I am going to regret this ain't I. But is it just me or across the country. Loads of butterflies about, gatekeepers, skippers. tortoise shells etc. Not a single sighting of the dreaded white around my cabbages. I don't really want to see them gone but it is nice not having to go on caterpillar slaughter raids.
yes ace i too have noticed the lack of the little blighters just one or two not the thousands we are used tohere :glasses9: :glasses9: :glasses9: :glasses9: :coffee2:
Don't hold your breath. Maybe a bit early. The cold mornings might have kept them dormant.
I reckon the first week in August. One of my plot neighbours goes on holiday and they always seem to be at their worst when they are away.
We have rape next door so hopefully they will go after that but I doubt it, the leaves will be a bit tough, must better a nice tender leaf.
I have small cabbage whites appearing and yes, there are now wee caterpillars in my broccoli heads.
Very few other butterflies though. Loads of bees though so all is not lost.
We had lots of butterflies a month or so ago, but very few now. Just a couple of whites.
Saw my first white yesterday, nowhere near my brassicas though. Not many others around, I seem to get most once the buddleias flower, another week or two. Hundreds of bees this year, the cotoneasters have been alive with them.
Yes, seems to be a good year for bees. I let my PSB flower and it was constantly buzzing with all kinds of bees.
Unfortunately it's also a good year for aphids. :(
I've only noticed a few so far. Butterflies are recovering from those two dismal summers a few years back, but it's taking time. Before that, by Great Mullein were always turned into lacework by Mullein Moth caterpillars, then recovered later after they'd pupated. There are still only a few of the things on the plants, but definitely more than last year.
We've had some dancing around here, sends the dog potty as she tries to catch them.
The sea Kale had quite a few caterpillars a little while back, I guess there wasn't anything else available for them to eat.
Saw two yesterday, doing their little courtship dance...