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Nectar Sources
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:10 pm
by 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
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:01 am
by 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
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:09 am
by Pete Eeles
Yes - please add other observations in this thread and we can refine over time! Thx.
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:25 am
by 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.
![ringlethogweed.jpg (249.01 KiB) Viewed 1749 times Ringlet on Hogweed](./files/thumb_915_68938702d5a33d690555759dbf0790b3)
- Ringlet on Hogweed
I have also (although rarely, but occationally) seen Bluebells with Small Tortoiseshell on them:
![tortoiseshellbluebell.jpg (272.12 KiB) Viewed 1749 times Small Tortoiseshell on Bluebell](./files/thumb_915_6fe6a77a588fc8ac2443aebb3d60ec96)
- Small Tortoiseshell on Bluebell
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:10 pm
by Lee Hurrell
I also saw Large Skipper on Teasel last year.
I'll post some photos over the weekend too, like Dave.
Cheers
Lee
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 8:59 am
by Padfield
Dave McCormick wrote: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
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:54 am
by ChrisC
number of species wise it was good to see ragwort come in 2nd behind thistles
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
) Last year the one ragwort plant in the garden got covered in Endotricha flammealis moths at night.
Chris
Ragwort Fan.
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:29 pm
by 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!!
![Image](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/ptkip/09TsylvestrisNZ2020030207.jpg)
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:05 pm
by Lee Hurrell
Lovely photos Guy and Paul!
Guy, which Fritillary was that?
Cheers
Lee
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:29 pm
by 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
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:41 pm
by Dave McCormick
padfield wrote: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.
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:44 pm
by Lee Hurrell
padfield wrote: 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
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:01 pm
by 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:
![IMG_0386.jpg (246.23 KiB) Viewed 1642 times Large Skipper on Teasel](./files/thumb_6364_81786b1be4134074607a1d7605c683db)
- Large Skipper on Teasel
![IMG_0455.jpg (220.56 KiB) Viewed 1642 times What's this plant?](./files/thumb_6364_5dbf7eee4249b21bf7f47a00152e5a1e)
- What's this plant?
![IMG_0498.jpg (222.06 KiB) Viewed 1642 times Bird's Foot Trefoil](./files/thumb_6364_24411daa5cfd8bd69379bf0469cc04ba)
- Bird's Foot Trefoil
![IMG_0499.jpg (224.78 KiB) Viewed 1642 times Bird's Foot Trefoil](./files/thumb_6364_77dda4b6a2b1e4819c5499b14b75652f)
- 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
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:52 pm
by Lee Hurrell
Just found a Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown on Hemp Agrimony. Both taken at Box Hill, Surrey, August 2009.
Cheers
Lee
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:28 pm
by 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????
![Image](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/ptkip/06Ctulliapolydamaform2SE8539782706.jpg)
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:16 am
by geniculata
hi paul,
that would be potentilla palustris, marsh cinquefoil so you was in the right family rosaceae with your water avens guess
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:32 am
by 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
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:39 am
by 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!!
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:31 pm
by Lee Hurrell
It was worth it Paul - nice shot!
Cheers
Lee
Re: Nectar Sources
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:47 pm
by Susie
Brown hairstreaks feed on white clover.
![Image](http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/Lizzysue3/Brownhairstreak3.jpg)