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Cottage Gardens

What Time of Day Do Butterflies Feed?

15 years ago

Lvtgarden's thread in the Gallery is getting heavy with pics to load, so I'm taking one of her questions here with a single pic.

Feeding time in my garden varies with the position of the sun. Spicebush swallowtails were swarming red porterweed at 9 am today. A few swallotails and Gulf fritillaries are on tithonia. A few are visiting blue porterweed and lantana in dappled shade. Mid afternoon, they'll be split between tithonia and yellow lantana in sun. Pentas always have visitors when the sun is out.

Even DH comes out to watch the show while butterflies feed on red porterweed!

I've noticed that plants on the ends of beds, or accesible from an open area are the most popular. They seem to like to have 'landing and takeoff room' as they visit.

Nell

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Comment (1)

todancewithwolves
15 years ago
Different butterflies are active at different times of the day. In the morning you may see butterflies basking in the sun warming up to fly or feeding flowers. As the sun fades later in the day some butterflies and/or moths become active while others start to roost.

There is no set time. It really depends on your zone and how warm the day has become.

Edna
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