A garden that feeds caterpillars as well as butterflies
Nectar flowers feed adult butterflies, but caterpillars need different plants. Match a UK garden plant to a local butterfly and let it grow long enough to be used.
4 min read
Explore the journal
Garden Insects
Discover the smaller lives in your garden.
Explore the insects visiting our gardens, from pollinators to other familiar neighbours. Find guides to recognising them and understanding what they do.
Articles in Garden Insects
Explore other categories
Make room for moths: plants, shelter and a darker garden
Give moths more than a flower to visit. Make room for caterpillar food plants, winter shelter and darker evenings in a UK garden.
5 min read
Living with a bumblebee nest in your garden
Found bumblebees nesting close to home? Give the entrance space, make a temporary route for people and pets, and know when a sting needs medical help.
4 min read
Do bug hotels help insects? How to make one useful
A bug hotel can offer shelter or nesting space, but its design and upkeep matter. Choose a small shelter or bee nesting block that fits your UK garden.
4 min read
Which garden insects eat aphids?
Ladybirds, hoverfly larvae and lacewing larvae all hunt aphids. Learn what to look for on a UK garden plant and when to let predators work.
4 min read
Bee, wasp or hoverfly: what’s visiting my garden?
Large eyes and short antennae often point to a hoverfly; longer antennae point to a bee or wasp. Use several visible clues to identify a striped UK garden visitor safely.
3 min read
Showing 1–6 of 6 articles