Category: Butterflies

What are keystone native plants and why are they so important?

Keystone plants are natives that are essential to our ecosystems because they support 90% of the caterpillar species that enable our terrestrial birds to reproduce, as well as all our specialist native bee species. They can be trees, shrubs, or perennials, and can be found in backyards and other natural environments.

The concept of keystone species revolves around the idea that certain plant species can support hundreds of other species within an ecosystem. According to Jody Walthall, these keystone plants have a “disproportionately large impact on the abundance and diversity of other species, such as insects.” In their absence, the quality of the local ecosystem can deteriorate, much like removing the keystone from a Roman archway. Insects are the primary focus for keystone plants because disrupting these primary consumers leads to significant disruptions higher up the food chain.

Keystone plants for butterflies in North America include:

These plants are important for butterflies because they provide food and shelter for their caterpillars. Milkweed, for example, is the only food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Joe-pye weed, black-eyed Susan, coneflower, goldenrod, aster, and sunflower are all good sources of nectar for adult butterflies.

There are numerous advantages to incorporating keystone native plants into your landscape:

Supporting Local Wildlife
By providing food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other animals, native plants create a thriving ecosystem in your own backyard. This fosters biodiversity and helps to maintain the delicate balance of nature. Studies by entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy have shown that landscapes with keystone plants support 70-75% more caterpillar species than those without them, highlighting the crucial role these plants play in the food chain.

Enhancing Pollination
Many native plants are specifically adapted to attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These pollinators are essential for the reproduction of many flowering plants, including fruits and vegetables we rely on. A single bee visit can pollinate hundreds of flowers, ensuring a bountiful harvest and healthy ecosystems.

Promoting Natural Pest Control
Native plants are nature’s pest control! A healthy ecosystem with a diverse population of beneficial insects helps to keep pest populations in check naturally. Keystone plants often attract predator insects that feed on harmful insects, reducing the need for pesticides. This creates a safer environment for you, your family, and your pets.

Reducing Maintenance Needs
Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, requiring less water and fertilizer than non-native species. This translates to lower maintenance needs for your garden, saving you time and money. Additionally, native plants are often more resistant to pests and diseases, further reducing the need for interventions.

By planting keystone plants in your garden, you can help to support the population of butterflies and help restore native biodiversity!

 

 

One of my favorite flowers to plant in the butterfly garden is the old-fashion Hollyhock. I started planting these flowers when I was making and selling Painted Lady butterfly kits. The Painted Lady butterflies lay their eggs on the leaves and the caterpillars feed on the leaves. I soon fell in love with the colorful blooms that filled the garden.

The common hollyhock (Alcea rosea) traveled all over the world during the Middle Ages because of its well-deserved reputation of being able to thrive in almost any climate and soil so long as it was planted in full sun. This is still true today. The plant is happy almost anywhere with the exception of waterlogged soils.

Hollyhock plant history is long and well traveled. The plants are thought to be originally native to East Asia, where they have roots in ancient Japanese culture. Over the years, they spread across Asia, making their way to the Middle East, where the English first encountered them during the Crusades. The plants were used to make a salve that was very good for the Crusaders’ horses which were injured on their hind legs, or “hocks.” This is almost definitely where the name comes from – holly, as in holy (as in Holy Land) and hock, as in the part of the horse the plant was used to treat.
https://blog.gardeningknowhow.com/tbt/history-hollyhock-plant/

The plentiful hollyhock was frequently planted near cottages, as it was believed to promote wealth and fertility due to its prolific production of seeds and flowers. This abundance is thanks to the bees, which, in their quest for nectar, become generously coated with pollen as they burrow deeply into the blossoms.

Hollyhocks were once called “outhouse flowers“. These tall flowers were grown around outhouses to hide the privy. The practice was so common that the sight of hollyhocks told guests where the outhouse was located. Their tall and leafy nature helped to conceal the less appealing outhouses, making the garden or yard look more attractive. Additionally, hollyhocks are hardy plants that can thrive in less-than-ideal conditions, making them a practical choice for such locations. The colorful flowers also added a cheerful touch to an area that might otherwise be considered an eyesore.

Hollyhocks support the lifecycle of Painted Lady butterflies as a host plant for their caterpillars and also attract other pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. If you’ve got a cottage garden, it’s just not complete without a few hollyhocks gracing the edges.

Have you ever made hollyhock flower dolls? This age-old craft has been enjoyed by children for hundreds of years and is a delightful activity to share with the next generation. See how to make hollyhock dolls in five steps: https://premeditatedleftovers.com/gardening/how-to-make-hollyhock-dolls-and-use-them-to-decorate-cupcakes/

Growing hollyhocks from seeds is a rewarding process that can add a lovely touch to your garden. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Timing: Direct sow seeds in full sun in ordinary garden soil in spring after danger of frost is past. You can also plant hollyhock seeds in late summer or early fall to give them time to establish before winter. Alternatively, seeds can also be sown in the winter.  Winter sowing is a method where seeds are planted outdoors in mini-greenhouses during the winter months.
2. Soil Preparation: Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Hollyhocks thrive in rich, loamy soil. If needed, amend the soil with compost to improve its fertility and drainage.
3. Planting Seeds: Directly sow the seeds into the prepared soil, spacing them about 1-2 feet apart. Press them lightly into the soil but don’t cover them too deeply; a light dusting of soil is sufficient.
4. Watering: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Water regularly, especially during dry periods, to ensure consistent moisture levels for germination.
5. Germination: Germination typically takes about 10-14 days. You’ll see tiny seedlings start to emerge, and you should thin them out if they are too crowded.
6. Care: As the seedlings grow, continue to water them regularly. Once they are a few inches tall, you can apply a balanced fertilizer to encourage healthy growth. Hollyhocks can grow quite tall, so consider staking them if they begin to lean or if you’re in a windy area.
7. Maintenance: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Keep an eye out for pests like aphids and diseases like rust. Treat any issues promptly with appropriate measures.

With a bit of care, you’ll soon have tall, beautiful hollyhocks gracing your garden! 🌸🌿

Monarch butterflies are reaching their overwintering sites in Mexico. Visitors to these winter habitats describe witnessing the countless monarchs as a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

My friend, Jacqui Knight, recounted her experience to me: “I was in Mexico a few years ago to see the monarchs. I was amazed at how many monarchs we could see in the trees – the experience was mind-blowing. And so I was completely amazed at just how many more monarchs I saw on this trip.

The day after we arrived, we rode up Cerro Pelon, and halfway up the mountain the horses stopped in a shady passage. Suddenly I realized we were surrounded by a stream of monarchs, a constant stream, flying towards us and further down the mountain. The stream joined up with another stream as the monarchs surged down the mountain, looking for nectar sources further down. Some of them stopped nearby to sip at salvias and other wildflowers beside the track.

We rode on and found the monarchs in a clearing in huge bunches in the trees. It was a thrill when something prompted the monarchs to burst into life… looking up at the blue sky it was as if I was standing next to a huge bonfire with ashes littering the sky, falling around us.

And at the very top the trees were thick with monarchs. These were harder to see as they sat, wings closed in the trees. But we could see them and hear them… the gentle swish of a wonder of wings in the pines and firs. I had never imagined that I would see so many!

The next day down in the village of Macheros we saw monarchs flying everywhere looking to top up on their reserves before they began the journey northwards, and they were puddling thickly in a stream near some houses… so many monarchs that you could hardly see the stream.”

If you want to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience, I highly recommend a company called Explora Latin America. I have already recommended this company to others, and they come back telling me it was such a fantastic experience and that the tour guides, Sid and Chris, were amazing.

Alicia Griebenow wrote: “I would like to thank you for your recommendation to my husband, Brian, for the best Monarch tour group in Mexico.  He had contacted you in planning for a Christmas gift/birthday trip.  We are presently towards the end of our week traveling with Explora Latin America.  Sid & Chris are the sweetest, kindest and most passionate couple for our Monarchs.  They have attended to our group of 13 with the utmost patience and care.  I want to take them home with me. Thank you.”

What’s included?

• 8-day trip
• Airport pick up upon arrival (airport code: MEX)
• 7 nights of accommodation (double occupancy)
• 7 breakfasts
• 3 dinners
• Purified water refills
• Bilingual tour leader throughout the trip
• Private transportation on air-conditioned van with professional driver
• Entry and visit to 3 Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries
• Local guides (ejidatarios) for the Butterfly Reserves
• Presentation and follow-up discussion on the Monarch migration
• Guided tour of the pyramids of Teotihuacan
• Tour of the Jardín Botánico Cosmovitral in Toluca
• Free time in Valle de Bravo and Mexico City

  

It is not too early to book because they do fill up rather quickly.   https://www.exploralatinamerica.com.mx/join-a-tour/

Here is the website, where you can check the detailed itinerary, and read more of the testimonials.
https://www.exploralatinamerica.com.mx/monarch-butterflies/

Photos and videos courtesy of Alicia and Brian Griebenow of Al Paca’s Dreams.

With a migratory journey of roughly 3,000 miles, it is critical for monarchs to find sustenance along the way. There are a variety of native  perennials that benefit monarchs and provide them with enough nectar resources and energy to make it to their overwintering grounds.

Planting these in your garden can make a significant difference in helping these beautiful butterflies complete their incredible journey. Now is the time to plant these native perennials so that monarchs can benefit next fall.

Spicebush swallowtails excel in deception and camouflage throughout their lifecycle. As adults, they employ Batesian mimicry by imitating the pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) . Pipevine swallowtail larvae consume plants with aristolochic acids, which are retained through their life stages, making them unpalatable to predators. By adopting a similar color pattern, spicebush swallowtails confuse potential predators, gaining some protection from being eaten.

But the deception doesn’t end there!

Egg

Females use both visual and chemical cues when finding host plants on which to oviposit her eggs. After landing on a plant, a female confirms the plant as a host plant by drumming the surface of a leaf with her forelegs. She then will lay a single egg on the undersides of leaves of host plants to keep them hidden from wasps and other predators. Eggs are spherical and greenish-white or white in color and transparent.

Caterpillar

All five instars of the spicebush swallowtail caterpillar is marked by visual deception and hiding from detection. The earlier stages of the caterpillar are camouflaged to look like bird droppings. In later stages caterpillars develop two pairs of false eyespots on their body, which are believed to be a mimicry of either green snakes or tree frogs.

Spicebush Swallowtail larvae are leaf-rollers. They create shelters for by first cutting and pulling small sections of leaves around themselves to hide from predators. As they grow larger, they wrap up in entire leaves, and fifth-instar caterpillars may even stitch several leaves together. The caterpillar then hides in the shelter during the day and emerges at night to eat. This simple way of rolling a leaf as a shelter is one of the amazing ways that they’ve adapted for survival.

If their clever camouflage and sheltering tactics fail, they have another defense mechanism. At each larval stage, they possess bright orange, horn-like organs called osmeteria. When disturbed, these organs emerge behind the caterpillar’s head and release an unpleasant odor, helping to repel potential predators.

As the final instar larva prepares for pupation, it dons another cryptic disguise. The caterpillar turns a muted orange-yellow color. It is believed they do this to more closely resemble the leaf litter that it crawls around on when looking for a suitable site in which to anchor itself before forming the chrysalis.

Chrysalis

When the caterpillar is ready to form a chrysalis and pupate, it engages in one final act of mimicry. The chrysalis resembles a curled-up leaf. Caterpillars that pupate early in the season create a green chrysalis to blend in with the predominantly green leaves. However, if they pupate later in the season and will overwinter as pupae, the chrysalis turns brown, mimicking a dead leaf.

Adult

This species displays sexual dimorphism which means that males and females have different coloration. Males have hind wings with a pale green to yellow coloration. Females display a blue iridescent coloration.