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Butterflies require two kinds of food – one type for the caterpillars and
another for the adult butterfly. Butterfly caterpillars will feast on
birches, aspens, willows, hackberry, cherries, and oak trees, legumes,
grasses, herbs, blueberries, asters, alfalfa, vetches, clovers, bluegrass,
little bluestem, hollyhock, milkweed, lupines, black-eyed Susan, marigolds,
violets, sedges, and dock plants.
For nectar, the adult butterflies prefer aster, red clover, thistle, purple
coneflower, blazing star, Joe Pye-weed, goldenrod, ironweed, vetches,
peppermint, carrot, dill, and parsley. Bees and butterflies prefer “single-
flowered" plants as the nectar is richer and easier to access. For
example, peonies, lilacs, and marigolds.
Bees are attracted to nearly 50 plants. The best are daffodil, sweet
mock orange, cherry, apple, plum, peach, apricot, almond, grape hyacinth,
jonquil, pussy willow, and lilac.
They also like evening primrose, penstemons, petunia, phlox, moss rose,
salvia, sedum, goldenrod, thistle, coralberry, wolfberry, snowberry,
marigold, clover, verbena, broccoli, and sunflowers. Herb gardens are
especially attractive to them, including lavender, mint, spearmint,
peppermint, lemon balm, sweet marjoram, rosemary, sage, dill, and thyme.
Moths can be attracted to flower gardens. Clearwing moths are
attracted to Sweet William, petunias, fireweed, dame’s rocket, evening
primrose, sweet mock orange, and phlox. Sphinx moths prefer trumpet
creeper, lilies, cardinal flower, phlox, and old-fashioned weigela.
Grasses and Legumes
Grasses and legumes can be found in large yards or rural fields. Many
birds use these for nesting, including pheasants, meadowlarks, mallards,
and blue-winged teal. Plant eating wildlife such as Whitetail deer, rabbits,
groundhogs, and meadow voles prefer these plants.
These are also good for cover of ground nesting birds and their
offspring. Perhaps that’s why predators such as red fox, red-tailed
hawks, American kestrels, owls, coyotes, weasels, and skunks also
frequent the area for a meal.
Native grasses like switchgrass, big and little bluestem, Indiangrass,
and sideoats gramma are making a comeback. Add some native
wildflowers and you have a wildflower meadow.
Hummingbird Plants
Hummingbird plants are nectar producing and include these favorites:
American columbine, foxglove, penstemon, petunia, hardy fuchsia,
trumpet honeysuckle, bergamot, cardinal flower, dwarf blue gentian,
hosta, trumpet vine, scarlet runner beans, and salvia.
Another wildlife species that likes nectar is the northern oriole which
prefers blossoms of red or orange flowers such as hollyhock, trumpet
vine, lilies, scarlet trumpet honeysuckle, and trees such as plum, cherry,
apricot, and almond.
Nut and Acorn Trees
Nut and acorn trees are often
referred to as “mast." In the Fall,
mast is sought after by wild
turkey, Whitetail deer, wood
ducks, squirrels (red, gray, and
fox), pheasant, ruffed grouse,
Bobwhite quail, raccoon, black
bear, mallard ducks, and more.
Among the trees that produce
mast are: black walnut, hickory,
butternut, oak, and hazel. If you
want to add a component that
will last a long time, then these
trees are for you. Some of the
oaks have been known to produce
acorns for 400 years, as
opposed to a shrub that may
only last a few years.
Many of these trees contain
cavities that are used by nearly
one hundred species of wildlife.
In summary, by providing the
four elements of a wildlife
habitat and as many of the 16
components as possible, you will
improve the quality of your
habitat and should attract more
wildlife.
This article was written by
Thomas D. Patrick, President and
Founder of the WindStar Wildlife
Institute, a national, non-profit
conservation organization whose
mission is to help individuals and
families establish or improve the
wildlife habitat on their properties.
For more information or for the
name of a Master Wildlife Habitat
Naturalist in your area, please
contact:
WindStar Wildlife Institute
10072 Vista Court
Myersville, Mar yland 21773
Phone: (301) 293-3351
E-mail: wildalife@windstar.org
http://www.windstar.org
