I have always prided myself on my powers of observation and the regard that I have for the natural world, but today I learned a salutary lesson because my brain was not engaged.
I was doing some weeding and digging in a flowerbed in the front garden in preparation for some new planting. My next door neighbour had recently had their front garden landscaped with chippings and planting, but a few weeds were starting to come through. While weeding my side I reached across the low dividing wall and pulled a few of theirs. Then I noticed a huge thistle which had sprouted from around the base of one of their newly planted shrubs. It was within reach, so I instinctively grabbed it and pulled it up. Just as I was putting it into my compost bag I noticed a few black flecks on the leaves which looked like caterpillar droppings. Then, as I looked closer, I saw a number of fine silky webs within the flower heads with little black larvae inside. Then, two unmistakable Painted Lady larvae on the leaves. The more I looked the more I saw. The whole plant was covered with caterpillars of different sizes.
My first reaction was - Aaagh, what have I done? My second reaction was - SAVE THE PLANT ! (followed by another Aaagh). Fortunately the thistle came up largely undamaged and with the whole root, so I quickly potted it into the biggest tub that I had and soaked the soil. That tub is now in another tub full of water and the whole lot is soaking in a shady spot. It's looking a bit floppy at the moment, but it is being supported by canes and twine and I am hopeful that it will survive. Meanwhile my dinner was getting crispy in the oven, but that was a small price to pay.
On reflection, I may have saved the colony because if the plant had been removed by my neighbour, none of us would have been any the wiser. I will have a closer look and count the larvae when the plant has recovered.
I am posting this as a new topic on the gardening forum rather than as part of the Painted Lady Influx thread, because updates will be easier for everyone to follow here. In the meantime here is a photo of the largest caterpillar.
Vince
