are butterflies good for the garden
Gardening for Butterflies. Because butterflies are attracted to flowers, it is easy to plant a garden that both you and they can enjoy. Some of the species you may attract are listed in the table at right. A butterfly-friendly garden contains both adult nectar plants and caterpillar host plants. A few common vegetables also serve as caterpillar host plants. Many butterfly gardeners plant extra vegetables, enough for them and their caterpillars. As an added bonus, butterfly gardens often attract hummingbirds. Butterflies are found on every continent but Antarctica; the U. S. is home to about 700 different species. Their beauty and mystery have enchanted mankind for centuries and are woven into folklore and legend. In ancient Hopi, Mayan and Aztec cultures, the butterfly was one of the most frequently represented figures. Why butterflies and moths are important. There are many reasons why butterflies and moths are important, both in their own right but also as quality of life indicators. The following are the main reasons for conserving butterflies and moths in the UK and around the world. 1  Butterflies and moths are intrinsically valuable and are worthy of conservation in their own right.  Butterflies and moths are part of Life on Earth and an important component of its rich biodiversity. Learn about the butterfly life cycle, and how to manage your garden to attract butterflies. Butterflies pollinate flowering plants and serve as food for other organisms, thus forming an important link in the food chain. Adult butterflies are more flexible in their needs for nectar plants. Generally they prefer purple, red, yellow, orange, or pink blossoms; flat-topped or clustered flowers; and short flower tubes. A well-planned butterfly garden has blooming flowers throughout spring, summer, and early autumn. Enjoy Butterflies in Your Yard! Butterflies and flowers were made for each other, and there are certain flowers that butterflies absolutely love to be around. As the poet pointed out, butterflies are flying flowers, and flowers are tethered butterflies. In attracting butterflies to your garden, it’s important to understand what they want most out of life: nectar. The ancients, who believed that nectar fell directly from heaven, named it after the wines of the gods. A butterfly’s wish list also includes sunny open spaces, shelter from the wind, and fresh water. Moths and butterflies are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals (for example, in Britain and Ireland, Blue Tits eat an estimated 50 billion moth caterpillars each year). This is because butterfly caterpillars are host specific. Plant-wise, the caterpillars of some butterfly species like asters, black-eyed Susan, clover, lupines, milkweed, sedum or violets. Aspen, birch, cherry, hackberry, oak or willow trees make caterpillars of other butterfly species equally happy. Butterflies are diurnal, pollinating a wide variety of flowers that open during the day. They frequent big, beautiful, brightly colored blooms. Butterflies have good color vision sensing more wavelengths than either humans or bees and, unlike bees; butterflies can see the color red. Scent is another characteristic. 1 Butterflies and moths are intrinsically valuable and are worthy of conservation in their own right. 2  Butterflies and moths are part of Life on Earth and an important component of its rich biodiversity.  They have been around for at least 50 million years and probably first evolved some 150 million years ago.
Yes