Bugs of summer

Hamilton is a nature nexus, with diverse ecosystems of plants and animals - including a wide variety of insects and arachnids.

While most human residents and visitors enjoy the region's big natural features, those tiny critters coexist with us.

Protecting this biodiversity - with pollinators such as monarch butterflies and honey bees at risk - is a big job, one taken up by the new Biodiversity Action Plan working group.

While there are plenty of places to see a variety of insects, including the Royal Botanical Gardens, Dundas' Urquhart Butterfly Garden and on many of the city's trails, residents can also work to attract beneficial bugs to their own yards.

The RBG has offered some tips to attract birds and bugs, including pollinator-friendly plants in the garden; leaving some weeds like dandelion and clover; providing a water source and ensuring there are blooms all season.

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