How many butterflies have you seen in your garden?
There are 800 different butterflies (taxa) in South Africa. Lepidoptera, meaning ‘‘scale wing’’ is the scientific order that includes butterflies and moths.
The Lepidopterists’ Society of Southern Africa (LepSoc) recently held its third Butterfly Census Week (April 23 to May 1).
Butterflies bring a hint of the exotic and the mysterious to a garden. Gardening for butterflies combines plants and the creatures that are linked with them in a holistic approach.
“For scientists, butterflies are also good indicators of ecosystem health and counting them can provide important information, which can be related to land-use practices and even climate change”, explains Lepsoc president, Steve Woodhall.
It is estimated that 10 percent of the 800 butterfly taxa in the country are threatened with extinction, which it is why it is important to monitor their wellbeing.
The South Africa Butterfly Census Week is part of a long-term butterfly monitoring programme, which takes place around the country twice a year.
Butterfly gardening
To encourage butterflies to flourish in your garden, choose a north-facing, sunny bed that is protected from the prevailing winds. It should be a half-moon shape to enable you to see the whole bed while sitting in one spot. You will need to fill your site with a good mix of nectar plants and larval host plants.
Some good nectar plants are bougainvillea, felicia species, red verbena, agapanthus, lion’s ear (Leonotis leonurus), asters, lobelia, cosmos, alyssum and Buddleja salviifolia.
Some common larval host plants include the milkwood (Asclepias species), white ironwood (Vepris lanceolata), shepherd tree (Boscia oleoides), Plectranthus species and Bauhinia galpinii.
Gardeners with small or balcony gardens should not think that butterfly gardening is out of their reach. Many of the plants mentioned grow easily in containers and will attract butterflies into your home. Butterflies are attracted to flowering herbs, so a window box with basil, origanum, parsley, sage and thyme will also be irresistible to them, while giving you some great ingredients for your kitchen.
For more information, contact www.lepsoc.org.za or www.lifeisagarden.co.za - Saturday Star