Did you know that there are around 3,700 different species of butterflies in Germany, which can be divided into day and night butterflies depending on the period of activity? If you want to do something good for the endangered insects, you can cultivate their food plants in the garden - and hang up overripe bananas.
Can you attract butterflies with overripe bananas?
In fact, overripe bananas are very suitable for butterflies, after all, many butterflies feed primarily onsweet tree and plant juicesas well asnectarIn the summer months, the animals like to settle on ripe fruits that have fallen from trees and bushes.
Which butterflies can be attracted to ripe bananas?
Overripe bananas are suitable for almost all butterflies, but these are primarily attracted toSpecies:
- Admiral: Migratory butterfly with typical markings, bright orange bands on the hindwing edge and on the forewing on a dark background, white spot markings on black forewing tips
- C butterfly: pretty butterfly with orange basic color and black spot markings
- Forest board game: dark brown butterfly with eyespots on fore and hind wings
But be careful: In addition to butterflies, the sweet bananasalso attract other insects, such as bees or wasps. You should also be careful with fruit flies, which are difficult to get rid of.
How to place overripe bananas for butterflies?
Place the overripe ones, i.e. H. brown-spotted or already brown bananaseasy to reachfor the butterflies. To do this, you can, for example, attach the fruitsfreely hangingto a branch or twig. Insert a piece of wire lengthwise through the fruit and secure it by bending the bottom end of the wire. You can leave the peel on the fruit, but you shouldcut it several times- this makes it easier for the butterflies to get to the coveted pulp. Alternatively, you can also place the bananason an elevated place
Can you also use other fruit for butterflies?
Many butterflies don't just like overripe ones - i.e. H.particularly sugary– bananas, but can also be enticedwith other fruits. Fruits such asare particularly popular and often used on butterfly farms, for example.
- Oranges
- Plums
- Peaches
- Apples
- Pears
The only important thing is that these types of fruit must beoverripe - if possible, perhaps even already fermented. This means for you: Don't throw away fruit that is no longer suitable for the human palate, but instead offer it to the butterflies in the garden!
Tip
What do butterflies eat?
As adults, many butterflies feed on tree and plant sap, nectar, honeydew and ripe fallen fruit. The caterpillars, on the other hand, cannot be lured with such food; they are often found on certain forage plants and feed primarily on the leaves. But not all butterflies eat: Some adult butterflies live without food and die after just a few weeks. This includes the small peacock moth.
