Butterflies Are (Almost) Free

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Monarch Butterfly

There are more than 100 different butterfly species in Florida and if you build a good butterfly garden, they will come—at least some of them. Butterfly gardens can fit into almost any type of landscape from sunny meadows to doorstep containers.

The first thing to do is to stop using pesticides! When you work to attract butterflies, you’ll be supporting populations of other beneficial insects because most butterfly nectar sources also attract other pollinators.

Additional insect habitats in your neighborhood’s ecosystem also supports insect-eating birds, lizards, frogs, toads and bats. They in turn help to control garden pests. Your extension agent calls this integrated pest management, or IPM. It’s a balance.

Read the entire article in the September 2007 issue

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