I'm trying to decide which of these to use in my garden. Do mud puddles attract different butterflies than rotting fruit? Either of them more effective or preferred than the other? I have a pretty hanging birdfeeder tray to hang in the garden, but I can't decide what to put in it. Your thoughts??
Mud puddle vs. rotting fruit
Dear Passie,
I use a shallow dish with about one inch of aquarium rocks. The rocks aren't the smaller ones because they provide a place for the butterfly to careen. I put a teaspon of fish emulsion and a very small amount of salt. Both of these I replace once a year. In the meantime, I fill the dish up with water to the top of the rocks.
This has attracted many butterflies in my area all year around.
Hope this helps you...
Thanks,
Chuck
Sounds yummy Chuck, I think I will try that too..
Thx!
Deb
Fish emulsion and other sources of minerals and salts attract different butterflies than fruit trays/butterfly bait stations.
Out here the brushfoot butterflies (admirals, emperors, leafwings, mestras, malachites and bluewings readily come to fruit/bait whereas Giant Swallowtails, Sulphurs and Whites like to puddle around the pond.
Why not try both!!! :o)
...also, if you place fruit out, it doesn't necessarily have to be rotting...butterflies will come to fresh fruit...and it will rot over time. However, be aware that when you cut up fresh fruit (such as oranges) the parts exposed to air tend to dry out and get hard and the butterfly's proboscis cannot penetrate it. I usually give it another squish when that happens. Hence, them coming to rotting fruit...as it eventually turned to mush.
~ Cat
I like the idea of using all of these. Fishy puddle, fresh to rotting fruit, and the Beer bait. All are winners.
:-D
Great pics Cat!
This message was edited Apr 17, 2007 11:22 AM
What's beer bait, Deb. Is it for bf's or slugs? I must have missed that post. Also, how much salt would l put in an aluminum pie pan filed with sand, small lava rocks and water?
HI Deborah,
You can find the recipe in this thread...
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/712992/
It's for butterflies.
Deb
Oh, good! Thanks
All great additions to any butterfly garden!!! Thanks everyone for posting all these ideas!!! Looks like the butterflies will be visiting the Ritz!!! lol