A few years ago, I planted a small sapling Purging Buckthorn in a shady part of my own little nature reserve I've been maintaining for a couple of decades now.
During springtime over the years, I would see the odd female Brimstone passing through but they would never stop, not even to feed on the many suitable flowers about the place. They had other things to do like finding foodplant for their ova. The little sapling has not made great progress. In fact I was disappointed with its slow growth unlike many other plants I've introduced to the site. Not spent much time there at all this spring and early summer, the foul weather and incessant rain made visits pointless even when time allowed. Had to go today for other things and had a look at the still small Buckthorn :~
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/MGJohn/Natural%20History/BrimstoneLarva15thJuly2012001.jpg)
Ahah! Closer inspection of the plant revealed much evidence of something getting at many leaves not seen last year. Too late to find any larvae in their usual location along the mid-rib of the leaves. All had no doubt pupated by now and may even be emerged and flying when conditions allowed. Even so, despite the gusting wind making things difficult, I checked all the leaves but could not find any larvae only evidence of their feeding. Just about to give up the search when I saw a typical Brimstone Larva at rest not on a leaf, but on a main twig low down near the ground. Near fully fed too. I took a quick picture of it but despite waiting for the gusting wind to give me a chance of a half decent picture, there was no let up so I quickly took this rather poor image as evidence using my small basic compact digital camera :~
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/MGJohn/Natural%20History/BrimstoneLarva15thJuly2012002.jpg)
There were one or two Ringlets and Meadow Browns about but not very active, only flying when I passed too close. Three weeks ago, the place was alive with Marbled Whites during a brief late afternoon visit. None seen today.
Best laid plans and all that. My plan to plant a Buckthorn has eventually paid off.