How to Create an Island for Butterflies in Your Yard
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With over 200 species of butterflies in North America to marvel over, bringing them to your landscape isn’t difficult once you take a few simple steps. They range in size, color and wing pattern but their needs are very similar. The basic principle is that you need to provide for their entire life cycle, not just maturity. That means you should consider a place for egg laying, caterpillar/larvae feeding, chrysalis development and adult butterfly sap and or/nectar. The rest is a simple matter of enjoying what you’ve created for you and your family. Here’s how to begin:
1. Larvae Food. Unlike mature butterflies, larvae’s preferences vary by species. Milkweed plants will attract the Monarch caterpillar, while the similar-looking Viceroy is attracted to the leaves of the poplar or willow tree. Black Swallowtail larvae are drawn to plants such as parsley, dill and carrots. Other species eat weeds, so don’t be afraid to keep some thistle and nettle around.
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. You’ll want to create your butterfly habitat away from the wind. One way to do so is to use the natural protection of shrubbery or trees. Also keep in mind that butterflies won’t come to high traffic areas, so find a spot in your landscape that is away from play areas. The second key element in choosing the ideal butterfly ‘island’ is sunshine. Make sure the plants get plenty of direct sunlight.
4. Water and warmth. Butterflies find moisture in a variety of places and have even been known to drink from wet beach towels. A shallow pan submerged in the soil or a bird bath with a low water level is perfect for them. Also, since butterflies need sunlight for orientation, you’ll want to provide plenty of flat rocks in sunny areas for them to bask on.
Once you created an environment that is rich in color, plant variety and sunshine you should be rewarded with a season full of butterflies. Their life span is short, some only 10 to 20 days, but they are fascinating to watch now that you know more about them. Enjoy!
Julie Clark Robinson is a staff writer for the American Educational Guidance Center, which publishes a college information website and websites on financial aid, online degree programs, and online education for adults.
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