Favourites are of course Hedge Garlic (aka Garlic Mustard) and Cuckoo flower. I have seen them laying on a very small crucifer growing on sandy soil in the Brecks (sorry, can't recall the name of the plant). This week I saw egg-laying on Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale). I do realise that this is a known foodplant but I am surprised that the seed pods grow bigger enough and succulent enough to support the growing larva. I will find out as I (naughtily?) took one stem with a newly laid egg on it.
What other "unusual" plants do Orange Tips use?
Jack
Orange Tip foodplants
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Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4635
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
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Orange Tip foodplants
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Re: Orange Tip foodplants
Hi Jack .....I can only speak for my area, not very unusual, but apart from the ones you mentioned.I have seen OT eggs on Charlock and Winter Cress...........just how succesfull they are on these lesser plants who knows....good luck with the Hedge Mustard experiment. IAC.
Re: Orange Tip foodplants
Andrew George's book mentions that Orange-tips will breed successfully on Tower Mustard, which is on the endangered list.