A government report recently pegged the number of alien plant species now established in B.C. at 849.
But not all of these introduced species have become invasive and caused harm to native species. In fact, there are examples of some exotics becoming important for the feeding and breeding of native species like some butterflies.
The more common case is that our native butterflies are the losers. Butterfly species often rely exclusively on one or two types of plants as food for their caterpillars or nectar for the adults. Once these plants become rare, so do the butterflies.
At Maplewood Flats on the north shore of Burrard Inlet, volunteers like Richard Beard have been working for several years to restore the two food plants of the beautiful anise swallowtail butterfly, and this is one of the success stories Beard will describe at next Tuesday’s meeting of the Burke Mountain Naturalists.
The Nov. 10 will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the hall of Como Lake United Church in Coquitlam. Everyone is welcome to attend and there is no charge. For more information, call contact 604-936-4108 or 604-461-3864, or visit bmn.bc.ca.
