and because of them hooray for ever more butterflies.
This summer I have seen more butterfly species in the garden than in any previous year. Whilst none of them are rare I am delighted by each sighting. Counting actual butterfly numbers is not something I would attempt, save to say that my perception is that there are also more individuals as well as more species. At times there have been lots!
From the table below it is clear that they must have the (often unpopular) wild plants such as nettles for caterpillar food in order to complete their life cycles. I no longer allow nettles to grow in the polyculture beds – because I don’t want the grandchildren to get stung – but there are plenty in the hedge. I do let docks grow everywhere and there are a few thistles too.
This table shows the butterflies that I have seen this year. The new ones – for here – are painted lady, holly blue, small copper and comma.
Name and Latin name | Over wintering and larval food plant | Habitat |
Orange tip
Anthocharis cardamines |
Pupa
Crucifers |
Damp meadows, woodland rides, flowery roadside verges, gardens |
Red admiral
Vanessa atalanta |
Butterfly
Nettle and hop |
Flowery meadows and other flowery habitats |
Small tortoiseshell
Nymphalis urticae |
Butterfly
Nettle |
Open areas often in vicinity of nettles |
Peacock
Nmyphalis io |
Butterfly
Nettle and hop |
Woodland rides and glades |
Painted lady
Vanessa cardui |
Migrant
|
Sunny and open with thistles |
Holly blue
Celastrina argiolis |
Pupa
Holly and ivy |
Diverse habitats with larval food plants |
Small white
Pieris rapae |
Pupa
Crucifers |
Open clearings, flowery meadows |
Large white
Pieris brassicae |
Pupa
Crucifers |
Open clearings, flowery meadows |
Small copper
Iycaena phlaeas |
Caterpillar
Common sorrel, sheep’s sorrel, dock |
Flowery pastures, heathland |
Gatekeeper
Maniola tithonius |
Caterpillar
Grasses |
Hedgerows, grassy areas, woodland |
Comma
Nymphalis c-album |
Butterfly
Nettle, hops, elms, currants |
Woodland rides and glades |
I haven’t been taking photos much this summer so didn’t actually capture any images, so here is one from 2017:
My perception is also that there have been more butterflies and more varieties in my garden, too. Perhaps I have simply become more observant but if it is the case that there really are more, I wonder how far they are travelling. My garden alone is not big enough to feed them, so they must be getting food from other sources nearby.
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Yes, I agree. It gets really fascinating when you start thinking about where they are going to and from and how they are actually feeding themselves.
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