At Last a Butterfly

[witham]

Apart from the odd Large White or Cabbage White as we country bumpkins in these 'ere parts still know it as and a couple of Red Admirals a while ago I've hardly seen a trace of a butterfly until yesterday when I went for a leisurely bike ride on the nearby track, I came across a few clumps of Ragwort that had survived the earlier spraying and on each one were a number of small Tortoiseshells, not particularly unusual but only seen one a while ago, there were other wild plants about but Ragwort was the only one they and bees were on, it is a bit of a rogue weed and people here are encouraged to get rid but it seems at least it's good for something

[Neil Jones]

Originally Posted by witham

Ragwort was the only one they and bees were on, it is a bit of a rogue weed and people here are encouraged to get rid but it seems at least it's good for something

It is a great plant for insects which is why buglife have a campaign on it to reverse all the ragwort hysteria that has been generated. Even conservation bodies have started to believe the scare stories put around about this plant.
It is having a negative influence on conservation generally. Please do all you can to debunk ragwort hysteria.


Buglife's campaign is here.

Buglife | Ragwort | Ragwort: Yellow Peril or Precious Flower?

For more information debunking the hysteria please see.
Ragwort - Is it as bad as you think?
and
Ragwort, Myths and Facts

[CapAndBracket]

With the amount of ragwort around, i seem to remember a few years ago it was predicted that the cinnabar moth population would boom, but it hasn't happened having only seen a few this year.

Different topic, saw my first greyling butterfly of the year today.

Cheers J.P.

[James M]

That's great witham, I've seen very few this year, no Red Admirals or Small Tortoiseshells or even Peacocks yet will have to wait till our buddleia flowers. In the first pic are those Ringlets? I've never seen one, even though I know they are quite common in most areas but they are not normally found round here for some reason.

[witham]

Originally Posted by James M

That's great witham, I've seen very few this year, no Red Admirals or Small Tortoiseshells or even Peacocks yet will have to wait till our buddleia flowers. In the first pic are those Ringlets? I've never seen one, even though I know they are quite common in most areas but they are not normally found round here for some reason.

I'm no expert but don' t think so it's just what the underside of the Small Tortoiseshells wing looks like although they didn't open them while I was there so could be wrong I am also waiting for my Buddlia flowers to open we have a few different colours, pleanty of spikes but no colour so far.

[DeeChester]

[quote=Neil Jones;309515]It is a great plant for insects which is why buglife have a campaign on it to reverse all the ragwort hysteria that has been generated. Even conservation bodies have started to believe the scare stories put around about this plant.
It is having a negative influence on conservation generally. Please do all you can to debunk ragwort hysteria.

Ragwort is toxic to horses if eaten long term and in great quantities. They do avoid it if there is plenty of food (grass etc) available. If cut or dead it is palatable to horses. This is why the big scare. However, it would seem more sensible to control it than destroy it, not that difficult to weed horses fields, or provide them with adequate food.
The cinnabar lives off ragwort, years ago they were abundant. Now they are almost endangered. This is one example of what will happen if we lose ragwort completely. The caterpillar is black and yellow, the moth itself a beautiful red and black. I will definitely join the campaign. Thanks for the info Neil.
I am a horsy person, hate ragwort in the field, but love it elsewhere.

[ron1863]

I have noticed an increase in Whites over the past few days but little else apart from Ringlets, which are slowly disappearing. Peacocks were out in force in April/May but very little else apart from one or two Small Tortoiseshells and Orange tip. No Red Admirals, Painted Lady or Comma's at all this year - so far.