Butterfly Habitat
As more and more butterfly habitat is being destroyed and some species are in danger of extinction, many people are creating butterfly habitat in their own backyards. Some people are also planting milkweed to try to counter the habitat destruction of the Monarch butterfly.
One of the best examples of butterfly habitat exists at the Smithsonian where there is an 11,000 square foot butterfly garden. There are four different sections, each with appropriately suited plants that define the major kinds of butterfly habitat. These are wetland, meadow, the wood’s edge and urban garden--with the butterflies one might be expected to attract in city environments. The plants are chosen to indicate a specific relationship between butterfly and plant species--some are for the laying of eggs, others for nectar to feed adult butterflies. Butterflies can be studied here in each stage of their life cycle.
Wetlands
These are low, wet areas that can be found both in natural settings and in backyards. There is enough surface water so that the butterflies can “puddle” or draw nutrients and minerals out of the wet soil and water. This area at the Smithsonian includes a pond. There are many different kinds of grasses and flowers to give the butterflies protection and provide good sites for nesting. Sometimes you might see butterflies lying on rocks in the sun. Butterflies have trouble regulating their body temperature and they cannot fly until their body temperature is at 86 degrees.
The Meadow
Butterflies are often seen lying out in the sun throughout the meadow. The meadow at the Smithsonian garden is like a natural meadow, with different kinds of grasses and flowers. During mating time the colors of the plants attract butterflies. That’s because butterflies are attracted to one another by recognizing their colorful wing patterns. In a meadow butterflies can lay their eggs on plant leaves and drink the nectar of the flowers. Different flowers grow from spring through fall to attract different species of butterflies. Butterflies love meadows.
The Wood’s Edge
This part of butterfly habitat is the zone between a meadow and a forest. There is open woodland but not dense forest. Here butterflies come for shelter from the sun and from stormy weather. A butterfly’s wings are so fragile they can literally be torn apart in wind and rain so they seek shelter here at the wood’s edge. In the Smithsonian butterfly garden they planted birch, ash, cherry and tulip trees They planted nettles for caterpillars. The Red Admiral Butterfly is a frequent visitor to this area.
The Urban Garden
The final kind of butterfly habitat is the urban garden. Here are many of the kinds of plants you would expect to find in backyards in cities and suburbs. Skippers and Monarchs frequent these areas. Among the many things you can plant to attract butterflies are herbs, such as hyssop, rosemary, mint and lavender. Flowering plants for nectar production also exist here. Another thing you can use to attract butterflies are root garden vegetable plants. Caterpillars like to feed on these.