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Pollinators in High Places:
trees as butterfly hosts
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Trees support life in many ways- they improve air and water quality, provide cooling shade, and give birds a place to build their nests. But would it surprise you to hear that they also play host to butterflies?
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June is pollinator month, and this week we're talking about a less well-known way to encourage pollinators: planting a tree!
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A spicebush swallowtail caterpillar on a sassafras leaf. Cute little guys, aren't they?
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Although we're used to thinking of flowering perennials as host plants, many types of butterflies and moths feed on tree leaves as caterpillars.
Here’s a list of some butterflies and moths, along with their host trees. Not all of them act as pollinators (many adult moths don't eat at all,) but they all have an important role to play in healthy biodiversity.
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Butterflies are only one indicator of a robust eccosystem. For every big, beautiful insect you notice, there are many less conspicuous ones doing very important jobs.
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For more information, click the links below.
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If you’ve been thinking about planting a tree in your garden, why not make it a tree with benefits for our flying friends? There are options for both large and smaller spaces on this list, and it’s a great way to support our native wildlife!
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Bee-utiful Resources for Pollinator Month!
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Did you know that June is Pollinator Month? To support and protect these essential insects, the University of Illinois extension has put together an amazing resource for learning about our native pollinators and planting to encourage them! Check it out at illinoispollinators.org/
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