Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Tis the season for Butterfly Counts



Each June, people gather to count the many species of butterflies. This year, I did the count at my personal butterfly garden, June 2.

Why count Butterflies? Butterflies react very quickly to change in their environment which makes them excellent biodiversity indicators. Butterfly declines are an early warning for other wildlife losses.

That’s why counting butterflies can be described as taking the pulse of nature.
The count will also assist us in identifying trends in species that will help us plan how to protect butterflies from extinction, as well as understand the effect of climate change on wildlife.

How do these beautiful creatures help us?

·         Pollination

    Like many other winged insects, what butterflies do for the environment that is perhaps most important is pollinating plants. The diet of adult butterflies consists mostly of nectar from flowers. While gathering nectar, the butterflies pick up pollen on their feet and wings and transfer it to neighboring flowers and plants, continuing the life cycle of many plants that other animals, like bees, depend on for survival.

·         Eating Aphids & Rotten Fruit

    As caterpillars, some butterflies eat aphids in addition to leaves, removing the destructive aphids and helping to control their population. Some adult butterflies eat rotten fruit, helping to break it down and assisting in the composting process.

In the end, these beautiful creatures that live such short lives, contribute to ecosystem restoration because they supply pollination and a source of food. Increased butterfly populations may indicate an increase in plant diversity and other pollinator groups within restored areas.

There is something magical about butterflies. I have yet to meet a person in the garden that does not smile when one glides by, landing on the nearest bloom. Butterflies are just one more living thing in the garden that brings happiness to young and old alike.

Butterfly gardening is a great way to get exercise, reduce stress, learn about the environment, and beautify your home. Best of all, butterfly gardening can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be.

Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden

Regardless of how simple or complex you decide to make your butterfly garden, the most important step is selecting the right plants. There are two types of plants that will attract butterflies to your garden, nectar plants and host plants. Nectar plants provide a source of food for adult butterflies and host plants provide a place for adult butterflies to lay eggs. When butterfly caterpillars hatch from the eggs the host plant will also take on the role of being the caterpillar's food source.

In Florida, there are more than 180 species of butterflies. Each species of butterfly has their own nectar and host plant requirements. To attract multiple species of butterflies, you will want to grow an assortment of flowering plants and shrubs appropriate for the butterflies living in your area. Try to choose plants and shrubs that have different shape, size, and color flowers. Also you will want to choose plants and shrubs that flower at different times of the year so that your garden will attract butterflies spring, summer, and fall.
The key to creating a butterfly garden that will sustain itself through the years is to take advantage of native plant. Take advantage of what nature has created in your specific area leads to fewer errors in the trial and error phase while creating the perfect butterfly garden.

I moved to Florida 3 years ago, I have always had a passion for gardening, attracting butterflies and humming birds.

I am the “Butterfly Gardener” John Chestnut Sr Park. Last year I got both my personal garden and the butterfly garden certified as Butterfly Sanctuaries. With guidance and support from Lois Weber,  a wonderful butterfly gardener, educator, and member of the  Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc, and the other Pinellas County Volunteers.

The visitors I had during my count.

Viceroy
Monarch
Yellow Cloudless Sulfur
Checkered White
Gulf Fritillary
Dainty Sulfur

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