How to Make a Butterfly House

So you've planned and planted a butterfly garden but still want to make it more attractive to your winged friends. Adding a butterfly house will give shelter to these beautiful creatures. A butterfly house is a simple box with slits for butterflies to enter and bark inside for them to cling to. It can be built in an afternoon if you have the tools and materials at hand.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1 (1 by 10 inch) board, 3 feet long
• 1 (1 by 8 inch board), 5 feet long
• Tape measure
• Bark from local trees
• Table saw
• Drill and drill bits
• Galvanized or brass screws
• Safety glasses
• Sandpaper
• Non-toxic paint
• Hammer and small nails

1. Saw the 1 by 10 board into the needed sizes: 6 by 17 inch front, 7 by 9.5 inch roof, 6 by 6 inch bottom and 2 by 17 inch strip. Cut the 1 by 8 board into the needed sizes: two sides, both 8 by 19 inches and a 6 by 19 inch front.

2. Cut 1/2 by 3 1/4 inch slots in the front piece. These slots will allow the butterflies to enter and exit their house.

3. Build a box. Use the drill to screw together the top, back and sides of the butterfly house. Screw the bits of bark to the 2 by 17 strip and screw it to the middle of the box, hanging from the top. This is where the butterflies will perch.

4. Paint the butterfly house with bright, non-toxic paint. Then mount it in a quiet spot in your garden. Fill your garden with butterfly-friendly plants, add a quiet shallow water dish and wait for your newest guests to arrive.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to wear your safety glasses when building your butterfly house.

• Do not use pressure treated lumber. Its smell will either chase the butterflies away or will kill them.