Butterflies, does the heat have an effect?
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Although I have several plants that attract butterflies & bees there is a marked lack of coloured butterflies, the majority of those that are on the lavenders and buddleias are white and not many hummingbird hawk moths either, does the heat affect the likes of Red Admirals, Peacocks etc?
Quite a few Red Admirals keep landing on our tiled patio and seem to be seeking moisture, of which there is none. They drive my dogs nuts! There are about the same amount of visits from the intriguing hummingbird hawk moths as in previous years. But bizarrely it’s the giant dragonflies? who dive bomb us at dusk each evening, never had that happen before! We’ve loads of Pipistrelle bats around but, thanks to them, haven’t had a single mozzie bite all season.
I’ve only seen one or two Red Admirals, the same with the HBHM’s I do think this unusually hot weather is having an effect on all the creatures (with the exception of the flies !!!) I do put shallow lids of water out for the bees but even they don’t seem so numerous, mind you I am still developing the garden so perhaps I haven’t yet got enough of the plants that they all like?
Yes same here, I’ve only seen a few cabbage whites. Next door has two buddleias nothing on them at all.
Anne’s red flowered sage plants are inundated with colourful butterflies.
That’s lucky then BE, my garden is still very embryonic so hopefully next year when I’ve developed and planted it more the flutterbies will flutter by
We’ve had loads of white butterflies, but very few Red Admiral and Peacocks, we have however had a few more Silver Washed fritillaries, which are one of my favourites.We have also noticed not as many Small Tortoiseshell about, which are usually quite prolific. We have lots of Buddleia, Erysiniam and Lavender etc that should attract them and plenty of warm weather, we did however have a hard Winter.
On a theme, Anne brought in a light green,chubby caterpillar about 2.5 cm long. It had 4 false eyes (white with black dots) at the front and a horn at the other. Any ideas? I’ve been online but it is impossible to find it.
From your description BE I think it’s the caterpillar of the Great Swallow Tail butterfly, check it out online
BE check out pictures of the Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar, think that’s what youv’e got.
Sorry folk neither of those two. Should have took a photo. Will go out tomorrow and see if I can find it for a photo session!
Its got the 4 false eyes ! and a horn at the end…………… Elephant Hawk Moth ?
Is this it BE
Can’t find what butterfly or moth it is perhaps lpj knows?
or is it this one, which is the one I was thinking of
Are they any help BE?
Sorry but no help. It was absolutely pale green with 4 small false eyes. Sorry I didn’t say small originally. Off for another look on’t t’internet.
I was always warned as a child that green caterpillars were poisonous
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