You can attract a number of butterflies with fruit (such as rotten apples and peaches, cantaloupe seeds and rinds, and
watermelon rinds). I place them on a hanging butterfly feeder, a tree branch, and a tree stump. The more fruit the better.
I've found that butterflies are especially attracted to apples that are not from a grocery store. Of course, this fruit also
attracts wasps, ants, and other insects so be careful.
In my garden, fruit has attracted Red-spotted Purple, Eastern Comma, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, Tawney Emperor, Viceroy,
and Red Admiral.
Fruit also attracts many different species of moths including Maple Looper Moths and Nessus Sphinx. So, be sure to check
your fruit after dark. Putting red cellophane over your flashlight will help keep the moths from flying away when you shine
the light at them.
