Food plants for butterflies such as the thistle and nettle are rarely found in domestic gardens. A breeder from Baden is committed to changing habits.
Pfaffenweiler (dpa/lsw) - According to Thomas Lutz, a hobby breeder from South Baden, home gardens should become more diverse and rich in species in order to provide butterflies with food. "I am convinced that you can achieve a lot with allotments to help the butterflies," said Lutz of the German Press Agency in Pfaffenweiler (Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district).
According to Lutz, carrots, dill, fennel, thistles and nettles serve as food for the caterpillars. "If you're lucky, butterflies lay eggs on these plants," said the 69-year-old. "Of course, it's important not to use chemicals." Wildflowers are also very welcome in the garden - they offer nectar to the butterflies.
Above all, Lutz defends the stinging nettle, which is also known as a medicinal plant, but is often still regarded as a weed. The plants are not only mown in the summer, but are often chopped up with machines or killed off with herbicides. "There's hardly anything left of the eggs and caterpillars," summarized Lutz.
