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Butterflies of Michigan

June 4, 2025

By: Erin Parker, Interpretive Services Supervisor

After the rush of spring migration, where birds return with their colors and song after overwintering in southern climates, our gardens and green spaces might seem a little quiet again. But late spring and summer are a great time to focus on some of the other flying visitors: our butterflies and moths!

Making space in our backyards for all stages of the butterfly life cycle and encouraging them to visit for food and shelter throughout the season can connect us to our backyard visitors.

Plant for Caterpillars

Encouraging butterflies in our gardens, backyards, and other green spaces also means encouraging butterfly larvae like this black swallowtail caterpillar. Planting extra host plants for caterpillars ensures the next generation of butterflies!

One of the first things that we have to let go of when planting for wildlife is the idea of a pristine green space. Wildlife has to eat, and if we’re creating pollinator gardens and other enticing areas, our leaves and stems are going to get munched! Figuring out different ways to plant can help gardeners have their backyard critters and a beautiful garden.

An easy tip is to plant extra. If you know you’re planting the host plant of a local butterfly or moth, just plant more than you would ordinarily plant. A host plant is any species that is utilized for the egg-laying and larval (caterpillar) stages of a butterfly or moth. Some species, like monarchs, are very particular about their host plant- they only lay eggs on and their caterpillars only eat milkweeds. Other species, like the eastern tiger swallowtail, is considered a generalist because they will use many species (including a variety of plants in the ash, willow, and birch families).

Another idea is to plant those tasty host plants behind some of your showier garden flowers, that way the caterpillars can eat up as much as they need without causing noticeable changes to the garden itself.

A third idea is to embrace the insect damage as a component of a healthy, thriving backyard ecosystem! Observing each stage of butterfly from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult can be a wonderful natural history education, connecting the gardener more deeply to the seasons and our region’s wildlife.

Plant for Nectaring

Consider not just the types of plants but also the bloom times- ideally, pollinator gardens will have flowering plants in bloom from early spring to late fall to provide a variety of food sources throughout the butterfly season. From spring columbine to late fall bloomers like asters and goldenrod, having something in bloom all season supports a variety of butterflies and their life cycles.

Adult butterflies and moths are a diverse group and have diverse dietary needs. Some, such as the luna moth, don’t even have a digestive tract- they do all their eating as caterpillars and then have a brief adult life span (about a week) in which they mate, lay eggs, and die. And other adult butterflies don’t consume flower nectar- butterflies like red admirals prefer sap from trees. But many moths and butterflies do appreciate a sweet meal of flower nectar, and this is where both the gardener and the wildlife happily coexist. Planting a variety of flowers that bloom throughout the growing season, especially those that make room for butterfly wings- think open, flat flowers like asters as well as those with many smaller flowers on one plant such as goldenrod or blazing stars (liatris).

Fall blooming flowers are especially important fuel sources for migrating butterflies like monarchs and American ladies.

Clusters of flowers on one plant, such as on goldenrod, provide a lot of nectar sources for a variety of butterflies and other pollinators. This bronze copper butterfly is soaking up the sun while sipping on goldenrod nectar.

Other Actions that Support Butterflies

Planting for pollinators, including their caterpillars and larvae, is just one thing that home gardeners and park staff do to support insects. Reducing chemical use, such as herbicide and pesticides, supports healthy insect populations. Any plant that contains or has been sprayed with herbicide can impact insects at all stages of their life cycle- killing them directly or reducing their ability to grow and reproduce.

Providing a shallow water source or muddy patch in the garden can also improve the lives of pollinating insects, especially during periods of hot, dry weather. Many butterflies will utilize mud to consume minerals, sometimes gathering in groups in a behavior called puddling.

Learn more about butterflies this summer

Now that you’ve welcomed butterflies and moths into your garden, it’s time to learn about your local cast of characters! Apps such as Seek, inaturalist, and Leps by FieldGuide all utilize your phone’s camera feature to help you identify them in real time.

Or join a program geared at observing them and identifying them in the field:

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