This elaborate life cycle dictates that a successful butterfly garden will need to provide host plants for the larvae as well as nectar plants or other appropriate food sources for the adults. In some cases, adult butterflies feed on rotten fruit or tree sap. In the process, they serve as pollinators – moving pollen from one plant to the next. Adult butterflies may not feed, or they will use a long proboscis (straw-like mouthpart) to sip nectar from flowers. As an adult, butterflies actually feed entirely different than caterpillars. After successful mating, the female begins her search for a host plant on which to deposit her eggs. At the end of about two weeks, the adult emerges from the chrysalis, spreads and dries its wings and begins searching for food and a mate. While in the chrysalis, the caterpillar transforms into an adult. After a few weeks of feeding, the caterpillar molts into a mummy-like stage with a hard protective casing called a pupa or chrysalis. When small, caterpillar feeding may not be obvious, but as the caterpillars (and their appetites) mature, they consume large quantities of leaves over a relatively short period of time. Caterpillars are voracious, although picky eaters. A host plant is a plant that caterpillars like to eat.
A butterfly’s life begins as an egg, which is generally laid on the leaf of a specific host plant. With a little bit of planning you can develop a garden that will attract a diverse population of butterflies.īutterflies have a distinct life cycle. North Carolina is home to more than 175 species of butterflies, making our state an ideal area for butterfly watching. Butterflies are colorful and interesting, adding an element of moving beauty to the garden. John Reintjes, Master Gardener Volunteerīutterfly watching has gained a lot of interest in recent years. Estoy de Acuerdo / I agreeīlack swallowtail butterfly feeds on a zinnia blossom. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning.
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To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.Ĭlicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.Įnglish is the controlling language of this page. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.Īl hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Commercial Horticulture, Nursery & TurfĮl inglés es el idioma de control de esta página.Environmental Education – Southeastern NC.Southeastern Extension District Virtual Grain Links.NC Empowering Youth and Families Program (EYFP) chevron_right.Gardening in Onslow County chevron_right.Welcome to Onslow County Center of NC Cooperative Extension chevron_right.
Small butterfly garden design plans how to#
Search the Internet for a local butterfly club to get more information on which butterflies frequent your area – and how to attract them. Which plants you choose may also depend on your region. Choose a diverse range of plants to attract different species, and be sure to include a few taller plants to provide additional protection from strong breezes.
Size Matters: Many of the plants that attract butterflies require space to sprawl, so choose large pots, planters, or alternate containers.