Given the recent decline of the butterfly population, many more gardeners are trying to find out what it takes to save Monarch butterflies. The species has become incredibly rare in the past decades due to the noxious man-made activities. Here are some of the tips that you may want to consider when designing your garden.
Great part of America’s Butterfly population has diminished in the past decades as a result of the highly industrialized activities that that men are carrying out. According to specialist Mary Mackenzie, butterflies can no longer reproduce because great part of the trees and plants they use to lie their eggs have disappeared.
In addition, the pesticides that gardeners regularly use on grass and flowers have killed butterflies, bees and other similar insects. The most threatened species is, according to the writer, the Monarch butterfly; therefore, many efforts are now being made to rescue these exemplar and to help them reproduce.
Mackenzie was the first to design her own garden for butterflies by simply taking into account the preferences of these species. She has seeded many plants that are specific for her region; thus, giving butterflies the possibility to nurture themselves with the ingredients they have grown to like.
The author recommends people who want to contribute to the reproduction of the Monarch species to grow plants like Aster, Lilac, Lavender and Milkweed because they are very colorful and they have a powerful scent that attracts many butterflies.
Milkweed plants, particularly, have a positive outcome on these insects as they can accompany bugs throughout all their life stages.
Scientists have noticed that Monarch butterflies lie eggs on the milkweed flower, which, in turn, develop into larvae, feeding themselves on the plant. This particular plant provides the shelter that caterpillars need during their pupation stage, so they would not get attacked by other insects.
A butterfly’s life is not easy, according to Mackenzie, who has stated in her most recent book that other insects usually attack butterflies in their early stages of life. Monarch exemplars have to survive the constant intrusions of bees and lizards, who feed themselves with their larvae.
Pesticides have to be completely eliminated from your garden, if you want these delicate insects to roam about your flowers. During the winter period it is also recommended that you leave the plants alone, so you would not disturb the butterfly eggs that might have been lain on their branches, the author has concluded.
Flower gardens do not only make your life easier, but they could also turn out very useful for other living beings on Earth. Mary Mackenzie thinks many great things can be achieved with just this small effort.
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