I wish I had more information years ago when I got rid of the pupa on the plants in my garden. It was in hindsight that I learned these were metamorphosing butterflies—final stage. There are no words to describe the horror after realizing what I had done. Does the mistake count as much when it was under the advice of someone else? Thus, I followed through and well... killed some of nature’s most beautiful creations. Today, thankfully there are numerous books and websites dedicated to butterfly gardening that can help even the novice gardener.
In the Sonoran Desert there are over 250 species of butterflies, which are divided into six families. Even though there are a variety of ways to attract butterflies into your garden, not all flowers, plants, shrubs or trees will entice them in for nectar. It doesn’t matter if your yard is large or small, but specific plants and placement are the key reason butterflies visit or not.
Butterflies use plants in sunny locations for one of two reasons: as a source for nectar or as a larval food plant. When used as larval food plants, there are four cycles to a butterfly’s transformation. These are the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. In the southwest, butterfly season is visible from mid February through November when temperatures range between 65-95°F or just after a rain. It is not uncommon to see some species in December and January depending on how warm the winter may be.
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| Adult Gossamer Photo Courtesy of William Vann |
I grow a variety of plants from both the nectar and larval food source to ensure a balance of attracting butterflies and their passage. This blog begins a series and partial list of plants and butterfly species for the southwest desert region. This week I’ve added a few larval food plants, one nectar source and two of the six butterfly families to get enquiring minds started.
Larval Food Plants
Butterflies love herbs in the Parsley family, which they use as larval food plants. A species named the Black Swallowtails will find their way to these plants. These herbs will incur plant damage during the process, but you can grow a herb garden for yourself and one for the butterflies if you desire. Keep yours free of the caterpillars by picking them off and relocating them. Don’t use harsh chemicals that will kill caterpillars and butterflies, but perhaps organic products that discourage them. Parsley attracts springtime butterflies in migration.
The Velvet Mesquite, Prosopis velutina is a dominant shrub and tree species native to the southwest desert which has an edible mesquite pod used for a food source by rabbits, squirrels, deer and other animals. The Velvet Mesquite is extremely vivid with gold blossoms in the springtime. Not only is it an essential part of the desert eco-system, but is also larval food plant for butterflies. Hairstreaks are often found in these trees in the hot summer afternoons and evenings.
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| Velvet Mesquite Tree Spring 2011, Mesa, Az |
Nectar Source
One of the many nectar sources is the beautiful Trailing Lantana, Lantana montevidensis, which is a ground cover that invites almost all types of butterflies. This plant comes in two colors, white and purple, but other colors are available, but they don’t trail or cascade. I like white because it brightens up my garden.
Two Butterfly Families of the Southwest
Swallowtails, Papilionidae, are large and extremely colorful butterflies with black and yellow hind wings. Three to five inch wingspans with tails that fork.
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| Swallowtail Photo Courtesy of William Vann |
Blues, Hairstreaks and Metalmarks, Lycaenidae, also called gossamer-winged butterflies are small with wingspans of one inch. Bright gloss tones that often resemble metallic.
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| Arizona Metalmark Photo Courtesy of William Vann |
This is Part I of a three part series on butterfly gardening.
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