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A to Z of a Wildlife Garden

B

Butterflies

ANIMAL FAMILY

Butterflies are some of the most obvious and beautiful insect visitors to our gardens. In Britain, there are about 60 species – of these, up to 22 can be recorded in gardens. You’ll find some of the more common species described here. 

Butterflies have four different life stages. During their short lifetime, they undergo a complete change, or metamorphosis. Each one begins life as an egg, hatches into a caterpillar, pupates into a chrysalis and then emerges as an adult. 

Butterflies and moths are very similar – but there are several main differences

Butterflies and moths are very similar – but there are several main differences. Butterflies are often brightly coloured and tend to fly during the day; moths are often duller and tend to fly at night. Moths tend to be hairy and have feathery antennae, whereas butterflies are less hairy and have 'club' or 'pin' antennae.

When a butterfly lands, it tends to rest with its wings closed; moths tend to rest with theirs open. There are exceptions to all these differences!

Butterflies need warmth to be active and fly, and they need to drink nectar for energy. Provide both, and you’ll have a butterfly haven. Try to plant plenty of different nectar plants that flower throughout spring, summer and autumn, in a sheltered, sunny spot. 

If you have a large garden, try to leave a 'wild area'. If not, plant some attractive wild plants, such as scabious and valerian, among the cultivated ones. Don’t forget to include caterpillar food plants if you want butterflies to breed in your garden. 

Some adult butterflies hibernate, so provide places for them to hide – for instance, a hedge or ivy on a fence – and you may see early spring butterflies in your garden.

Insects