Homeowners planting flowers in their yards thinking they're saving bees

[catchnrelease]

24. Try for natives

The best you can do for pollinators is to plant things that are native to your area. While not as important for bees, it's very important for butterflies. Most species have specific plants that they need for their caterpillars to munch on, and nectar plants for the butterflies themselves. Many plants will be ok for the nectar but if the caterpillars don't have the leaves they require, then you will not end up with butterflies reproducing in your yard.

The Monarchs are a perfect example--the adults can get nectar from a variety of plants but the 'cats' only can live on milkweed. I would love to get some Pipevine Swallowtails in my yard, but the 'cats' only eat a specific vine which doesn't normally grow in my area, so the butterflies would not normally be residents around here.

Anyway, planting things that should be in your area will help increase the butterflies that should be residents. It will also help the native bees as well as the honey bees.