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Butterflies & Moths in the GardenButterflies and moths belong tothe same insect order, theLepidoptera (meaning scaly wings).Ireland has over 1,000 species ofmoth, compared to just 37 residentbutterflies. They share manyfeatures of behaviour andappearance. Gardens are an idealplace to watch butterflies. Hoursof enjoyment can be had observingthese beautiful creatures dancingfrom flower to flower in June andJuly. Contrary to popular belief,many garden moths are alsocolourful, with beautiful wingmarkings to rival those of anybutterfly. The majority are nightfliers - to avoid predators - but asmall number fly during the dayalongside butterflies. As naturalbutterfly and moth habitatsdisappear at an alarming rate, agarden can be an important

element in the survival of theseinsects.

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES ANDMOTHS

Gardening for butterflies and mothsis easy and inexpensive and theresults are well worth the effortinvolved. Here are some guidelines.

• Butterflies and moths visitgardens to drink nectar fromflowers, so plant as manydifferent nectar plants aspossible in sunny, shelteredareas. Offer adult Peacock, SmallTortoiseshell and Red Admiralbutterflies nectar from Buddleia,Lilac, Ice Plant, Marjoram,Scabious, Knapweed, MichaelmasDaisies, and Honeysuckle.Planting a wide variety of nectarflowers encourages many day -and night flying moths. Buddleia,Valerian, Scabious, Lavender,Candy Tuft and Hebe may bevisited by moths such as theMigrant Silver-Y, the Large YellowUnderwing, Scarce Footman,Dusky Brocade, the Clay, DarkArches and Shuttle-shaped Dart.

• In warm weather as plantsexperience drought, the nectarthey produce becomes thick.Butterflies and moths are unableto suck thickened nectar.Watering the flowers keepsnectar thin. Collect a supply ofrain water in butts placed underdrain pipes from a roof top.

• Plant at least one Buddleia orbutterfly bush and keep itpruned to encourage flowering.Buddleia is especially favoured bythe Garden Tiger Moth and 18species of butterfly. Plant in asunny position and prune

vigorously in March. Removedead flowering spikes to ensure flowering from July toSeptember. Buddleia does wellgrown in containers if youhaven’t much space.

• Position plants for butterflies andmoths with as little bare earth aspossible between them.

• Plant night-scented flowers toattract moths such as BladderCampion, Evening Primrose,Sweet Rocket, Tobacco Plant,White Jasmine and Stocks. Ifthere are lots of insects flying atnight, bats may come to eatthem.

• Grow caterpillar food plants suchas Nettles, Ivy, long grasses andNasturtiums.

• Avoid extensive paths or mownlawns.

• If possible, provide shelter fromcold north and east winds.

• Plant ivy. The flowers produced inautumn are a source of nectar forRed Admiral butterflies andmany moths. Peacock andTortoiseshell butterflies mayhibernate in Ivy over winter.Encourage ivy to produceflowering stems by pulling thetop shoots away from theirsupport so that they hang free.Ivy is also the food plant of HollyBlue butterfly caterpillars.

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information on the environment / eolas ar an gcomhshaolWILDLIFE

Spring NectarAubretia Pansy/VioletBluebell CloverCuckoo flower DaisyDandelion Forget-me-notHonesty PrimroseSweet Rocket Wallflower

Late Summer/Autumn NectarBuddleia MarjoramFrench Marigold Ice PlantMichaelmas Daisy MintIvy Red ValerianKnapweed ScabiousLavender Thyme

Nectar PlantsThroughout the

Butterfly & MothSeason

Bladder CampionEvening PrimroseSweet RocketTobacco PlantWhite JasmineNight-scented StockHoneysuckle

Night Scented Flowersfor Moths

6. In June the Holly Blue (GormánCuilinn) flitts about the Holly andIvy. It only flies for a few weeks eachyear.

7. The Meadow Brown (DonnógFhéir) has dark brown wingsshowing large eyes against abackground of orange. It fluttersover long grasses in the garden.

8.The Brimstone (Buíóg Ruibheach) isthe largest yellow butterfly inIreland and is attracted toBuckthorn.

9. In August the Red Admiral(Aimiréal Dearg) and 10. Painted Lady(Áilleán) butterflies migrate fromsouthern Europe and Africa. They aretoo delicate to survive the winterhere so the first ones you see willhave flown thousands of kilometresto Ireland. At this time the 11. WallBrown (Donnóg an Bhalla) andbrightly coloured 12. Small Copper(Copróg Bheag) are seen flying in thegarden.

• Help preserve habitats for rare butterflies and moths outsideyour garden. Don’t buy peat-based composts, water-wornlimestone or other materials thatform vital natural habitats forendangered moths andbutterflies.

• If you have to control CabbageWhite butterfly caterpillars inyour vegetable patch, neverresort to chemicals. It’s cheaperand more environmentallyfriendly to remove them by hand.Cabbage White butterflycaterpillars also eat Nasturtiumso grow this plant as a diversionwith your vegetables.

• Great nectar plants such asMarjoram, Thyme, Marigolds,Wallflowers, Nasturtiums and IcePlant do well in containers andwindow boxes, so even thesmallest garden can providevaluable food for butterflies andtheir caterpillars.

• Leave a corner of your garden togo wild to encourage butterflies,moths and other wildlife.

1. In the mild heat of spring theSmall Tortoiseshell (Ruán Beag) is thefirst butterfly to emerge fromhibernation and is one of thecommonest butterflies.

2. The male Orange Tip (Barr Buí) iseasy to identify on the wing. The tipsof its upper wings are boldly markedwith bright orange.

3. By late spring the Large White(Bánóg Mhór) emerges and is a veryconspicuous butterfly. It has whiteupper wings with black spots nearthe tips.

4. The Peacock (Péacóg) butterflyuses the large eyes on its wings tofrighten away would-be attackers.The Peacock lays its eggs on Nettlesand produces an autumn generationof young butterflies which thenoverwinter in the hollows of trees,log piles or undisturbed buildings. Itis seen in April and early May.

5. The Common Blue (GormánCoiteann) favours wild flowers inuncultivated pastures - it has twobroods each year and is on the wingin early summer.

WILDLIFE/ Butterflies & Moths in the Garden / WL 30

FOOD FOR BUTTERFLY AND MOTHCATERPILLARS

• Make butterfly caterpillarswelcome. Nettles are essentialfood for Peacock, SmallTortoiseshell and Red AdmiralButterfly caterpillars and forScarlet Tiger and Spectacle Mothcaterpillars. Cut part of theNettles back (check there are nocaterpillars on them first)regularly to encourage freshyoung growth. Limit their spreadin the garden by growing themin a large container sunk into theground in a sunny spot.

• Patches of long grasses andmeadow plants includingFescues, Bents and herbs such asClover, Ragwort, Bedstraw, Thymeand Bird’s Foot Trefoil areessential for Speckled Wood,Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown andRinglet butterfly caterpillars and

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for the caterpillars of LargeYellow Underwing, Dark Arches,Drinker, Six-spot Burnet, SlenderBrindle, Yellowshell, The Clay,Dusky Brocade, Ribandwave,Shuttle-shaped Dart and Silver-Ymoths. Cut the “meadow” at theend of the summer when thegrasses and flowers have setseed. Remove the “hay”afterwards.

• Trees such as Hawthorn,Gooseberry, Currants andBlackthorn are food plants forMagpie Moth, Buff Arches, YellowTail, Brimstone, ChineseCharacter, Nut-tree Tussock, DarkDagger and August Thorn.

• Plant Ivy - the food plant forHolly Blue butterfly caterpillars.

WHEN TO WATCH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS

The butterfly season runs from Aprilto September each year. The bestmonths are probably June and July.Look out for moths in the garden insummer months as dusk falls. Whenit is dark a torchlight safari aroundyour Buddleia bushes will revealmoths such as the Silver-Y, WillowBeauty, Mother of Pearl andBrimstone.

HOW TO ATTRACT MOTHS

Moths are attracted to lights. Thismay be due to the fact that moths navigate by maintaining themselvesat a fixed angle to moonlight, but oncloudy or moonless nights theyhome in on any bright light.

A simple and cheap method ofattracting moths to the garden is tospread a white sheet underneath alight and wait for moths to settle.Alternatively leave the bathroomlight on and the window open! BeCareful to release them unharmed.

COUNTING THE BUTTERFLIES ANDMOTHS IN YOUR GARDEN

Less than 20 butterflies occur ingardens but literally hundreds ofmoths visit mainly at night.Recording butterflies and moths inthe garden is easy and theinformation is of great value toensure the conservation of thesespecies. The survey form providedincludes the butterflies commonlyrecorded in gardens and four day-flying moths you might also see inyour garden. All you have to do is

INFORMATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT / EOLAS AR AN GCOMHSHAOL

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Food Plant Butterfly MothStinging Nettles Small Tortoiseshell Scarlet Tiger

Peacock SpectacleRed Admiral Burnished Brass

Holly and Ivy Holly BlueGarlic Mustard Orange Tip

Green-veined WhiteBuckthorn Brimstone The EngrailedAlder Buckthorn BrimstoneRagwort Cinnabar MothElm Hummingbird Hawk MothCuckoo Flower Orange Tip

Green-veined White

Food for Butterfly and Moth Caterpillars

Your Name: Your Address

Location of Garden: ❑ inner city ❑ city suburb ❑ countryGarden Size: ❑ Small ❑ Medium ❑ LargeNumbers Seen: Please record all butterfly and moth species seen in thegarden, marking the numbers seen on that date using these codes:

A: 1 B: 2-9 C: 10-29 D: 30-99 E: 100 or moreUse the blank lines for any other butterflies and moths you see.Butterfly Dates of RecordsBrimstoneCommon BlueGatekeeperGreen-veined WhiteHolly BlueLarge WhiteMeadow BrownOrange TipPainted LadyPeacockRed AdmiralRingletSmall CopperSmall Tortoiseshell Small WhiteSpeckled WoodWall Brown

MothCinnabarHummingbird Hawk-mothMagpie MothScarlet Tiger

Take Part in the Garden Butterfly & Moth Count

WILDLIFE/ Butterflies & Moths in the Garden / WL 30

Issued by:ENFO – The Environmental Information Service,17 St Andrew Street,Dublin 2, Ireland.

Tel: (01) 888 3911, (01) 888 3933Lo Call: 1890 200191Fax: (01) 888 3946e-mail: info@enfo.iewww.enfo.ie

Write to or visit our Centre at the aboveaddress or you may check out the ENFOinformation stands at your Local AuthorityOffice / County Library

ENFO is a service of the Department of theEnvironment and Local Government.

Printed on recycled paperMarch 2003

record number of butterflies andmoths you see in the garden overthe course of the year, and the exactdate on which you see them. Bymaking your garden butterfly andmoth friendly you will increase thenumber and variety of butterfliesrecorded. Your butterfly records canbe sent to Butterfly Conservation inthe UK or the Dublin Naturalists’Field Club in Ireland.

GARDEN BUTTERFLIES COUNT

The five most widespread garden butterflies are the Large White,Small White, Red Admiral, SmallTortoiseshell, Meadow Brown,Orange Tip, Green-veined White andPeacock. This is the kind ofinformation and a lot more besidesthat has come from the GardenButterflies Count co-ordinated byButterfly Conservation, since 1990.The survey which, at present, is UK-based helps conservationists tomonitor the commoner butterfliesand to discover more about theirbehaviour. Further information fromBUTTERFLY CONSERVATION,Manor Yard, East Lulworth,Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP,England. Web site: www.butterfly-conservation.org

MILLENNIUM BUTTERFLY SURVEY

Irish butterfly records can be sent tothe DUBLIN NATURALISTS’ FIELDCLUB (DNFC), 35 Nutley Park, Dublin4 as part of the Millennium ButterflySurvey to record the distribution ofbutterflies in any location.

THREATS TO BUTTERFLIES ANDMOTHS

Habitat loss is the main threat toLepidoptera mainly from landreclamation, removal of hedges andtree felling, road widening, drainage

and agricultural intensification.The use of insecticides is also athreat and kills not only butterfliesand moths but many predatoryinsects as well, such as Ladybirds,Ground Beetles and spiders - thenatural enemies of your garden’spests.

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS IN PRINT

Butterflies of IrelandIdentification Chart published bythe Dublin Naturalists’s Field Club,Dublin 1999.

Collins Guide to the Insects ofBritain and Western Europe byM. Chinery, published byHarperCollins, London 1986.

Gardening for Butterflies byMargaret Vickery, published byButterfly Conservation, Essex1998.

The Birds and Wildlife in YourGarden by Catherine O'Connell,published by the Irish PeatlandConservation Council, Dublin 2002.

The Millennium Atlas ofButterflies in Britain andIreland by Jim Asher and others,published by Oxford UniversityPress 2001.

The Small Ecological Garden bySue Strickland, published byHDRA/Search Press, Kent 1996.

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS ON THEWEB

Further information on butterfliesand moths can be found at the following sites:

Butterflies and moths of NorthernIreland at www.habitas.org.uk

Butterflies of Ireland atwww.geocities/com/butterflyirelandand www.geocities.com/dnfc_ie

Butterflies and moths of the UK atwww.butterfly-conservation.org

Text Prepared by Dr Catherine O’Connell, Head of Education,Irish Peatland ConservationCouncil, 119 Capel Street,Dublin 1. March 2003

Butterfly Artwork CopyrightHugh W. L. Wier & Tomás Porcell,Bell’acards, Whitegate, Co. Clare

Body in three parts - head, thorax and abdomen Body in three parts - head, thorax and abdomenLife cycle in four stages - egg, caterpillar, Life cycle in four stages - egg, caterpillar,cocoon and adult insect cocoon and adult insectAntennae are club shaped Antennae are hairy or feathery, rarely club shaped. Using these

antennae male moths can detect hormones emitted by femalemoths up to a mile distant.

Butterflies roost with their wings held Moths roost with their wings held like a tent or wrapped aroundvertically together the bodyButterflies are all fairly large insects Moths range in size from tiny micro-moths to the much larger

hawk mothsButterflies are day fliers Moths are mostly night flying and are attracted to artificial light.

Spot the DifferencesButterflies Moths