Ruud Kleinpaste: Planting for Lepidoptera

<p><span>This program is increasingly becoming a Community Information Resource that assists our native plants and critters – no apologies here!</span> </p> <p><span>We read in the news that the DOC is translocating rare/endangered birds and lizards to keep them safe and increase their populations. Gardeners can do exactly the same thing for our butterflies and moths – we even have a New Zealand Moths and Butterfly Trust that does exactly the same thing, so why not join them and enrich your quarter acre Paradise?</span> </p> <p><span>Monarchs are mating and looking for places to lay their eggs. We all know their food plants:</span> </p> <p><span>Swan plants (bit boring in my opinion!) can be sown right now – Kings Seeds and other seed merchants have these popular plants in stock; Moths and Butterfly trust also stocks a heap of different seeds for Monarchs. Germination is good at warmer temps, and 21 degrees is recommended.</span> </p> <p><span>Fabulous Asclepias species with colourful flowers are also suitable host plants – more my gig!</span> </p> <p><em><span>Prettier relatives of the swan plant. Photo / Supplied</span></em> </p> <p><span>Whatever you sow: aim for heaps of plants and keep some of them in large pots as “spares” for when famine breaks out.</span> </p> <p><span>Admiral Butterflies love nettles to lay their eggs on; if you have a safe space you can try the native Ongaonga stinging nettle. Just be careful, they are ferocious (Hence their name Urtica ferox).</span> </p> <p><span>Red admirals are keen on that tree nettle (ferox) but will also feed on perennial nettle (dioica).</span> </p> <p><span>Yellow admirals tend to go for the smaller nettle species as food for the caterpillars.</span> </p> <p><span>I have both admirals in abundance here in the Halswell Quarry. The reds seem to overwinter here too.</span> </p> <p><em><span>Red admiral (left) – Yellow admiral (right). Photo / Supplied</span></em> </p> <p><span>Just be aware that red admirals may not be as common in the Auckland region, so extra fo