permits, etc. Additionally, these plants are often kept outside in order to maximize sunlight and

minimize overhead cost. Combining these three variables, there is a high chance that native

butterfly populations in the area will find the farm suitable as an area in which to oviposit on the

host plants, or to feed on the nectar sources.

 Although this situation seems like it might be no more harmful than a butterfly garden,

there are several key differences. Firstly, these plants are frequently moved, pruned, and even

"de-egged" (eggs are removed just before using them in the butterfly enclosures to safeguard

against the introduction of egg parasites in quarantined zones). These disturbances could cause

the eggs to fall off or be removed from the plant. The second way that these nurseries differ

from a butterfly garden is that the host plants are often very dense and clustered together in a

homogenous pattern. This enables parasites to easily walk and jump to different plants (Romeis

et al. 2005). Butterfly gardens are typically more heterogenous in the way the plants are

arranged, serving as natural defenses to parasitoids. Lastly, predators such as vespid wasps, ants,

lizards and birds are likely to exploit a predictable source of food in these nurseries, predating

upon adults and larvae. It is clear that if the conditions are right, native butterfly populations

could be in danger of falling into an ecological trap.

 From an environmental standpoint, the presence of an ecological trap could be very

detrimental, and the problem requires further investigation. However, it is not just an

environmental problem; the farm could also be negatively impacted as well. In the case of both

parasitoids and predators, high levels could pose problems for the farm's butterfly stock.

Predators and parasitoids may attempt to enter breeding and rearing centers, causing significant

economic loss to the farm.