South African Garden and Home – September 2019

92 SEPTEMBER 2019 | gardenandhome.co.za

SOURCES Butterfly Valley butterflyfarm.co.za South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) sanbi.org. To learn more

about butterflies in your area, become a member of the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa (Lepsoc Africa) lepsocafrica.org

4

Establish mud patches

Butterflies prefer to drink water

from mud patches rather than birdbaths

or containers of water. Butterflies,

males especially, need certain nutrients

from the soil, says Steve Woodhall.

Create a couple of mud patches in a

flower bed. Remove weeds, self-seeding

plants and groundcovers and keep them

free of mulch. Choose spots far away

from birdfeeders and birdbaths so the

butterflies can drink in relative safety.

5

Growhost plants

Asbutterflieslaytheireggson

specifichostplants,makesureyouhave

theseinyourgarden.Theseareplants

thatcaterpillarsandlarvaefeedonand

includeweedssuchasstingingnettle,

hosttothegoldenpiper,piedpiperand

duskyacraea.Keepinmindthatthese

plants will be eaten and look a little

tatty periodically.

Butterfly Valley in Ramsgate

recommendsthefollowinghosts:

Indigenous creeping foxglove

(Asystasia gangetica) is host to the

common diadem, common mother-of-

pearl, brown pansy, yellow pansy and

bluepansy.

Unhybridised plectranthus species

(buy the plants at specialist indigenous

nurseries) are host to the gaudy and

garden commodore.

Unhybridisedgazania species (buy the

plantsatspecialist indigenous nurseries)

arehosttothepaintedlady.

Wildpeachtrees (Kiggelaria

africana)arehost to garden acraea

andbattlingglider.

Citrustreesare host to

citrusswallowtail.

Indigenouswhite ironwood (Vepris

lanceolata)arehost to citrus swallowtail

andgreen-bandedcitrusswallowtail.

Pelargoniums are host to the

geranium bronze butterfly.

6

Plant or set up

windbreaks

If your garden is windy, create protected

spots for butterflies, as their wings aren’t

strong enough to withstand high winds.

Plant hedges or establish sheltered

‘rooms’, but make sure there’s enough

sun for nectar-producing and host plants

to thrive.

Painted lady

Common dotted border on French

lavender (Lavandula dentata).

Common diadem

Painted lady on zinnias, which

attract all kinds of butterflies.