Five Easy Steps to Attract Butterflies
With just a little planning you can make your yard a haven for the majesty of butterflies. There are over 200 species in North America that range in color, size and pattern that will offer your family an interesting show of nature. There are some basic needs that need to be covered if you want to lure butterflies - needs that must include the entire life cycle of the creature. Such needs include a place for egg laying, larvae (caterpillar food), a location for chrysalis formation and sap and/or nectar for adult butterflies to eat. Once you have provided these things, all you'll need to do is sit back and enjoy what nature has to offer. Here's how to get started:
1. Feeding larvae. The butterfly larvae (caterpillar) is drawn to various plants depending on the specials you are trying to attract. Black Swallowtails like plants such as carrots, parsley and dill, while Viceroy Caterpillars eat leaves from the willow and poplar tree. Monarchs eat milkweed plants. Still others thrive on weeds such as thistle and nettle, so feel free to include a variety of plants.
2. Butterfly Food. When it comes to keeping mature butterflies properly fed, it's all about the blossoms. They need liquids like sap or nectar, and the more brightly colored the bloom the better. They are especially drawn to purple, pink, red, orange and yellow blossoms that are clustered together for their convenience. Make sure that you provide for a continuous blooming season so they stick around for their entire life cycle.
3. Location. Sunlight is key, as is somewhere that protected from the wind. Create what is referred to as a 'butterfly island' in a place that is behind shrubbery or trees for protection. Butterflies stay away from high traffic areas, so be sure to create your butterfly haven away from areas such as a putting green or basketball hoop.
4. Drinking and rest. Butterflies need to bask in the sunshine in order to provide active flight when feeding. Provide plenty of flat rocks from them to perch on while raising their body temperature. They also need moisture in the form of a shallow sandy pit with water or a birdbath.
Once you've considered the needs of the entire, albeit brief (some butterflies only live 10 - 20 days!), life cycle of the species you'll likely be rewarded for your efforts. Enjoy the butterflies.
Related posts:
