Nectar Sources

[Pete Eeles]

Just to let you know that I've added a summary of common nectar sources - visible on each species page and at:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/nectar_sources.php

Cheers,

- Pete

[Lee Hurrell]

Another good resource, thanks Pete.

I didn't know that about Bluebells, Buttercups and Primrose.

If anyone has seen other species nectaring on the sources listed would you like to know? (I saw Hemp Agrimony covered with Ringlets, Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers in the summer). Would that then also be considered a secondary nectar source?

Cheers

Lee

[Pete Eeles]

Yes - please add other observations in this thread and we can refine over time! Thx.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Dave McCormick]

Nice resource. I have seen Hogweed with Ringlets on their flowers in summer, but not on the giant hogweed, its too tall, just the smaller one and also similar umbrefells.

Ringlet on Hogweed

I have also (although rarely, but occationally) seen Bluebells with Small Tortoiseshell on them:

Small Tortoiseshell on Bluebell

[Lee Hurrell]

I also saw Large Skipper on Teasel last year.

I'll post some photos over the weekend too, like Dave.

Cheers

Lee

[Padfield]

I have seen Hogweed with Ringlets on their flowers in summer, but not on the giant hogweed, its too tall, just the smaller one and also similar umbrefells.

Fritillaries do enjoy giant hogweed, and it looks rather majestic, but I would NOT recommend getting it for the garden!!



Guy

[ChrisC]

number of species wise it was good to see ragwort come in 2nd behind thistles ) Last year the one ragwort plant in the garden got covered in Endotricha flammealis moths at night.

Chris
Ragwort Fan.

[Paul]

Interestingly, to me at least, was that in my garden last year, for every one small skipper on creeping thistle, there were 5 or 6 on my Viper's Bugloss... and I've loads of creeping thistle!!

[Lee Hurrell]

Lovely photos Guy and Paul!

Guy, which Fritillary was that?

Cheers

Lee

[Padfield]

Thanks, Lee. That's a silver-washed fritillary. I've seen marbled frits, painted ladies and red admirals up there too. But the plants are vicious. If you get the juice on your skin and then go out in the sun you get thoroughly upleasant boils and blisters bubbling up, all set in a red rash.

Guy

[Dave McCormick]

Thanks, Lee. That's a silver-washed fritillary. I've seen marbled frits, painted ladies and red admirals up there too. But the plants are vicious. If you get the juice on your skin and then go out in the sun you get thoroughly upleasant boils and blisters bubbling up, all set in a red rash.

Guy

Nice shot and I know what you mean, the Giant hogweed here gets to over 8ft tall and can get thick. I remember one instance that I went out and got a stone in my boot and went to get it out, accidently put my foot on a giant hogweed that had fallen over but was still green and even with sock on, my food was red and sore for a long while, ooch. Now I am always careful around giant hogweed.

[Lee Hurrell]

If you get the juice on your skin and then go out in the sun you get thoroughly upleasant boils and blisters bubbling up, all set in a red rash.

Crikey....I've seen them about on wasteground in the UK but never got too close. Certainly won't be now in a hurry either!

Cheers

Lee

[Lee Hurrell]

I didn't have any photos of anything other than Peacocks, Commas and Silver Washed Fritillaries on Hemp Agrimony in the end.

However, I did come across these:

Large Skipper on Teasel

What's this plant?

Bird's Foot Trefoil

Bird's Foot Trefoil

Not sure what the plant the Ringlet is on and I think that's Bird Foot Trefoil the Painted Lady is on.

Cheers

Lee

[Lee Hurrell]

Just found a Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown on Hemp Agrimony. Both taken at Box Hill, Surrey, August 2009.

Cheers

Lee

[Paul]

I thought this was bog myrtle or asphodel or water avens, but having looked them up.... absolutely not!!..... so what is it that has attracted this LH.... anyone know????

[geniculata]

hi paul,

that would be potentilla palustris, marsh cinquefoil so you was in the right family rosaceae with your water avens guess
edit..... and lee your ringlet on an umbellifer looks like angelica sylvestris, wild angelica but i can't see any leaf in the image and the heads of the umbellifers on their own are pretty similar, but looking at the stem colouration with its purple hue and the round structure of the flower clusters i think thats what it is.

gary.

[Lee Hurrell]

Thanks Gary. Looking up Apiaceae, the flowers could also have been Hemlock Water-Dropwort (green stems) but as you say, this one has purple stems as per Wild Angelica.

I didn't have any leaves in the original image but here is a bit more of the stem:

Thanks again,

Lee

[Paul]

Thanks Gary.... so Marsh Cinqufoil is a nectar source for LH... I recall they were very attracted to them, as they grew just out of reach in the bog... risked life & limb to get that shot!!

[Lee Hurrell]

It was worth it Paul - nice shot!

Cheers

Lee

[Susie]

Brown hairstreaks feed on white clover.