Delightful talk on butterflies inspires at Mbango Valley
To attract butterflies on the South Coast, plant more indigenous species.
Bendigo Conservancy Group hosted a delightful day with lepidopterist, Xolani Prince Tshaka at Mbango Valley Retirement Village, who gave a informative talk on butterflies.
The talk was well supported, as many wanted to learn more on butterflies as well as gain vital knowledge.
Xolani offered a professional and passionate slide presentation which was followed by a walk in the Mbango gardens,where lots of butterflies were spotted – a good sign of a healthy environment.
Xolani being a lepidopterist, refers to someone who studies butterflies and moths. He works at the Butterfly Farm in Ramsgate and is also a member of Munster Conservancy.
One of his main pleas and call out for everyone is to plant a broad range of indigenous plants. “We need to home these delicate creatures as their homes and breeding grounds are reducing due to increased development in the suburbs.” He suggests leaving a section around properties wild to offer a supporting habitat.
To attract butterflies on the KZN South Coast, plant indigenous species like Cape leadwort (plumbago auriculata), Cape honeysuckle (tecoma capensis), wild dagga (leonotis leonurus), and butterfly bush (buddleja salviifolia).
Other excellent choices include salvia, pentas, gazanias, and host plants such as milkweed (asclepias), citrus trees (for citrus swallowtail), and plumbago (for common blue).
Butterfly bush (duddleja), Natal flat-crown (albizia adiantifolia), river bells (mackaya bella), puzzle bush (ehretia rigida), and wild peach (kiggelaria africana), verbena, scabiosa, ribbon flower (hypoestes), and lavender.
Bendigo Conservancy has a very special event planned for March where they will be holding an ‘appreciation evening’ for local Rotary clubs.
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