An Observation on Butterflies

[roadrunner]

I've noticed in my own gardens that if you want to attract both a lot of butterflies and a great variety of them, you can't just have flowers; you MUST have host plants and a lot of them.

Years ago I got milkweed, because of all the news about how monarchs are in trouble, and I noticed that I suddenly had tons of monarchs in my yard, so much more than any other species of butterfly. Then I got a passionflower vine, then I noticed a lot of Gulf Fritillary and then the Zebra longwing butterflies started showing up, both use the passionflower vine as a host plant.

I just recently started growing fennel and I've noticed a lot of Swallowtail butterflies, so I planted some Rue (also their host plant) and now I've got these Swallowtails all over the place and I have so many caterpillars on my dying Fennel that I went out and bought three more Rue plants so I could hopefully save all these caterpillars.

It makes you wonder how they sense these host plants; flowers by themselves attracted a few here and there, but once I planted host plants, It's like they were sent a signal directing a whole flock to my yard.

 

[DirtMechanic]

I've noticed in my own gardens that if you want to attract both a lot of butterflies and a great variety of them, you can't just have flowers; you MUST have host plants and a lot of them.

Years ago I got milkweed, because of all the news about how monarchs are in trouble, and I noticed that I suddenly had tons of monarchs in my yard, so much more than any other species of butterfly. Then I got a passionflower vine, then I noticed a lot of Gulf Fritillary and then the Zebra longwing butterflies started showing up, both use the passionflower vine as a host plant.

I just recently started growing fennel and I've noticed a lot of Swallowtail butterflies, so I planted some Rue (also their host plant) and now I've got these Swallowtails all over the place and I have so many caterpillars on my dying Fennel that I went out and bought three more Rue plants so I could hopefully save all these caterpillars.

It makes you wonder how they sense these host plants; flowers by themselves attracted a few here and there, but once I planted host plants, It's like they were sent a signal directing a whole flock to my yard.

Smell. Seriously. Its a case of prominent probiscus.

 

[UrbanWild]

I stick dill, bronze fennel, parsley, and a few more just about everywhere there is a bare spot in a bed and you're right...they will find them. I also don't plant them in clusters but have them spread as singles or small groups all over the yard. I tried passionflower from seeds two years running. Nothing. Next year I'm getting a few plants.

I hope to run pipevine up the sides of my fire escape next year.

 

[Meadowlark]

I've observed that the Gulf Fritillary and Swallowtail butterflys really love the Lantana flowers as they are persistent through summer here.

The Gulf Fritillary is particularly abundant here and sometimes joined by the variegated fritillary and the great spangled fritillary

The Gulf Fritillary on lantana...

The Great Spangled Fritillary on a marigold...

and the Variegated Fritillary again on Lantana...

 

[big rockpile]

I'm working on it.

big rockpile

 

[Meadowlark]

I'm working on it.

Excellent!! Post some more!!

Here's a giant swallowtail ...

more giant swallowtails on Marigolds...

 

[big rockpile]

All I really have is extras because of my Milkweed.

big rockpile

 

[Meadowlark]

I started some milkweed this summer also...swamp milkweed. I hope to expand it next spring...

 

[big rockpile]

I started some milkweed this summer also...swamp milkweed. I hope to expand it next spring...

View attachment 106168

Mine the Catapillars ate all the leaves I also have Shasta Daisy coming up.

big rockpile

 

[Meadowlark]

Another highly effective butterfly attractor is Garden Phlox. The vibrant flowers produce a sweet fragrance, come in a variety of colors, and provide a great source of nectar for butterflies.

In my garden the Tiger Swallowtail is especially fond of the Phlox.

 

[Meadowlark]

I have observed that the Zinnia is an excellent butterfly attractor here attracting a variety of different butterflies through the Texas hot summers and on into early fall.

Zinnias produce a lot of nectar, which is a primary food source for butterflies. They have bright and varied colors and a simple, open flower structure, making it easy for butterflies to land and feed. Perhaps most importantly they bloom from summer until the first frost...even in the merciless heat and humidity of Texas.

The threatened magnificent Monarch Butterfly took advantage of that nectar on its migratory journey to Mexico here.

The Texas Cresent spotted feasting on Zinnia flower nectar.

The spectacular Queen butterfly like its relative the Monarch loves to frequent the Zinnias in my garden.

 

[Meadowlark]

The monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) are gorging on the new growth swamp milkweed in my new butterfly garden today. The black, white, and yellow stripes are unmistakable. I counted about 7-8 on each milkweed plant showing new growth.

An exciting development for me in the first spring of my new butterfly garden.