Butterflies- you've gotta them!

Nature__Lover · 23rd July 2010, 05:06 PM

They are just beautiful aren't they?
and so are moths! I was surprised to see an elephant hawk moth in my garden a few nights back, he frightened me half to death at first, they are big!!

Anyway ... anyone have any tips on attracting butterflies? or want to list the species they have in their garden? also I was just wondering if anyone on here had ever tried making or buying butterfly feeders... do they work?

Heres my backgarden list so far.. :

butterflies -
tortoiseshells
cabbage whites
red admirals
speckled woods

moths -
silver ground carpets
elephant hawk
plumes

Nature__Lover · 23rd July 2010, 05:09 PM

and heres a few of my pics!

gatekeeper
http://spidertribe.files.wordpress.c...0/07/edit1.jpg

cinnabar moth
http://spidertribe.files.wordpress.c.../07/blog-7.jpg

Nature__Lover · 23rd July 2010, 07:46 PM

- oh and the brimstone butterfly

Nature__Lover · 24th July 2010, 07:41 AM

somehow i managed to miss the word 'love' off of this thread.
haha! my apologies.

Jandy · 24th July 2010, 05:48 PM

I haven't tried butterfly feeders myself, but the RSPB is advertising one in its Autumn catalogue, £9.99, and £3.99 for the nectar to put in it. Our main butterfly attractants are buddleia (aka butterfly bush) and lavender, both in bloom at present, but there are many other plants they like, and also not forgetting caterpillar food plants.

Nature__Lover · 27th July 2010, 10:31 AM

I should try planting some buddleia and lavender, I guess

thank you

70007 · 28th July 2010, 03:29 PM

The herb Marjoram is loved by Gatekeepers in my garden. I counted 10 on the plant at one time a couple of days ago when it was really hot and sunny, but even on a cooler, windy day like today there were seven.

Scabious is another plant that they like, and also Verbena.

It is worth giving some of these a try, as they are quite easy to grow from seed or to buy in pots from garden centres.

I have seen only one Painted Lady so far this year, but I thought I saw a Silver Washed Fritillary last week, although I only saw it for a few seconds. Mind you, it is unlikely to be confused with much else due to its size.

A big orange butterfly, far bigger than a Comma.

John

jeff · 30th July 2010, 06:33 PM

I don't know one butterfly from another but we have notice this year an increase in the amount that comes into the garden.

Nature__Lover · 1st August 2010, 04:35 PM

that's good news jeff!
if you ever need some help identifying one, you can always try asking me or anyone else on here who knows anything on butterflies.

Moths are another story, though! alot of them are dark colours, so they are very hard to master!

jeff · 2nd August 2010, 11:59 AM

We have had quite a few in our garden today and mainly the white type of butterfly but as we were sat on the patio a small brown one came and landed on the wife's leg, looking at your pictures is looked like the gatekeeper, it quite happily sat on her leg for around five minutes.

The white ones seem to like the new grape vines we have just planted but we don't know why?

23rd July 2010, 05:06 PM	#1
Nature__Lover Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 231	Butterflies- you've gotta them! They are just beautiful aren't they? and so are moths! I was surprised to see an elephant hawk moth in my garden a few nights back, he frightened me half to death at first, they are big!! Anyway ... anyone have any tips on attracting butterflies? or want to list the species they have in their garden? also I was just wondering if anyone on here had ever tried making or buying butterfly feeders... do they work? Heres my backgarden list so far.. : butterflies - tortoiseshells cabbage whites red admirals speckled woods moths - silver ground carpets elephant hawk plumes

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Butterflies 2010	70007	Caring for other Garden Wildlife	6	25th April 2010 06:21 PM
Butterflies 2009	Hazelnuts	Caring for other Garden Wildlife	23	15th March 2010 12:16 PM
Butterflies	shirehorse	Caring for other Garden Wildlife	5	6th April 2008 03:35 PM
butterflies and ladybirds	starlily	General Bird & Wildife Talk	25	3rd October 2007 06:23 PM

23rd July 2010, 05:09 PM	#2
Nature__Lover Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 231	and heres a few of my pics! gatekeeper http://spidertribe.files.wordpress.c...0/07/edit1.jpg cinnabar moth http://spidertribe.files.wordpress.c.../07/blog-7.jpg

23rd July 2010, 07:46 PM	#3
Nature__Lover Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 231	- oh and the brimstone butterfly

24th July 2010, 07:41 AM	#4
Nature__Lover Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 231	somehow i managed to miss the word 'love' off of this thread. haha! my apologies.

24th July 2010, 05:48 PM	#5
Jandy Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: NW London Posts: 613	I haven't tried butterfly feeders myself, but the RSPB is advertising one in its Autumn catalogue, £9.99, and £3.99 for the nectar to put in it. Our main butterfly attractants are buddleia (aka butterfly bush) and lavender, both in bloom at present, but there are many other plants they like, and also not forgetting caterpillar food plants.

27th July 2010, 10:31 AM	#6
Nature__Lover Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 231	I should try planting some buddleia and lavender, I guess thank you

28th July 2010, 03:29 PM	#7
70007 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 359	The herb Marjoram is loved by Gatekeepers in my garden. I counted 10 on the plant at one time a couple of days ago when it was really hot and sunny, but even on a cooler, windy day like today there were seven. Scabious is another plant that they like, and also Verbena. It is worth giving some of these a try, as they are quite easy to grow from seed or to buy in pots from garden centres. I have seen only one Painted Lady so far this year, but I thought I saw a Silver Washed Fritillary last week, although I only saw it for a few seconds. Mind you, it is unlikely to be confused with much else due to its size. A big orange butterfly, far bigger than a Comma. John

30th July 2010, 06:33 PM	#8
jeff Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Somerset Posts: 90	I don't know one butterfly from another but we have notice this year an increase in the amount that comes into the garden.

1st August 2010, 04:35 PM	#9
Nature__Lover Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 231	that's good news jeff! if you ever need some help identifying one, you can always try asking me or anyone else on here who knows anything on butterflies. Moths are another story, though! alot of them are dark colours, so they are very hard to master!

2nd August 2010, 11:59 AM	#10
jeff Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Somerset Posts: 90	We have had quite a few in our garden today and mainly the white type of butterfly but as we were sat on the patio a small brown one came and landed on the wife's leg, looking at your pictures is looked like the gatekeeper, it quite happily sat on her leg for around five minutes. The white ones seem to like the new grape vines we have just planted but we don't know why?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

contact us \| register		home
	Online Discussion Forum