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Tips on attracting and raising butterflies
* The first and most important step is to familiarize yourself with the butterflies you see in your area. There are several good field guides, I particularly like the Butterflies through Binoculars guides because they are specific to different parts of the country and the maps are very clear.
* Identify the larval food plant/plants for the butterflies you see. For this I like the Audubon Guide to Butterflies cross referenced with a local wildflower guide such as the books by Doyle McCoy.
* Pay attention to the brood times for the butterflies you see, each species has a specific life cycle and you can learn to look for caterpillars at certain times. A book called Caterpillars in the Field and Garden by Allen, Brock and Glassberg is great for identifying larvae.
* Some caterpillars are easier to rear in a jar than others. I have found that the Black Swallowtail is one of the most rewarding to watch. They can be brought in, fed parsley from the store (well washed of course) and will grow rapidly to the chrysalis stage. Some of the most difficult are the Spicebush and Tiger Swallowtails, they are best left outside on their host plant.
* Put the caterpillars in a jar or mesh cage with paper towels or a little dry soil in the bottom (for aesthetic reasons) and the leaves or stalks of the host plant stuck into a water filled plastic container with holes punched in the top. Secure netting to the top of the jar and place in a spot that will receive good ventilation and bright, but not direct, light. Change the food daily. To avoid fungal and viral diseases clean the container often. I have found that the pop-up mesh laundry hampers with a zippered top are great for larger quantities of caterpillars.
* Each species is unique as to how long it will take to complete its’ metamorphosis, generally it takes about a month.
* It is critical that you only use the caterpillars’ host plants. If I were to bring in a Variegated Fritillary I found on a violet but all the violets were gone, I know from research that Passionflower Vine would be fine. Water isn't necessay.
* Please release your newly hatched butterfly back into its’ natural environment.
* To attract more butterflies to your garden it is important to provide both host plants and nectar plants. Popular landscape plants like roses, periwinkles and zonal geraniums are usually not appealing to butterflies. Generally, they prefer native plants and flowers that have not been hybridized.
* Avoid all pesticides, create a healthy and balanced environment and let nature take its’ course. Even biological pest controls can harm beneficial insects. BT (bacillus thuringiensis) is a bio control which is used to kill webworms, army worms etc. and of course any drift will also kill butterfly larvae. Remember…”A few bugs won’t hurt you”...C Foster
* Some gardeners tend to be control freaks (you know who you are!), but there will more insects and other fun things if we relax a little. Set aside an area to let some wild stuff grow, you can edge it or just give it corners with a split rail fence or rocks. Try to include plants from several different families such as Milkweed, Legume, Composite, Figwort, Mint etc. Allow the plants to move around, establish and reseed. It will probably become your favorite spot.
*Native grasses and sedges are the backbone of a healthy prairie and are also an important, and often overlooked,
food source for many kinds of wildlife.