Vanessids on Stinging Nettles

[Kirpi]

I have a Stinging Nettle bed on my vegetable plot, which I use to make nettle tea fertilizer.

A few weeks ago I saw they were being eaten by Vanessid caterpillars so I left the bed alone and they had nearly devoured all the leaves.

The nettles seem to be greening up again and the caterpillars are not there any more. Have they already gone away to form the chrysalis stage and if they have where are they likely to be so I don't disturb them?

Is it ok do you think to resume harvesting the nettles for my own use or are the caterpillars likely to have attached themselves as chrysalises on the nettle stems? Best to leave the nettles alone now?

[Pete Eeles]

Ah - already replied on Facebook! For others to see and add to, I wrote:

Most nettle-feeding Nymphalids will wander away from the food plant to pupate, so I don't think you do any harm to any pupae, and they (the adults) will now be looking for places to overwinter, rather than raising another brood.

Cheers,

- Pete