Butterflies are declining seriously in most countries. Climate change, habitat loss and insecticides tend to work together to weaken butterfly populations. Without butterflies, plant biodiversity would decrease, leading to disruptions in food chains and potentially impacting human food systems. Butterflies are important pollinators and their decline can negatively affect crop yield and the overall health of ecosystems.
Butterflies are a food source for many animals, including birds, bats and other insects. A decline in their population could negatively impact these animals and disrupt the delicate balance of food. While butterflies are not as well-known as bees, they are important pollinators for certain crops, contributing significantly to agricultural productivity. From what I’ve read the greatest threats to butterflies are habitat change and loss due to residential, commercial and agricultural development.
The two paintings are for the Vacaville Art Gallery Benefit Art Auction taking place June 19th to June 28th this year. Each painting is 12″ x 12″ and will be available for sale at the Art Gallery. One of my friends is a fantastic insect photographer, and I used the photos from Kathy Keatley Garvey, entomologist.
To help save butterflies, you can create butterfly-friendly habitats in your yard by planting native milkweed and nectar-producing flowers. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides, which can harm butterflies and their caterpillars. Plants that help butterflies include Milkweed, butterfly bushes (Buddleia), Coneflowers (Echinacea) and Asters, as well as plants from the mint, rose and vervain families. A few more plants that butterflies enjoy are Verbena, Sage (Salvia), Zinnias, Phlox, Lantana, Sweet Joe-Pye-weed (Eutrochium), Butterfly Weed, Monarda, Goldenrod (Solidago), Egyptian Star Flower (Pentas), Marigold, Ageratum, Coreopsi, Zinnias, Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Blazing Star (Liatris), Button Bush (Cephalanthus Occidentalis), Catmint (Nepeta), Fase Indigo (Baptisia), Floss Flower (Ageratum), Hollyhock (Alcea), Lavender, Shata Daisy, Snapdragon, Stonecrop (Sedum), Sunflower, Yarrow, and Bee Balm (Monarda).
To protect Larvae plant Milkweed (Asclepias), Dill and Fennel, Pipevine (Aristolochia) and Native California plants. Allow plants to grow to their full size to provide ample nectar and host plants. Choose plants with different boom times to extend the butterfly feeding season. Plant a mix of flowers to attract different butterfly species. Remember many butterflies prefer sunny locations.
One of more interesting pieces of information I discovered as that butterflies see more colors than humans. They seem to prefer red, orange, yellow, purple and dark pink. A large, colorful garden is easy for butterflies to find and encourages them to stay longer. Each butterfly has a favorite nectar and needs a specific host plant where is will lay eggs.
Here is a list of Host Plants and the Butterflies they attract:
| Host Plant | Butterfly |
| Willow (Salix spp.) | Red Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) |
| Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) | Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) |
| Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) | Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) |
| Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) | Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) |
| Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata) | Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) |
| Senna (Cassia spp.) | Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) |
| Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) | Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) |
| Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) | Monarch (Danaus plexippus) |
In case it is easier for you to read a list of butterfly attracting plants, here is one I found online which may include a few more than I listed above, and may out a few:
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Goldenrod | Solidago sp. |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta |
| Beebalm | Monarda fistulosa or Monarda bradburiana |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa |
| Egyptian Star Flower | Pentas lanceolata |
| Ironweed | Veronia baldwinii |
| Joe-Pye Weed | Eupatorium purpureum |
| Lantana | Lantana camara |
| Indian Pink | Spigelia marilandica |
| New England Aster | Aster novae-angliae |
| Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea |
| Swamp Milkweed | Asclepias incarnata |
| Blazing Star | Liatris spp. |
| Vervain | Verbena spp. |
| Zinnia | Zinnia elegans |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis |
| New Jersey Tea | Ceanothus americanus |
| Beardtongues | Penstemon sp. |
| Obedient Plant | Physostegia virginiana |
| Blue Sage | Salvia azurea |
| Blanket Flower | Gaillardia sp. |
| Golden Alexander | Zizia sp. |
| Yarrow | Achillea millefolium |
| Mountain Mmints | Pycnanthemum sp. |
| Culver’s Root | Ceronicastrum virginicum |
| Anise Hyssop | Agastache foeniculum |
| Rose Mallow | Hibiscus lasiocarpos |
| Purple Prairie Clover | Dalea purpurea |
| Royal Catchfly | Silene regia |
| Phlox | Phlox sp. |
| Downy Skullcap | Scutellaria incana |
Happy planting so you can enjoy your butterfly friends!