THE IMPORTANCE OF BUTTERFLIES
- They pollinate the flowers that we love to see in our gardens and our wild places, thereby ensuring seed and fruit production;
- They add beauty to our landscapes with their fluttering array of colours and patterns;
- They play a smaller role in pollinating food crops than bees, but are very useful in pollinating popular herbs, both culinary and medicinal;
- They are crucial and sensitive indicators of the health of our environment;
- Their larvae (caterpillars) are a vital food source for our birds; adult birds feed protein-rich caterpillars to their nestlings.
LOCALLY COMMON BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR PREFERENCES
Most butterflies will flit amongst brightly coloured flowers (native and non-native) and take nectar. However, some butterflies prefer things we may not have thought about – sap from trees, rotting fruit, animal faeces! This table shows some of the most common butterflies (over 73 species have been reported) seen in this area and their preferences; it is by no means complete and you are invited to go to some of the more detailed resources listed on the website for more information. (N) indicates native to eastern North America, (NN) indicates an introduced species. A plant list that contains additional native and non-native plants that will attract butterflies in general is also on the website.
