However, without caterpillars there can be no butterflies, so if we want the beauty, we have to learn to tolerate the beast. Mikula's book also provides photos of butterfly caterpillars, so we can identify them and not destroy them. I was horrified when I saw the caterpillar stage of the monarch butterfly, because I knew immediately that I'd killed several. Their host plants are milkweed, which grows plentifully near the top of our road and their nectar plants are milkweed, asters, red clover, zinnias, cosmos, lantana, pentas and daisies. Mikula's book also has projects and activities to attract and study butterflies in your garden, like raising butterfly eggs and caterpillars, making a butterfly house and net, and learning to hand-feed butterflies.
Projects are easy, inexpensive and great to do with children.
He really knows his stuff and his easy to read book is enjoyable and fascinating. I'll be consulting his book this spring and studying caterpillars, instead of indiscriminately killing them. And I'll be adding some host and nectar plants to my garden, and see if I can't hand-feed a butterfly or two. Write a letter to the editor .