Backyard Butterflies

October 2021 Edition



































Hello reader!

I hope this finds you well and in good spirits as we wrap up the 2021 Butterfly Season and prepare to hibernate for a few months. John and I thank you for helping make 2021 our best year ever! It has been our pleasure to meet you and have rambling conversations with you about plants, butterflies, and more. We enjoy serving and assisting you with your endeavors to support and raise caterpillars and butterflies. John and I are grateful to connect with you through our mutual passions for our little winged friends. Here's to the close of the 2021 season and to the hope of 2022!

This year we had 20 applicants for Caterpillar Support and gave out an estimated 35 bags of common milkweed leaves, 3 trays of potted parsley plants, and about a handful of bags of leaves for Black Swallowtails. I estimate that our Caterpillar Support Program helped 250-300 caterpillars. On the fly we expanded our support this season to include loans of critter keepers and quick tutorials on how to raise caterpillars. In addition, we provided 16 Yard Assessments to help citizens within our serving area grow more native and beneficial non-native plants to support insects and critters.

After completing the NABA butterfly counts for the year I decided to set a strict weekly schedule for myself to light trap moths once a week on Fridays. A few people have joined me in this endeavor periodically as their schedules and interests permits. David George has been a regular attendee earning him the distinctive title of Backyard Butterflies Significant Contributor. Together we have made over 500 observations of individuals and an estimated 300 species at Backyard Butterflies that have been vetted and accepted on the Moths of North Carolina website. Our efforts have also raised the total number of species sighted in Orange County by a few dozen or so. It now stands at 907 species (and counting). My plan this winter is to create a comprehensive gallery of the moths recorded on the collecting sheet so that it can be used for educational purposes.

John and I spend our time during the winter planning and implementing for the upcoming year, while also catching up a bit here and there on our laziness. However you will pass the dark, chilly days may you enjoy the seasons and upcoming holidays. We both look forward to seeing you all again next spring!

Peace, Love, Butterflies & Moths,
Lior Carlson
Executive Director

P.S. Our newsletter will return on March 15, 2022. Meanwhile, if you miss us all past issues of our newsletters can be reviewed on our Newsletter Archive page.

President's Message

This 2021 butterfly season challenged all living things with lengthy spells of persistent rain interspersed with not one drop coupled with temps around 100 degrees. My time in the yard was dictated not by when it was convenient for me but when nature opened a window of opportunity. “Be Flexible” became my mantra.

I started my garden in 2015, a year after returning to North Carolina. Throwing patience out the window, I made a bed with
Board Members-7134
Ellen Brown, President
bags of purchased soil, cut the tops off and plopped in my chosen plants of bee balm, asters and milkweed. Instant satisfaction! That fall I prepped a 35’ x 19’ area in my front yard for a pollinator garden. Gradually I introduced host plants for butterflies I knew were in the area: wild indigo, pipevine, spicebush, golden Alexander, pawpaw and more milkweed. These days I’m mowing my half acre property of green stuff on an “as need basis”. In early spring lamia presents itself as one of the first nectar plants available. Later mazus begins to appear and provides a continuous source of nectar for the Eastern tailed-Blue for the entire season.

The one consistent comment I’ve heard this year is that butterfly counts are down: a subject not appropriate for casual cocktail hour for sure!! While there is no doubt the numbers are significantly less than in previous years, I continue to see them increase in my small space. Each year I continue to add more “offerings” including various grasses. The single-most popular nectar plant without a doubt is the sole lantana in the backyard. A valuable non-native nectar source. Two weeks after not seeing a single Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on it in September the Monarchs came. Recently while observing the lantana visitors, I had to do a double take: Yes! It really was a Long-tailed Skipper!!! In my yard!! Why? I dunno: it just is! And at a time when I’m hearing folks haven’t seen one yet. Go figure.

I hope this 2021 season has been one of introducing more butterfly plants to your yard. I also hope that your learning curve has increased. Backyard Butterflies focuses on making an impact to ultimately increase the population of butterflies local to our area through education, exposure via field trips and providing both nectar and host plants. Many thanks to Lior and John for their continued dedication, passion and hard work. Also, many thanks to each of you who volunteered in some way. You make a difference. I look forward to spending time this winter deciding how to make my yard even more inviting to our lepidoptera population! BTW: That “instant gratification” bed is still thriving. It’s now the aster bed.

Ellen Brown, President
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Sugaring Moths

How to Make Bait to Attract Moths

Sugaring moths, or baiting moths, is a fall and winter pastime that at least dates back to the late 1890s, according to an article on the topic posted on the National Moth Week blog. Unlike butterflies that require the ambient temperature to be at least 60°F to fly, some moths can fly at 32°F making it possible to moth throughout the year. Baiting can be done at any time of the year, as some moths will only come to bait or prefer to come to bait versus lights.

Mixing up bait is not difficult. The hardest part is lugging the 10 pounds of bananas in and out of the car. I let them sit for many days to ripen as if making banana bread. One batch will be enough for two nights of mothing. I discovered that painting the bait on trees that have deeply grooved bark or rough bark work the best and hold the chunky bits in place. A smooth bark doesn't work so well as the bits and juice run down to the base of the tree.

I apply a few hours before sunset to let the smell waft through the air. I paint trees that are far from any lights. The darker and spookier the location the better. Response to the bait can be unpredictable as the bait initially attracted dozens of moths up through the end of September. Come October the moths no longer came but were favoring the lights and sheet instead.

A short video tutorial of how to make, mix, and apply moth bait is posted on our Facebook page. You can also watch a spooky video of all of the moths feeding on the bait.
Bait Ingredients
The key ingredients are very ripe bananas, brown sugar/molasses, and yeast. The idea is to mimic rotted fruit found in nature. Additional fruit stuff can be added in, like cherries, apples, etc. Some people use cheap beer or wine instead of yeast. Yeast is by far cheaper so that's what I use.
fermenting
Let the yeast feast for at least 8 hours. Some people let their bait ferment for days. I don't think that's necessary as I've had a good turn out using bait fermented for just a day.
mashed bananas
I use a potato masher just enough to make it chunky. Chunks are good!
bubbly
After fermenting all day the mixture is now bubbly and smells faintly alcoholic. The longer it sits the more liquidy and alcoholic it becomes.
mixed
Everything has been mixed together. Now to cover it and let it sit outside and let the yeast feast on all that sugar.
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Behold the "moth-er" load! The majority of the moths in this photo are army and web worms. The big one is a Penitent Underwing.
SAVE THE DATE

Plant Pots Return Request

We appreciate the return of pots for re-use if you happen to be passing by our way. No need to contact us, just drop them off on our porch.
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Happy Holidays & Merry 2022!