Beneficial Insects
Attracting beneficial insects to your yard.
Butterflies, damselflies, and bees will help to pollinate flowers naturally. There are two native butterflies in Hawaii, the Kamehameha butterfly resembles the monarch, but has more red than orange and prominent black markings especially under the wings. This beautiful insect can usually be found at higher elevations but has been seen even in downtown Honolulu. The Blackburn butterfly is a luminous blue-green and can be found at most elevations. Native crickets and spiders eat harmful bugs, minimizing the need for chemical pesticides.
Native nectar plants for butterflies:
- Koa, Acacia koa
- ‘A‘ali‘i, Dodonaea viscosa
- Native Hibiscus, Ma‘o hau hele, Hibiscus brackenridgei (E)
- Kokio ke‘oke‘o, H. arnottianus (E), and H. waimea (E)
- Koki‘o, Hibiscus kokio (R)
- Ko‘oko‘olau, Bidens spp.
- (19 endemic & 4 naturalized species)
Native plants for caterpillars:
- Mâmaki, Pipturus albidus;
- Koa, Acacia koa;
- ‘Ena‘ena, Gnaphalium sandwicensium
Additional Resources
Source: "Hawaii Backyard Conservation" (PDF), The U.S. Department of Agriculture.
