weather forecasters do,” Mikula joked.

About Rick Mikula

Mikula is currently president of Butterfly Rescue International and serves as consultant to both the Association for Butterflies and The International Butterfly Breeders Association. Rick is a co-founder and past president of the IBBA, has served as a vice president of the Canadian Butterfly Breeders and Exhibitors Association, secretary and treasurer for the New Jersey Lepidopterist Society, and on the board for The Center for Landscape Design and Stewardship. He is also the pioneer and inventor of the releasing butterflies at weddings and funerals and has helped to make it a global phenomenon.

Rick has written several books on butterflies including the award winning “The Family Butterfly Book,” “The Butterfly Fandex” and “Garden Butterflies of North America.” He has served as staff writer for several magazines. He has been featured in many magazines including People, Organic Gardening and Entrepreneur. He and his wife, Claudia, live in Hazleton.

For information about catching, raising and identifying butterflies and moths — as well as finding lots of great family projects — visit Mikula’s website at www.butterflywebsite.com. For more information about the monarch, go to www.monarchwatch.org.