Green Power, an environmental group, has been conducting the "Solar Terms Butterfly Survey" since 2005. Today (6th) announced the results of the survey over the past 10 years. A total of 130 species of butterflies have been recorded as feeding on nectar, and a total of 140 species of plants are the sources of nectar. 60% are native native plants.
For example, the native plant fed by the most butterfly species is "Peach peach". It only blooms in two months of the year, but during the flowering season, a maximum of 31 species of butterflies were recorded, including the rare two-tailed gray butterfly.
Green Power believes that surveys have shown that native plants are more attractive to different species of butterflies. However, at present, many planting projects of the authorities are still dominated by exotic plants. They urge the authorities to plant more native plants to enhance local biodiversity in the long run.
According to Green Power, the survey found that the top three native plants ingested by the most butterfly species were Shanpu peach, Zanthoxylum chinensis, and Shui Weng; Forsythia and Lantana.
However, comparing the native and exotic plants that the most butterfly species feed on, the native mangosteen can attract 2.5 times more butterfly species in one day than the exotic species Prunus chinensis.
You Jingxian, manager of Green Power Education and Project, pointed out that the survey showed that the top three species of native plants ingested by butterflies all have a short flowering period, but every time they bloom, they attract a large number of butterflies. It blooms for only two months of the year, but up to 31 species of butterflies feed on a single day during the flowering season.
In contrast, the top three species of exotic plants ingested the most by butterflies bloom almost all year round. Taking the No. 1 Elephant tossica as an example, only a maximum of 12 species of butterflies were recorded to feed on one day during flowering.
You also said that in recent years, many "butterfly gardens", "ecological gardens" and "nature conservation gardens" have been set up in country parks or urban parks, but many of them are mainly planted with exotic plants. It blooms all year round, so butterflies visit all year round. It is misunderstood that foreign nectar plants are more helpful to butterflies. However, the survey shows that native nectar plants are more attractive to butterflies.
For example, You Jingxian pointed out that although the exotic plant lantana attracts butterflies, it has been rated as one of the top 100 invasive alien species in the world by the International Union for Conservation. She emphasized: "It is absolutely not suitable to plant." She also said that although the nectar of some exotic plants can attract butterflies , but its leaves or fruits are not suitable for other protozoa to eat and have limited ecological value to the local area.
Although lantana attracts butterflies to feed, it has been rated as one of the world's top 100 invasive alien species by the International Conservation Union and should not be planted.
(Provided by Green Power)
You Jingxian suggested that the authorities should plant native plants with different flowering periods in the same location to make up for the short flowering period of native plants, so that nectar could be supplied uninterrupted, and the biodiversity of local butterflies would be more effectively promoted.
She also suggested that the authorities plant more native shrubs and vines as nectar plants. Since trees, shrubs and vines have different heights, they can create a garden garden that is layered and suitable for public viewing, and the fruits are also attractive to birds, helping to improve the overall ecology of the region.
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