Two of our recorders were recording plants on Thurstaston Common, when the painted lady migration had just arrived. One of the plants being greatly enjoyed for nectar was common ragwort. This native plant supports many nectar-seeking insects including over 20 species that rely on it. The photos show how important it is to leave ragwort to grow except where it is a direct threat to horses and other farm animals.
These are my favourite photos:
5 painted ladies, a gatekeeper and a hoverfly all feeding on one ragwort plant
Painted lady basking on sandstone
Gatekeeper on heather
Red-tailed bumble bee on ragwort
Dr Hilary Ash
Photos by June Mortazavi
yes, here here. So much hysteria and mis-information around ragwort. See here: https://markavery.info/2019/07/09/guest-blog-ragwort-friend-or-foe-by-paul-sterry/ and onward links, e.g. ragwortfacts.org.uk. Good sources to direct the ignorant to!
ReplyDeleteThe wonderful Cinnabar moth is totally reliant upon Ragwort because their caterpillars eat nothing else. It's a very long time since I've seen an adult moth and the caterpillars seem to be in sharp decline. I feel 'honoured' that a single caterpillar appeared recently on a plant growing out of a crack in my driveway; that's reason enough to stop the 'neat & tidy' fanatics who are responsible for our mass species depletion. Dave Hall.
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