I've been reading threads and links about feeding "butterfly brew" to attract fruit feeding butterflies. It seems as though a lot of the posts are from "southerners" and I would like to hear from some "northerners" who routinely put fruit out for butterflies. I have a brochure from the University of Minnesota about Butterfly Gardening (it is now available online)
(http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG6711.html )
and it briefly mentions that Mourning Cloaks and Hackberries will eat rotting fruit,
" Some butterflies, such as the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalidae: Nymphalis antiopa) and Hackberry (Apaturidae: Asterocampa celtis) feed on rotting fruit, sap that oozes from trees, and even dung."
I'm wondering if other northern butterflies are also attracted to "butterfly brew". I would think that all members of a family (genus?) would eat similar things?
Anyway, I'm just wanting to know if it would be worthwhile to make and put out butterfly brew or if it woud really just attract bees and other "less desirable" critters (and irritate DH . . .)
Thanks,
Deb
Fruit Feeding Butterflies in the North (MN)
Deb...
Most butterflies of the 'brushfoot' family will go for rotting fruit and sap whether they're in the north or the south. Other butterflies will go for dung, scat, salt licks and generally the salts and minerals that leech up to the surface near a pond or water source.
Try cutting up a small amount of bananas, oranges, papayas, peaches etc. (most any kind of fruit that is sweet and will get mushy works). Put it out in a shallow dish in your yard and see what comes to it. Might take a day or two for the butterflies to find it...and for the fruit to start fermenting.
If you get bees - think positive - they are the best pollinators in the world!
...but it you don't want them near your fruit tray you can put out a small shallow dish in a far corner of your yard and pour in some extra sweet hummingbird nectar, honey or the juice/syrup from a can of fruit. The bees will normally go for the sweeter stuff and stay away from other parts of your yard.
Will tell you the butterfly brew mix (dark beer, mashed bananas and brown sugar) works wonders down in south Texas and will attract butterflies in mere seconds. They can smell that stuff and track it down quickly :o)
~ Cat
Thanks Cat! I'll give it a try if it ever stops raining here . . .
The first time I put it out, I didn't get a thing on it. Left it for a few day and put out fresh and they came running. Not all of the bushfoots will use it but those that do offer great photo opportunities!
Sheila, I like your feeder log-I think I'll make one of those. Does the butterfly brew smell strong? My butterfly garden area at home is in the front yard and I could put a half log on a little post in the garden. At the cabin, I can hang it from a tree or shepherds hook-would it be better to have it in the shade or in the sun?
Thanks,
Deb
I had three feeding stations last year. The two in partial shade had more takers than the one in full sun. I think because the one in the sun dried up quicker. IMHO
As for the smell, it smells like stale beer. But the one above is just 6 foot from my front door. So try it somewhere other than your door first and see what you think. Keep them off of a shepard's hook if you don't want a trail of ants. They get confused when it hangs from a tree branch and don't find it as easy.
This one is just a piece of bark.
Thanks, Sheila!