The Weeds Have It

What do they have? They have what bugs crave! This becomes apparent anytime you get to visit a place where the “weeds” are allowed to flourish. I’m not talking about nasty and non-native weeds like kudzu, privet, and many others. I’m talking about native plants that have been classified by humans as weeds. This past week found me admiring them (and their happy insect friends) along the roads and paths on Jekyll Island.

Gulf fritillary on Bidens alba

Two plants are blooming in abundance now in Coastal Georgia in wild areas: Bidens alba (most commonly known as shepherd's needles, beggarticks, Spanish needles or butterfly needles) and Heterotheca subaxillaris (camphorweed or goldenaster). Several other plants could be found (spotted beebalm, Monarda punctata; spurred butterfly pea, Centrosema virginianum; goldenrods like Solidago sempervirens) but these two really were the dominant roadside/path plants.

“Butterfly needles” seems an apt common name for Bidens alba which was hands-down the favorite of butterflies like the Gulf fritillary, the long-tail skipper (and several other skippers), and more. Last year I saw a Monarch butterfly on it. This rambunctious annual seems to have a limitless capacity for blooming as long as the butterflies need flowers. The needle-like seeds form on old blooms alongside active flowers.

Gulf fritillary on Bidens alba

Long-tail skipper on Bidens alba

The goldenaster (such a nicer name than camphorweed for Heterotheca subaxillaris) was less visited but clearly was being pollinated by something as many flowers were going to seed (sometimes time of day matters for observing insects). This one was especially pretty in mowed edges where it was blooming at much lower heights than on the edges of the sand dunes.

Buckeye on goldenaster

Skipper on goldenaster

In a world where man has developed so much land—paving it over with concrete, asphalt, and lawn—the insects really depend on what’s left of the native plants they need. So when you’re thinking about what to keep and what to 'weed out' in your yard, give the weeds a little consideration and make sure you understand who might benefit from your keeping it.

Goldenaster, Heterotheca subaxillaris