Attract butterflies to your garden with this simple, 2-ingredient sweet treat recipe
Attracting butterflies to your garden can be a delightful addition to any thriving wildlife garden, as they play a vital role as pollinators. Here's a simple guide on how to make butterfly food and place it in a way that deters ants and other pests.
To prepare the butterfly food, mix one part sugar with about ten parts water, dissolve it, let it cool, and soak a clean sponge, cotton wool, or brightly colored cloth in the solution. Place the soaked material in a shallow dish outdoors near flowers. This sugar water closely mimics natural nectar, attracting butterflies effectively.
To prevent ants from accessing the butterfly food, elevate the dish or mount the feeder on a post to keep ants from climbing up. Using a shallow dish placed on a stand or a butterfly feeder designed to deter ants helps because ants have difficulty reaching suspended feeders. Additionally, placing the food close to flowers attracts butterflies by scent rather than sight, naturally limiting ant interference.
Here are the key steps:
- Prepare sugar water (1 part sugar to 10 parts water).
- Soak the solution into a sponge or cloth.
- Place it in a shallow dish.
- Raise the dish or mount it on a post to deter ants from reaching the food.
By following these steps, you can effectively feed butterflies while minimizing ant access.
The Big Butterfly Count, hosted by Butterfly Conservation from 1st to 18th August, encourages people to count and identify butterflies in their garden. This data helps scientists understand how different butterfly species are faring and where conservation efforts are most needed.
Unfortunately, 31 of 59 butterfly species in the UK have drastically dropped in numbers since 1979, according to The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. So, every effort to attract and support these beautiful insects is valuable.
Sources:
[1] Baskerville, A. (2023). How to Attract Butterflies and Keep Ants at Bay. Gardeners' World Magazine.
[2] Reynolds, K. (2024). Butterfly Food: How to Make It and Attract More Butterflies to Your Garden. Platform.
- To extend the butterfly-friendly lifestyle in your home-and-garden, consider participating in The Big Butterfly Count event from 1st to 18th August, organized by Butterfly Conservation.
- In an attempt to help UK's declining butterfly population, consider incorporating a home-and-garden design that includes butterfly-attracting plants and a simple DIY butterfly food feeder.
