Most of us are familiar with the story of the monarch butterfly’s epic journey to Mexico each fall. But what about the more than 30 other species of lepidoptera that call the SBG home? Amazingly, butterflies could be present in our gardens and yards—in some stage of their life cycle—all winter long. For example, banded hairstreak butterflies (Satyrium calanus) lay their eggs on the twigs of oak, walnut, hickory, ash, or boxelder trees. The eggs remain dormant throughout the winter and hatch in the spring. The caterpillars then feed on the leaves of these trees, growing and strengthening for the next stage of their life cycle.
When gardening for pollinators, remember, it’s not all about the flowers. Trees are important host plants, providing food and shelter for thousands of caterpillars. For example, an oak tree can support over 500 different species of lepidoptera. So when in doubt—plant a tree!
