butterfly houses

[maggie144]

Hi Everyone

The other half and I want to encourage insects into our garden especially butterflies. we have some ideas of making eco freindly houses for them. but we are wondering.

What sort of thing do we put inside the house to encourage them in, any ideas would be gratefully received.

As for the houses i am making them out of plastic milk bottles, flowerpots and drinks bottles does anyone have any other bright ideas

regards maggie

[Boots]

Why do butterflies need houses, Maggie?

[maggie144]

hi

The reason butterflies now need houses is mainly to do with climate change, the native british butterflies are stuggling with the ever changing weather conditions here and the butterfly house keeps them dry, warm, and away from the elements.

i have a few sites that have ideas on butterfly houses and the following link will show you a few if you are interested http://www.greengardener.co.uk/butterfly.htm

regards maggie

[Boots]

Yeah, I am interested. Have just had a bit of wander round cyberspace and checked out the Aussie offerings. Am quite surprised by all the stuff they have. It is quite a business, isn't it?

I always just thought breeding butterflies was about planting butterfly friendly plants (citrus, natives, and they like lantana here) and had no idea about any of this other stuff. The containers are more so you can watch though... by the look of things... experience a life cycle, maybe?

But the houses... now they are pretty funky... I think you might have to watch leprechauns or gnomes don't move in!