[{"id":243161563329,"handle":"butterflies-moths","updated_at":"2025-09-06T19:05:59+01:00","published_at":"2021-01-28T09:43:13+00:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"Butterflies \u0026 Moths","body_html":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBoth butterflies and moths are in trouble in the UK. Numbers have fallen due to habitat and biodiversity loss in the countryside. Conserving butterflies and moths are of great importance for reasons that include their intrinsic and aesthetic value and their use in education and ecology. An area rich in butterflies and moths is a good indicator of a healthy environment and ecosystem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eButterflies and moths have a significant part to play in the food chain. At the various stages of their fascinating life-cycle, they support a whole range of birds, bats and other insectivorous animals. Telling the difference between butterflies and moths can be extremely challenging as the common misconceptions of colour, hairiness, and time are not reliable. The most troubling thing people will find is that, in truth, there isn’t much of a difference as both belong to the Lepidoptera group, of which in the UK there are 60 species of butterfly and over 2,500 recorded moths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWe can help butterflies and moths as they will visit any garden, however small. If they can feed on suitable nectar plants and have shelters, a well-thought-out garden can attract many moth and butterflies.\u003c\/p\u003e","image":{"created_at":"2021-02-15T11:35:02+00:00","alt":null,"width":1178,"height":1222,"src":"\/\/wildlifeworldtrade.co.uk\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/butterfly.jpg?v=1613388902"}}]
The Butterfly Habitat provides a summer and winter house for butterflies. In summer use the habitat as a butterfly feeder with the nectar feeding tray folded down to allow butterfly food and sweet ripe fruit to be served to your butterflies. In winter the tray can be folded up to make a cosy over-wintering home for non-migratory butterflies. The Butterfly comes with a slotted wooden cartridge inside to provide safe spaces for over-wintering.
Siting
Site the butterfly habitat in a sunny sheltered position, out of prevailing winds.
The nectar pots should be regularly filled with Wildlife World Butterfly Food with added vitamins or a sugar water solution. Feeding is especially effective in early Spring and late Summer when natural nectar is scarce
Regularly wash the nectar pots and replace the butterfly food to prevent a build-up of bacteria to which the butterflies may be susceptible
Place over ripe fruit in the central plastic bowl, the sweeter the better
Maintenance
The butterfly house is made from slow-seasoned timber which is naturally durable so does not require additional treatments. The blue water-based painted finish is for decorative purposes and may be topped up periodically to maintain its appearance.
Observation
You should see butterflies, hoverflies, bees and wasps drinking from the feeding cups. The overwintering chamber provides shelter for many beneficial garden insects such as lacewings, butterflies or ladybirds.
