Attracting butterflies with fruit feeders
Here’s a simple project you might consider…. a butterfly feeding station! Sue Jordan glued a few glass pieces together and Voila! A cobalt blue butterfly jewel! And you may be surprised what kind of food butterflies love.
Sue Jordan says, “My grandson, Trail, located a large blue water bottle for me….. it made a great shallow feeder for the birds. I used GE Silicone ll to attach plate to the bottle.”
“These also make wonderful platform feeders for birds. My butterflies seemed to love cherries with a splash of water best, but also I offered banana and watermelon chunks. I leave the fermenting fruits in place for days and butterflies love the ‘jam-like’ consistency as the fruits break down.”
Here’s a simple project you might consider…. a butterfly feeding station!
How To:
“The larger feeder is made using a spring water bottle and a 13″ plate” Sue tells us. “The petite one is a small saucer and finger vase! Both were secured together with GE Silicone II adhesive. I just place the the feeders over rods tapped into the soil.”
“I offered banana slices with a splash of water and the butterflies just kept returning for more!”
Sue’s butterfly feeding station surrounded by Zinnia and Lantana.
How does this work?
Scientists have found that:
(1) fruits contain high concentrations of sugar and nitrogen, and make a nutritious food source for butterflies in tropical forests
(2) fruit-feeding butterflies use smells from the fruits and fermentation to locate their food
(3) different types of fruit-feeding butterflies like different sorts of fruits
(4) fruit choice is not strongly linked nutrient content. They love sugar!
“I was thrilled to have a Monarch visit!” Sue says. These cherries are the big attraction.
Sue : “Love that cardinal with crest!”
“I like the primary colors together here,” Sue says, “This is a great way to feature this colorful bottle in your garden,…the cardinal agrees!”
More from Sue
Another style blue glass butterfly feeder
Sue’s blue glass birdbath
5 Comments
I love these. Very attractive and easy.
Will it also attract swarms of bees?
No.
Sue – any ideas on preventing ants from getting into the feeder? Can you come up with a “moat” design where the post can still be placed in the soil?
Sprinkle cinnamon spice (ground) around the base and ants will avoid climbing up the spike you place this upon. Every time you replace the fruit, sprinkle a little more cinnamon. Ants hate cinnamon and won’t cross it.