How to attract Butterflies
Food - Providing
a wide variety of flowers is the easiest way to attract
butterflies. Because of the design of the proboscis, or tube which draws up
the nectar, the best flower designs for butterflies are tubular. Also, the overall
size of the flower can determine which butterflies will feed at which flowers.
A skipper is too small to feed at a large-flowered sage, but a swallowtail will
do just fine. Many of the best butterfly flowers are clusters of small single
blossoms, arranged on a horizontal plane, such as Queen Anne's Lace or yarrow.
Fragrance is an important quality of butterfly flowers. Commercial butterfly
feeders are now available which use a sugar/water solution.
Water - Provide water in shallow dishes throughout the garden. Butterflies also get moisture from ripe fruit and decaying animals.
Shelter - Recently, butterfly boxes have become commercially available. The jury is still out on whether they are useful. Most butterflies need sun. They are inactive on cloudly days but become active when the sun raises their body tempersture. Plant your butterfly plants in full sun, and provide flat rocks for sunning and drying wings.
Raising young - Native plants are important for providing food for caterpillars. While the adult butterfly may be less specific in their food requirements, they generally lay their eggs on or near the plant which will provide food for the caterpillars. Some caterpillars such as the Buckeye, Painted Lady, Comma and Mourning Cloak will eat a wide variety of food plants. But some, are more specific. Monarchs prefer milkweed, whites prefer the mustard family and sulphurs prefer clover. Some are extremely particular. The Anice Swallowtail only feeds on fennel, and the Spicebush Swallowtail feeds on spicebush.