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Caterpillars are the larvae of butterflies. Each species has its own food plant, although some make do with alternatives. Even in a small garden it can be successful in encouraging caterpillars. We clarify what caterpillars prefer to eat.

In a nutshell

  • Wild plants are particularly suitable as caterpillar food
  • each species has its preferred food
  • some plants are eaten by comparatively many caterpillars
  • Butterfly caterpillars can also be promoted in other ways
  • A garden that is as natural as possible is best

conifers

Some moth species are specialized on conifers, they can be found on all species. This includes:

  • pine moth
  • pine moth
  • nun
  • nun
The spruce provides food for the caterpillars of some moth species.

Conifers are often too big to plant in a traditional garden. If there are trees, they should only be cut down if they are diseased. Other butterfly species on the respective conifers:

  • Silver fir: Forleule
  • Spruce: Pine Moth, Coniferous Tree Moth, Forleule
  • Scots Pine: Pine resin moth moth, pine moth, coniferous tree moth, pine processionary moth, Forleule
  • European Larch: Pine Hawkmoth, Pine Processionary Moth

deciduous trees and shrubs

Even deciduous trees are often too big for the garden. However, willows and hazelnuts are suitable as hedges and can also be cut into shape accordingly. Deciduous trees with the most moth species:

  • Willow: over 60 species, evening peacock, C moth or mourning cloak
  • Quaking aspen: over 30 species, kingfisher, lesser crescent moon, ribbons
  • European beech: 30 species, snail moth, beech moth, peacock moth
  • Pedunculate oak: over 45 species, oak moths, owl moths, oak processionary moths
  • Hazelnut: over 20 species, birch moth, hazel owl, moon bird
  • Silver birch: over 30 species, linden hawk moth, birch porcelain moth, silver leaf
Among other things, the caterpillars of the oak processionary moth love the pedunculate oak.

garden and wild herbs

Many caterpillars eat different herbs. They make no distinction between wild species and cultivated species. Various moths occur on native meadow sage as well as on sage that is grown in the garden.
The most important herbaceous fodder plant is the stinging nettle.

  • Plant family: Nettle family
  • Characteristics: 30 - 150 cm tall, perennial, typical stinging hairs, woody rootstock, leaves elongate-ovate, toothed, inconspicuous flowers
  • Occurrence: nutrient-rich, sunny locations, roadsides, weed areas
  • Types of butterflies: admiral, painted lady, peacock butterfly, map, housemother, various bears, small tortoiseshell
  • Use and promotion: The stinging nettle is usually considered a weed, but it can also be used as a medicinal and salad plant.

Other herbs in the garden or in the meadow that are suitable for caterpillars:

  • Common Horntrefoil: Shamrock, Inkspot White, Brown Burrowing Owl
  • Dandelion: autumn moth, agate owl, cinnamon bear
  • Variegated Crown Vetch: Variegated Widow, Crown Vetch Skipper, Crown Vetch Blue
  • Sorrel: Lesser copper butterfly, ducat butterfly, sorrel bark owl
  • Plantain: White grass bear, plantain bear, white spotted ram
  • Sage: Peacock moth, gamma-ray owl, Russian bear
  • Thyme: thyme thyme, gray-blue blue, English bear
The caterpillars of the thyme worm prefer the herb of the same name.

Notice: It is good to leave a few sunny spots in the garden overgrown with weeds and to tolerate stinging nettles there as well.

vegetables

Many butterfly caterpillars do not stop at vegetables either. The extremely rare swallowtail, for example, prefers umbelliferous plants. These include carrots, fennel, dill and parsnips and their wild relatives.

Notice: Since the swallowtail only lays its eggs one at a time, major damage to the vegetable plants is not to be expected.

Different types of cabbage and all other cruciferous plants are endangered by cabbage white caterpillars. The caterpillars often appear in large groups, which quickly eat the plants bare.
Butterfly blossom plants (peas, beans, vetches) are also attacked by various moth caterpillars. If the infestation only occurs individually, it can be tolerated.

Source: Bernd Kirchberg, Cabbage White caterpillars, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

fruit and wild fruit

Fruit in the garden not only enriches your own diet, but also that of various species of butterflies. It is worth planting a few small trees or shrubs to support butterflies.

  • Apple: willow borer, codling moth, giant tortoiseshell
  • Raspberry: rose owl, various bears, agate owl moth
  • Bramble: Bramble Fritillary, various owls

However, some moths can quickly become a nuisance because the caterpillars not only eat the leaves, but also infest the fruit.

Wild fruit is suitable for near-natural hedges. It is less about high yields and more about the benefit for birds and insects. The fruits can still be harvested and processed. Butterfly caterpillars particularly like the following species:

  • Hawthorn: Weeping Wisps, Swallowtails, Tree White
  • Mountain ash: plum spider moth, spring woolly moth, copper hen
  • Blackthorn: Nightjar, Bluehead, Swan

grasses

The individual types of grass are difficult to distinguish and are rarely found in the garden, since certain seed mixtures are used for lawns or meadows. To help caterpillars on grasses, it is enough not to remove them wherever they grow wild. Some species and the moths they prefer:

The moth named Waldbrettspiel prefers grasses, especially the country guide grass.
  • Sheep Fescue: Coma Butterfly, Wall Fox, White Forest Porter
  • Upright brome: Marbled White, Greater Ox-Eye, Mountain Witch
  • Reed Grass: Woodland Board Game, White Spotted Grass Owl, Black-billed Skipjack Butterfly
  • Moor-grass: Clover moth, grass damsel, white-banded fringed moth

Other ways to encourage caterpillars

In addition to sufficient food, caterpillars need above all an undisturbed place to pupate. Some caterpillar species also cover longer distances. Places where caterpillars pupate and sometimes overwinter:

  • loose soil (vegetable beds)
  • grasses and woody parts of plants
  • attics or basements
  • coarse bark on trees
  • brushwood or compost heap

If pupae are found or excavated, they should be left in that place or, if buried in soil, reburied in another suitable place. With a bit of luck, the moths will hatch anyway.

support butterflies

Just as important as the promotion of the caterpillars is the promotion of the various moth species, which in particular need nectar plants and places to overwinter.
Butterflies found in the basement or attic in winter should not be disturbed. They are in a kind of hibernation and only come alive again when it gets warmer.
Suitable nectar plants:

Thistles: often weeds for humans, valuable forage plants for butterflies
  • Herbs: sage, lavender or lavender
  • Shrubs: Buddleia, privet
  • Trees: fruit trees (some moths prefer sucking on fallen fruit)
  • Flowers: phlox, thistles

frequently asked Questions

Are the caterpillars damaging the plants?

If there are many caterpillars on a plant, they can actually eat it bare. In sensitive plants, this leads to death. Trees or even the common stinging nettle recover quickly.

How to help a found caterpillar?

If the moth caterpillar is moving very quickly, there is a good chance that it is looking for a place to pupate. If she walks across a path or a street, it is enough to put her on the edge, she will find a suitable place for herself.

Can you raise caterpillars yourself?

This is extremely difficult. Only very few butterfly species are suitable for this, which are uncomplicated in terms of food and the pupation site. It is always better to put a found caterpillar in a place where there is as much suitable food as possible. Then she finds herself a plant to eat.

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Animals in the garden