What are some butterfly species found in Maryland?
Butterflies and moths are known as lepidoptera or lepidopterans. There are over 150 species of butterflies and 2,600 species of moths found in Maryland. Eastern tiger swallowtails, monarchs, silver spotted skippers, variegated fritillaries, painted ladies, common buckeyes, spicebush swallowtails are regularly sighted at Brookside Gardens. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources website has several resources to help identify butterflies found in our state.
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/butterfliesofmaryland.aspx
Why plant a butterfly garden?
Local butterfly populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and pollution. Planting a butterfly garden creates new habitat, so they can complete their life cycle and thrive. As a bonus, butterflies are beautiful and fascinating to watch.
How can I support all stages of the butterfly life cycle in my garden?
There are 4 basic stages of the butterfly life cycle including egg, caterpillar or larva, chrysalis or pupa, and adult or imago.
Egg: Host plants attract butterflies by providing them a place to lay their eggs. Each type of butterfly has one or more host plants (for example, monarchs use milkweeds). If your garden has a variety of host plants, you can count on attracting butterflies.
Caterpillar/Larva: The butterfly eggs will hatch into caterpillars. Their goals are to hide from predators and to eat host plants. Host plants include trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, and annuals. These plants can tolerate intense caterpillar feeding and are able to recover from feeding damage.
Chrysalis/Pupa: Once fully grown, caterpillars often leave the host plant and form their chrysalis in a protected place. The chrysalis is the stage in which the caterpillar develops into a butterfly.
Adult/Imago: Adult butterflies usually feed on nectar while searching for a mate, so they need specific flowers that provide nectar as an energy source. Butterfly adults also bask in the sun to warm their bodies to fly since they are ectothermic or cold-blooded. Many nectar and host plants require full sun, but with careful plant selection, butterfly gardens can also be planted in partial shaded areas. Avoid using pesticides as these chemicals can kill caterpillars and adult butterflies. Identify the source of the plant problem before using chemicals. Non-chemical methods are available to address most common plant pests.
What are some common caterpillar host plants in Maryland?
- White Oak (Quercus alba) – 18 species of hairstreak butterflies and 15 species of silk moths
- Native Willows(Salix species) – comma, viceroy, red-spotted purple, mourning cloak, hairstreaks, sphinx moths
- Wild Cherries (Prunus species) – viceroy, red spotted purple, tiger swallowtail, spring azure, and 10 species of silk moths
- Hickory (Carya species) – tiger swallowtail, striped and banded hairstreaks, royal walnut moth
- Parsley, Fennel, Carrot– black swallowtail
- Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) – tiger and spicebush swallowtails
- Milkweed(Asclepias sp.) – monarch
- Violets (Viola sp.) – great spangled fritillary
What are some beneficial nectar plants naturalized or native to Maryland?
PERENNIALS & SHRUBS
- Milkweed(Asclepias syriaca, A. incarnata, A. tuberosa, etc.)
- Joe Pye Weed(Eutrochium purpureum)
- Purple Coneflower(Echinacea purpurea)
- Ironweed(Vernonia sp.)
- Goldenrod(Solidago sp.)
- Aster(Aster sp.)
- Sweet Pepperbush(Clethra alnifolia)
- Virginia Sweetspire(Itea virginica)
- Blazing Star(Liatris sp.)
Where can I find more information about supporting pollinators in my home garden?
Visit the University of Maryland Extension website for more information on creating a pollinator garden at https://extension.umd.edu/resource/pollinator-gardens/
