The Big Butterfly Count is taking place from 16th – 31st July 2011.
peacock-on-buddlea
The big butterfly countis a nationwide survey to assess the health of our environment. The numbers of butterflies continue to decline, & this survey will help work out what is going on in the butterfly world. Climate change is warming up the UK & we are seeing some new species. The hummingbird hawk moth usually lives in Africa, but we are getting more sightings of it in the UK. We actually saw one in our garden this week. It has a very long probosis, which it holds straight out in front of it when it is feeding on our Lilly flowers. It flaps its wings so fast while it hovers to feed, that you can hear a humming noise. Sitings in 2011 can be seen by clicking this link: http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/sightings/1096/hummingbird_hawk_moth.html
butterflies-sunbathing
To take part:
red-admiral-butterfly
The survey is run by the charity Butterfly Conservation to encourage sustainable agriculture and help to protect the environment. We have 59 species of butterfly in the British Isles and over 75% of these are in decline.
CabbageWhite-Butterfly
Butterflies are beautiful and vital to the health of our environment.
Butterflies have suddenly appeared in our garden in the last few days so we should have a decent number to report to the Big Butterfly Count taking place from 16th – 31st July 2011!
The Garden Shed is an ideal spot for hibernating Butterflies, if it is:
- unheated
- sheltered
- accessible to the outside – so that the butterfly can escape into the garden when it comes out of hibernation in the spring
red-admiral-butterfly
There are five UK butterflies that hibernate as adults:
- Brimstone
- Small Tortoiseshell
- Comma
- Peacock
- Red Admiral
PeacockButterfly
The Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock are often found hibernating in the house, around the curtains. To find out more about butterflies, please visit the Butterfly Conservation website
Hibernating butterflies can be gently removed from the house and put in a garden shed, which will provide an ideal sleeping place.
Comments Off
Small White butterfly (Latin name – Pieris rapae) have attacked the young swede plants. The Small White caterpillars have eaten the young leaves and left the growing swedes looking ragged.
damaged-swede
There are two types of cabbage white:
* the Large White butterfly – Pieris brassicae
* the Small White butterfly – Pieris rapae.
We were so busy watching out for the Large White on the sprouts that we did not notice the Small White butterfly attack the Swedes!
Comments Off
Watch out for the eggs of the Large White or Cabbage White (Latin Name – Pieris brassicae) butterfly. The eggs are laid on the underside of brassica leaves. So check your cabbage, sprouts, broccoli etc. regularly. The female butterfly lays batches of 20 to 100 yellow eggs underneath the leaves of the plants.
cabbage-white-eggs
If seen the eggs should be removed. Soapy water will help unglue the cabbage white eggs from the leaf.
Prevention and control of the Cabbage White Butterfly is a concern of
all vegetable gardeners. The first Cabbage White Butterfly of the year
was spotted in the vegetable garden today.
There are two types of cabbage white:
* the Large White butterfly – Pieris brassicae
* the Small White butterfly – Pieris rapae.
The cabbage white butterflies lay clusters of yellow eggs
cabbage-white-eggs
on the leaves of brassicas (e.g. cabbage, sprouts, cauliflowers, turnips
and swedes).
The eggs hatch out into green caterpillars, which eat the leaves so that
large holes are seen. They also tunnel into the hearts of the
vegetables, spoiling them and causing them to rot. The caterpillars
excrete small brown or green granular deposits as they eat the leaves.
Prevention:
* inspect daily & remove any eggs & caterpillars
* cover brassicas with insect proof netting
* avoid planting colourful plants near the brassicas which will
attract butterflies
* encourage birds which will eat the caterpillars by putting out
bird feed
* wash infected plants with soapy water
The Cabbage White Butterfly requires constant attention , with daily
checks to make sure the vegetables are not being eaten by the cabbage
white caterpillars.
The Red Admiral (Latin name – Vanessa atalanta) is a dark brown/black colour with orange bands and white markings.
The Red Admiral butterflies love to visit Buddleia, which is known as the butterfly bush.
Comments Off
