Butterflies and Lantana

Murphy has been at work again..... for more than a year now I have been wanting to buy a butterfly catching net and could not find one anywhere, then about two weeks ago I found a shop which had some and I was SO excited. At last!! I bought THREE, one for home, one for the office and one to keep in the car. There are so many butterflies which fly around but never settle on plants, NOW was my chance to catch them and get to take pictures!!

Well guess what? I have not seen even ONE butterfly since I got my net!! (Sigh!!) Well I guess there is always next season then watch out butterflies. :)

Although Lantana is an invasive species and is being sprayed with poison in many places, it DOES attaract a great number of butterflies, skippers and other nectar loving bugs so I am hoping that will never get rid of the Lantana. After all, what other plant woud they then use? It is such a fine balance messing around with nature and can mean the demise of a species if tampered with.

Common Dotted Border (Mylothris agathina) Spotted Joker (Byblia ilythia)

Common Hairtail (Anthene definita)

Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui)

African Monarch (danaus chrysippus)

Yello Pansy (Junonia oenone)
Now of course you are wondering what this Carpenter bee has in common with all the butterflies? Why the Lantana of course!! :) One of the many other species to enjoy the nectar too.