Some insects, like bees and butterflies, will visit a backyard watering dish. This simple insect watering hole requires only a few materials, and makes a great summer project for young children.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 10 minutes
Here's How:
- Place a shallow tray or saucer on the ground.
- Fill the tray with smooth, flat stones.
- Pour water into the tray until it fills the spaces between the stones. The water should not cover the stones.
- Watch for insects visiting your watering hole for a sip of water on hot days.
Tips:
- Locate your watering hole near flowering plants, and bees and butterflies will find it faster. You can place the tray on a stand or old tree stump, too.
- Butterflies need minerals, and drink water from mud puddles to get these minerals from the soil. You can put a layer of soil in your saucer first, then add rocks and water, to create a puddle of minerals for the butterflies in your yard.
- Make sure you refill the tray on hot days when the water may evaporate quickly. Don't let water stand for more than four days without changing it, or you might attract mosquitoes.
What You Need:
- A shallow tray or saucer (a clay pot saucer works well)
- Enough smooth, flat stones to fill the tray
- Water
