Encouraging and Protecting butterflies moths and skippers in our garden
We plant natives, nectar flowers and larva food, put out over ripe fruit and Gatorade, create mud spots for adult males, leave weedy places and leaf litter in place, avoid pesticides and herbicides where possible. Swallowtail with chewed wing But, we cannot protect every butterfly from every predator. Butterfly egg on milkweed We dig and overwinter tropical milkweed so it is in place as soon as the weather warms enough for Monarch migration in the spring . Swallowtail caterpillar on Rue Each year we increase the number of Rue plants. They are biennial so you'll lose some each year. Seed starting is an annual event now. Onion bag netting on Rue with caterpillar underneath When caterpillars become visible, I top the plant with netting saved from bulb shipments, onion bags, etc. Orb spider with Swallowtail caterpillar Sadly we cannot prevent all predation. Even spiders gotta eat. Butterfly caterpilla...