There are 550 to 600 species of swallowtail butterfly, with many of them a common sight in various areas of the world. Swallowtail butterflies are also one of the largest species of butterfly, making them easy to see. Here we’ll explore this species and highlight some of the common types of swallowtail butterflies.
Mason bee houses are an ideal way to attract pollinators to your garden. Bee boxes for mason bees (also called orchard mason bees) contain several tubes or tunnels where the busy flying insects lay eggs, hatch, spin cocoons, and transform into adult bees. The best mason bee houses include various cylindrical tubes to attract these metallic blue or green-winged insects.
We’ve talked about how you can grow certain flowers to help attract butterflies and bees to your garden. Did you know there are also herbs which will achieve this?
Growing your own herbs is a fantastic idea, and not only will you captivate the attention of little pollinators with them, but you too can personally reap the benefits of some of them – having garden-fresh, organic herbs at your fingertips for cooking and adding to salads and teas.
Beekeeping is the practice of maintaining a colony of honey bees. Also known as apiculture, beekeepers or apiarists have hives where the bee colony lives. Generally, the purpose of beekeeping is to ensure flower pollination and to collect honey. Another vital role of the beekeeper is to cross-bread bee populations to keep them free from disease.
Mason bees are important pollinators that build their nests in small cavities, hollow stems, or holes in wood. Unlike honeybees, mason bees are solitary winged insects that spend most of their life flying from flower to flower. It is safe to attract mason bees to your garden as they rarely sting and are incredibly beneficial insects.
Did you know that bees are in serious trouble worldwide?
Some countries have experienced a decline in their bee population by as much as 50% in the last few years. This is not only tragic for bees, but also for our entire ecosystem. Fortunately, there are many ways in which we can all do our part to save our bees.
Bees are critical to our ecosystem – everything from the flowers we love to the foods we eat relies on these remarkable little pollinators. But like every other living thing, bees can be vulnerable to disease. Varroa mite is one of these diseases which affect bees.
Have you ever heard of sweat bees?
Here are some common, frequently asked questions about these busy, beneficial little bees…
Commonly referred to as sweat bees or sugar bag bees, these bees are the second largest family of bees worldwide. Scientifically known as Halictidae, they usually have a dark metallic appearance.
Caterpillar to butterfly kits give you the chance to observe close-up the fascinating life cycle of butterflies. Seeing a tiny caterpillar grow into a large fat grub, then turning into a chrysalis, and emerging as a butterfly is a fantastic experience. Butterfly kits can be a wonderful gift for kids. Or, you can raise butterflies to release into your garden to help pollinate plants.
If you’re looking for a fun and rewarding educational activity to share with your children at home, why not involve them in the creation of a butterfly garden in your back (or front) yard?
To most children (and many adults!) butterflies are whimsical little garden dwellers and one of the closest things we have to the fairies in children’s stories. Colorful and playful, they are pollinators and a fabulous addition to your garden.