Choosing Plants

• Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed Plant
  
  To have a habitat, you must provide food for both caterpillars and adult butterflies. Caterpillars feed on plants, while butterflies only feed on nectar. Some plants can be hosts to both, but most only provide food for one or the other.
  
  Some host plants specific to caterpillars are fennel, passion vine, grasses, sedges, cabbage, carrots, sassafrass, snapdragons and nettle. They also eat leaves from oak, apple. cherry and poplar trees.
  
  Some host plants specific to butterflies are black-eyed Susan, daisy, lantana, honeysuckle, oregano, hibiscus, helitrope, cosmos and marigold.
  
  Some plants that are hosts to both include clover, milkweed, sunflower, verbena, lilac and violet.
  
  Most of these plants are common and can be found in nurseries, depending on where you live. To find out which are best for your area, check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map at http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html, or consult your local nursery.
  
  

Preparing Your Habitat

• Butterflies don't require a lot of space, but they do need a food source, light and warmth. Choose a sunny spot in your yard that's sheltered from the wind by a retaining wall or dirt mounds. Create several mud puddles to provide the butterflies with water, salts, and minerals, and add some flat rocks so they can sun themselves.
  
  

Caring for your Habitat

• Monarch butterfly egg
  
  Butterflies will naturally be attracted to your habitat, but you can hunt for butterfly eggs in wooded areas and transplant them into your garden. Butterflies lay their eggs on the tops and undersides of leaves, where, once hatched, they will have instant access to food. Butterfly eggs can be round or oval, and can be from 1 to 3 mm long. They range from white to pale yellow in color, making them easy to spot against dark green leaves.
  
  The eggs are fastened to the leaves with a strong, sticky substance, so you must take the whole leaf to collect them. Keep in mind that a caterpillar's diet is species-specific. If you find eggs on a plant you don't have in your habitat, you must collect enough of that plant to sustain the caterpillars through the larval stage.
  
  You can also purchase eggs and live caterpillars from hobby stores, pet shops and online vendors. Make sure you have the plants necessary for the species you get.
  
  Find out how to properly care for each plant in your habitat. Never use insecticides or other harsh chemicals. Your local nursery can help you find organic remedies for common problems. Water your habitat more frequently during dry spells, and keep your mud puddles wet.