Butterflies are particularly picky about their habitat, they prefer to lay their eggs on the leaves of a specific plant or tree so that they can later be eaten by the caterpillars.
These so-called host plants largely determine where butterflies live.

Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Map all prefer the stinging nettle as their host plant.

Small Heath, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown are fond of grasses, but the Common Blue clearly prefers clover.

Holly Blue and Common Brimstone are fond of wood spurge and buckthorn shrubs.

Fortunately, all these plants and shrubs grow in the Empelse Waard and Hedelse Bovenwaard, so on a warm summer day many species of butterflies can be spotted here fluttering around, feasting on nectar and looking for a partner.