Don’t Touch These If You See Them on Your Plants

The way the Mourning Cloak butterfly goes into hibernation for the winter is one of the things that really gets under your skin. When it becomes chilly outside, these butterflies don’t do what others do—they hide behind sheds, loose bark, or even woodpiles. When spring arrives, these butterflies are usually among the first to emerge, often even before the flowers begin to open. Their evocative name, “Mourning Cloaks,” is derived from the fact that their black wings mimic a cloak worn at a funeral. Their early entrance in the springtime landscape adds to this term.

Maintaining a Harmonious Garden Ecosystem

When we gardeners think of insects, we usually see the damage they do to our plants right away. We get the creeps whenever we see caterpillars because we think they’re going to eat anything they come across. But you have stand back and see the forest for the trees.

An exquisite illustration of the delicate equilibrium found in nature is the Nymphalis Antiopa butterfly. In spite of the fact that the caterpillars will eat some leaves, they will not destroy your garden. Actually, you’re helping to maintain a balanced ecology by creating a home for these butterflies.

Thus, what is your course of action?

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