The Role of Beneficial Insects in a Butterfly Garden

Beneficial insects will naturally occur in a butterfly garden because they have many of the same requirements as the butterflies. They need an environment that is pesticide free, provides enough nectar and pollen, shelter from the elements, and "pest" insects for food.

Beneficial insects aid the garden by preying on the harmful insects that damage the host/nectar plants. They prefer some of the same flower characteristics as the butterflies, especially in the type and shape of the flowers.

Many umbel shaped flowers and composites are the top choices for these beneficial insects. It is important to provide these insects with a complete season of bloom from the early spring through the late fall. When there are not any harmful pests for the beneficials to eat they rely on nectar as a food source.

Another requirement for beneficial insects is to provide an area of shelter. It is easy to incorporate beneficial insects into the garden and they can be a great asset to any garden but are particularly useful in a environmental habitat garden such as a butterfly garden.

Additional Information

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