Although it may seem like a long way off, and strange to consider when the sun is shining, in late summer we need to consider how we can help butterflies and moths make it through the winter.
Those that spend the winter as adults, such as garden favourites the Red Admiral, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, all need to stock up on sugar before they hide away in dark places. I help them by growing nectar-rich annual plants like Sunflower and Cosmos, and perennial wildflowers like Knapweed and Cranesbills. One plant I am really looking forward to seeing in bloom is Hemp Agrimony. The one that grows beside the doorway to my home is over six feet tall and will soon be festooned in sprays of pink flowers that are usually covered in butterflies and bees. After a summer of seeing very few butterflies in my Wild Space because of the cold and wet weather, I am hoping that I will see them in good numbers on this plant before the season ends.
Another tip to help butterflies and moths stock up before the winter is to leave fallen fruit on the ground in your Wild Space. Rotting apples and plums can release sugary liquid that butterflies and moths enjoy just as much as the nectar in flowers, and it has the same effect of fuelling their flight (important for migrating species) or helping them lay down reserves they can use in the colder months.
In August, I also start to divide up perennial plants that have finished flowering, in order to make new plants for my Wild Space or to give away. Depending on the specific plant there are different methods, but most are very simple and involve putting a spade or fork through a central clump of the plant and dividing it that way. Doing this in late summer allows the plants to establish some new roots before becoming dormant. If you’ve got a friend who would like to create a Wild Space for butterflies and moths but isn’t sure where to begin, perhaps you could give them some of your divided plants to get them started!
One of the nice moths I have recently had in my moth trap in my Wild Space is the Green Carpet. Like other ‘carpet’ moths, this species has intricate patterns on its wings, and doesn’t eat carpets, woolly jumpers or anything else in your home! Caterpillars of the Green Carpet eat wildflowers called bedstraws, and in my Wild Space I grow Lady’s Bedstraw in a meadow area, so I hope this is helping these beautiful moths.
Understanding the connections between the adult butterflies and moths, and the food that their caterpillars eat, is one of the ways to ensure you’re helping their populations. You can find more tips for helping butterflies and moths in your outdoor spaces here.
Have you created a Wild Space for butterflies and moths? Take part in our Big Butterfly Count before 4 August to let us know what you’re spotting
