As a nature lover, you may have wondered, how do you hang a banana for butterflies?
Or, then again, you may have no idea what I am talking about!
What is the connection between bananas and butterflies?
Are butterflies attracted by the smell or the color?
And why do you have to hang the banana to entice these pretty insects?
Does it work if you lay the fruit flat?
Let’s flutter over to the answers, shall we?
Butterflies are attracted to the sugar in bananas that are overripe and will enjoy drinking from them. To ensure the banana is easily accessible, the best method of enticing butterflies is to hang the fruit from a tree. This will also ensure that other creatures will not be able to steal it. The banana should be mushed to release the juices and the peel pierced in several places to allow the liquid to seep out. A simple hook can be made from heavy gauge copper wire, which should be wrapped around a branch, and the banana can be attached to it.
Why Do Butterflies Like Bananas?
Butterflies are attracted to anything sugary, and an overripe banana has this in abundance.
They will drink the juices that seep from the fruit.
The decaying fruit will also contain minerals and carbohydrates, which are necessary for a healthy butterfly.
A butterfly also has great vision and will be attracted to the yellow color just as they are to bright flowers.
Rather than just laying the banana flat on the ground, where it could be stolen by other creatures, such as raccoons or foxes, it is a simple task to hang a banana for butterflies.
Copper wire will be a secure hanging material if you use the heavy gauge option rather than something flimsier.
Simply wrap the wire around a sturdy branch, and fashion the end of it into a hook shape.
Next, take your overripe banana and mush it between your fingers.
A banana that is turning brown will be releasing more sugar and be ideal for attracting butterflies.
Pierce the skin of the banana in several places to allow the juices to leak out.
Push the end of the hook through the banana to hang it from the tree.
And sit back and watch the show!
You could also try a cage feeder that is typically used for blocks of suet for birds.
There are a couple of pitfalls to be aware of.
First of all, the banana will also attract wasps and hornets.
So, don’t hang it close to where you wish to sit.
Also, the juice from bananas makes a sticky mess which is hard to clean, so don’t place it above your garden furniture.
How Long Should You Hang the Banana For?
Once you have mushed the banana, it will undoubtedly start to rot very quickly.
The skin will turn black, and it may begin to emit an unpleasant smell.
This can happen in as little as 24 hours, so be prepared to change the banana as often as every 24 hours.
To have a ready supply of bananas, you can freeze them.
As they thaw, they will turn mushy very quickly and be ideal for butterflies.
Simply take one out of the freezer and let it thaw overnight, ready to hang the next morning.
Depending on your climate, if you have hung your banana in a sunny area, it will rot faster.
The rotting banana will attract creatures such as foxes or raccoons if they are prevalent in your area.
Eventually, the fruit will slide off the hook and fall to the floor.
It is best to remove it before it gets to this stage.
Once on the floor, it could encourage swarms of ants who also enjoy the sugary juices.
How to Make a Banana Hanger to Feed Butterflies
Final Thoughts
It’s very simple to hang a banana for butterflies.
They will enjoy the juices that leak from an overripe banana.
You can create a copper hook and hang bananas from a tree in your garden.
Remember to change the fruit regularly, as it will rot very quickly and attract unwelcome visitors.
Your good deed in feeding them will help save the butterfly population and be an attractive feature in your garden.
If you would like to attract more wildlife, find out here if hedgehogs are keen on bananas.