Why Should You Create A Butterfly Garden?

Have you noticed you do not see as many
butterflies as you once did? It is sad
that we do not see as many butterflies
as we might like. You can change that
by planting a butterfly garden.

There are many reasons that we don’t
see many butterflies. One is the
destruction of their habitat. Every day
more and more spaces of open land are
being used to build houses, apartments,
and businesses. When the woods and
fields are cleared, there is no place
for butterflies to live and raise their
young.

Butterflies are especially affected by land development. Because butterflies and their caterpillars require specific kinds of plants and
habitats, land development has caused
their numbers to drop. One species, the
Xerces Blue, has already become extinct
through alteration of its habitat. Many
more are on the threatened and
endangered species lists.

Another reason for the decline in butterfly populations is the wide use of pesticides. Farmers use them to control the insects that threaten to destroy their means of making money. Homeowners use them to prevent
the destruction of their homes from termites
and the destruction of their yards from the
pests that eat their flowers, grass and
shrubbery. Many places do widespread spraying
to kill disease-bearing mosquitoes. These
pesticides, while not targeted at butterflies,
do kill butterflies, too.

We need insects. Many plants depend on
insects to distribute their pollen from
one flower to the other. We would have
no vegetables, or pretty flowers to
enjoy for that matter, if it were not
for the insects that pollinate them.
Butterflies are important plant
pollinators. They, as well as other
insects also fill an important role in
the food chain. Many birds depend on
insects for food.

So construct a butterfly garden and
create the habitat necessary to help
preserve these beautiful creatures.
Remember, don't use pesticides.