Snacks for Butterflies

Snuggle your pup while you imagine that flowers brag how delicious they taste. No acid required.

January 10, 2025

Welcome to January and the time of … winter storms?! For some of us, we are hunkering down a bit but that is a good time to catch up on important reading, like learning why butterflies are more unique than you would think, feeling warm and fuzzy learning about your dog’s bond with you, and even getting the feels from Sassy Max showing his version of a soft side.

Oh, and check out this exciting announcement - our Q1 2025 catalog is here and it is riddled with goodies for dogs and for us humans this time. It covers wellness, the month of love, and the month of luck (where are those damn gold coins???). And, as always, don’t forget to join our Fido Family! Look for details below.
- Naimh

-In today’s edition

  • How Butterflies Turn Flowers into Neon Snack Signs

  • Paws Up, Dog Parents. 🐾 Join our Fido Family!

  • Puppy Love: Your Dog’s Tail-Tale Crush on You

  • Sassy Max gets a softer side… somewhat

Environment

How Butterflies Turn Flowers into Neon Snack Signs


Move over, Superman - there’s a new visual superhero in town, and it’s flitting around your garden (and no, it's not me, although I do look amazing in a garden). Butterflies don’t just flutter by looking pretty; they’re packing some serious optical power. Unlike us mere mortals, who can only see red, blue, and green wavelengths, butterflies have ultraviolet (UV) vision. That means they can see a whole secret world of colors we can only dream of. Wow. Cool.

For butterflies, seeing UV light is like having a pair of sunglasses that also reveal hidden treasure maps. Flowers have UV patterns called nectar guides - essentially arrows pointing to the sweet stuff - and butterflies can spot them from a distance (kind of like me spotting the sweet desserts from a distance). It’s the insect equivalent of a “free snacks here” sign.

Imagine strolling into a bakery where every pastry glows with neon signs saying, “Eat me!” (can you even imagine!!!). That’s how butterflies see flowers. No wonder they’re always stopping to refuel.

It’s not just the flowers that flaunt their UV vibes. Butterflies use their ultraviolet brilliance for flirting and flexing... heeeeyyyy.  Many species have UV patterns on their wings, visible only to other butterflies. Think of it as wearing a designer outfit that only your crush can see. Subtle, yet stunning.

We’d need extra cones in our eyes (the cells responsible for color vision) to see like butterflies do. Instead, we just squint at bright flowers and call them beautiful, unaware of the secret symphony of colors butterflies are enjoying. Those lucky buggers, I mean bugs. Their cool power makes them expert pollinators, helping plants thrive. 

So, the next time you see a butterfly in your garden, tip your hat - or your watering can. They’re nature’s little matchmakers, and they do it in style. You betta work it, bugsta. 

Proud Parent

Paws Up, Dog Parents. 🐾 Join our Fido Family!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! We are glad you like Fido Fly and are part of this community who loves dogs. We would like to introduce you to a newsletter that digs deep into dog topics such as step-by-step training guides and vet-approved health information. Because our community is a dog-loving family, it’s called Fido Family, and gets delivered every Tuesday.

As a special treat, we’re offering an exclusive free trial to the Fido Fly community for a limited time. Don’t miss out. Come see what all the barking’s about.

2 Truths and a Fib
A. Dogs' ears pinpoint sound from over a mile away.
B. Dogs can tell when you're coming home by your scent.
C. Dogs' ears have over a dozen muscles.
The answer is at the end of this newsletter.

Most of us ditch New Year’s resolutions within a week. Want to be better than us? Check out our our Sponsor, who makes better health possible.

Your Secret to Crushing New Year’s Resolutions

Did you know 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February? Lumen can help you beat the odds. This revolutionary device analyzes your metabolism through a simple breath test, giving you real-time insights to fuel your body smarter.

With personalized guidance and actionable tips, Lumen helps you optimize your health and stick to your wellness goals. Whether you’re preparing meals or planning workouts, Lumen gives you the tools to succeed.

Breeds weigh in, breeds jingle in, and a toss-up

Changing bulbs: So how many does it take
Keep jinglin’: Out of season but who cares
Tough one: Decisions, decisions

Culture

Puppy Love: Your Dog’s Tail-Tale Crush on You   

Think your dog just likes you for the treats? No way. Science says dogs can actually fall in love - and you might be their #1 crush (ummm, I better be). When your dog gazes into your eyes or cuddles up next to you, they’re releasing oxytocin, the same hormone humans produce when we feel love and connection. Your pup is totally smitten from love at first sniff. Dogs use their super-powered noses to size up potential friends and bondmates (you included). Once they decide you’re their favorite human, those tail wags and wet-nosed kisses become their version of a love letter.

Studies have shown that oxytocin levels rise in both dogs and their humans when they interact - think gazing, petting, or just hanging out. Essentially, you and your dog are having a mutual love-fest every time you share a moment. Move over, rom-coms - this is the ultimate love story (much more engaging too). Your dog may even get a little jelly when you give another dog attention and give you the side eye. Show some love back with the ideas below.

  • Eye Contact: Dogs adore long gazes (but don’t stare too hard - it’s a little creepy).

  • Playtime: A game of fetch is their idea of a romantic dinner date.

  • Cuddles: They don’t need roses; they just want space on the couch (which is modern love).

You’re their favorite human in the whole wide world. And honestly, who wouldn’t want a partner that’s this loyal, cute, and always ready for a walk? 💗 🐾

My dog has a very specific schedule. We play at 4:00. Not 4:01! She is quite punctual 😀 This made me curious how you spend time with your dog(s)?

How do you usually spend time with your dog?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

The Spring Fido catalog is here! Check out toys, clothes, and decorations to get you into the health/loving/lucky spirit. It’s fun just to browse through everything.

Chuckle  

The fib is A. Dogs' hearing is excellent, but a mile is an exaggeration - they excel at close-range sound direction.

What did you think of this week's Fido Fly newsletter?
Your feedback helps us to create exactly what you want.

goodmehbad

Was this forwarded to you? Sign up to receive your own weekly copy. It’s free to subscribe.

Looking for previous editions of Fido Fly? They are all safely stored here.