How to Make Butterfly Food Using Food Scraps, According to Gardening Experts

Adding nectar-rich flowers isn’t the only thing horticulturists, entomologists, and the like recommend if you want butterflies to flock to your garden. With a few ingredients you probably already have at home, you can easily make a nutritious butterfly food for these pretty pollinators.

Here's how to make butterfly food with leftover food scraps, as well as the the types of foods that aren't suitable for butterflies and butterfly food recipes.

First, Do No Harm: Unsuitable Food Scraps

These oft-colorful fluttering insects aren't that different from us. "Junk food is bad for butterflies," says expert Harry Lloyd. "Anything heavily processed, spicy, oily, or salty is not good for serving." Lloyd also warns against blackened or foul-smelling fruit, which can be harmful even if fermented.

Butterflies can’t properly metabolize artificial or preservative-laden items, so seasoned foods are also off-limits, explains Peter Ivanov. Their delicate immune systems can't withstand rot and mold, so dispose of moldy food scraps in a different way. Large amounts of citrus should be avoided, too, Ivanov adds, as the acidity can damage their mouthparts.

Keep leftover meat or dairy off the menu (it'll only attract unwanted pests like rats and flies), and, while vegetables might seem like a healthy option, Ivanov says they lack the sugar butterflies rely on for energy.

How to Make Butterfly Food with Food Scraps

You can easily and sustainably mix up your own butterfly food recipe using food scraps. They'll love the natural sugars that come from ripening fruit and will likely flock to your space to indulge in your leftovers.

Materials Needed:

• Overripe fruit scraps such as old bananas, bruised apples or pears, melons or watermelon rinds, too-soft peaches, plums, or mangoes, and shriveled grapes
• 1–2 tablespoons of brown or white sugar
• Splash of water
• Fine mesh screen or strainer
• Shallow dish or sponge
• Hanging feeder or mesh bag (optional)

Instructions:

1. Choose two to three types of ripened fruit, and remove any seeds or moldy areas from the scraps.
   
2. Add your prepped fruit scraps to a bowl and mash with a fork. Pour in a splash of water to loosen the mixture and make it easier to combine.
   
3. Add one to two tablespoons of sugar (brown or white) to the mixture.
   
4. Cover with a cloth and let sit for 24-48 hours in a warm, shady spot.
   
5. Use a fine mesh screen to strain the mixture and then transfer your finished butterfly food to a shallow dish. (You can also use a sponge to soak some up.)
6. Choose a sunny area near nectar-rich flowers to place the dish or sponge. It should be slightly elevated to deter ants. Optional: Use a hanging feeder or mesh bag if you’d like a more secure spot.
   
7. Replace the butterfly food every one to two days, or daily if the weather is hot or humid. Wash the dish or sponge between uses to prevent mold and bacteria buildup.