Build It and They Will Come; Creating a Butterfly Gardening

Butterfly gardens are a great source of enjoyment. They can extend to interest youth in nature by providing a small window of native inhabitants of the local environment.

First, let’s look at the life cycle and basic anatomy of a butterfly. Butterflies begin their life as an egg, laid either singly or in clusters depending on the species. Tiny caterpillars emerge and, after consuming their eggshell, they feeding on host plants. Caterpillars must crawl out of their skin or molt, usually around five times, before changing into a pupa. Finally, an adult butterfly emerges, spreads its wings and flies away. This type of development is complete metamorphosis.

Adult butterflies and moths have mouthparts shaped into a long, coiled tube. Forcing blood into the tube straightens it out, allowing butterflies to feed on liquids. Butterflies get all their food from this tube, which limits them to nectar and standing water. Larvae, on the other hand, have chewing mouthparts that they use to skeletonize or totally defoliate leaves. Butterflies have large, rounded compound eyes that allow them to see in all directions without turning their head. Like most insects, butterflies are very nearsighted, and are more attracted to large stands of a particular flower than those planted singly. They see polarized light (which tells the direction the sun is pointing) as well as ultraviolet light, which are present on many flowers and guide them to nectar sources. Butterflies also have a very well developed sense of smell from their antennae. All butterflies' antennae are club-shaped, as opposed to moths, which can be many shapes but often are feathery.

Different species of butterflies have different preferences of nectar, in both colors and tastes. A wide variety of food plants will give the greatest diversity of visitors. Try staggering wild and cultivated plants, as well as blooming times of the day and year. Groups of the same plants will be easier for butterflies to see than singly planted flowers.

Some varieties of flowers will be more attractive to many species of butterflies. The list of butterfly attracting plants is endless. Some plants that are easily grown in Zone 6 include, but are not limited to: Bee Balm, Black-eyed Susan, Blue Mist Shrub, Egyptian Star-Cluster, Garden Phlox, Hyssop, Joe-Pye Weed, Purple Coneflower, Swamp Alyssum Sweet Alyssum, Zinnias and a myriad of others.

Another way to attract adult butterflies to your yard is to offer places for females to lay their eggs. Some females are pickier about which host to lay their eggs on than others.

Some caterpillars, like sulphers, are camouflaged, or blend into their surroundings very well. If caterpillars are eating excessive foliage from a prominent or desirable part of a plant, try moving them to the backside or another less noticeable portion of the plant.

All insects are cold-blooded and cannot internally regulate their body temperature. Butterflies will readily bask in the sun when it is warm out, but few are seen on cloudy days. It is a good idea to leave open areas in a yard for butterflies to sun themselves, as well as partly shady areas like trees or shrubs, so they can hide when it's cloudy or cool off if it is very hot.

Butterflies also like puddles. Males of several species congregate at small rain pools, forming puddle clubs. Permanent puddles are very easy to make by burying a bucket to the rim, filling it with gravel or sand, and then pouring in liquids such as stale beer, sweet drinks or water. Overripe fruit, allowed to sit for a few days is a very attractive substance as well.

Follow along with me in my next installment where we will discuss the preferred nectars and larval food plants that will guarantee attracting and retaining the butterfly of your choice.

For more information, visit North American Butterfly Association website at www.naba.org

John Shaffer is a Penn State Master Gardener from Adams County. Penn State in Adams County is located at 670 Old

Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325, phone 334-6271 or 1-888-472-0261. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.

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