I'm a newbie to the entire butterfly thing and was excited just to see that a butterfly had visited my newly planted little garden! but then I learn that people actually raise and release butterflies as well.
How is it done? where do you get caterpillars? Do Butterflies that you release remain in the area and populate? Can anyone give me info on all the benefits and how difficult it is to raise butterflies?
Thanx
Benefits of Raising Butterflies?
If you check the articles, I wrote about our butterfly release at school. We get ours from www.insectlore.com. You need to have some of the plants that they like in order for them to stick around, but even then they don't stay around long.
Karen
Thanks for the link, I'll check it out :)
Check the FAQ at the top of the forum. Also, there's sites like this one that talk about raising cats.
http://www.butterflyschool.org/teacher/raising.html
Like Linda above said, there is super references at the top of the Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening forum. It is called a "sticky", just means it stays at the top for easy access.
Here is the link back to it. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/744103/
As for the benefits....Our butterfly population was getting wiped out with the increase of pesticides and uncontrolled situations like the hurricanes that hit on the coast just as they were in that area for the winter, or migrating etc.
Normally the sucess rate in nature is only about 2% due to being used by other insects like tiny wasp and flies for their egg laying, it kills the pupa of the butterfly when their eggs hatch. Some farmers release the wasps to rid their crops of caterpillars. Also they are eaten by praying mantis, lizards, frogs, birds, etc. So when we take the eggs or extra small caterpillars in and raise them, they avoid a lot of the dangers that are present in nature plus Pesticides sprayed by neighbors.
The best way to help the butterflies if you don't wish to bring them in; is to plant their host plants and not use pesticides in your gardens. Here is a great list of host plants that should grow in your area also. www.dallasbutterflies.com (click butterfly gardening at the left).
Welcome to you whatever you choose to do!
BTW...on that link at the top of the forum is links to cages and ID photos etc. A little of everything!
This message was edited Mar 19, 2009 6:37 PM
Hey, folks -
I'm planting a raised-bed veggie garden for BFs. My 1st try at this. What kind of planting mix should I use? Garden soil, potting soil, a mix of both? Any recom-
mended additives besides compost? I'll be planting in an old whiskey barrel
(1/2 barrel size, of course).