I regularly get peacock and small tortoiseshell caterpillars on the patch of nettles I have. In theory I cut them down to get fresh growth although in practice I don't always get round to it.
Thank you both, coastal, light stony soil, currently covered in plastic and bay seedlings. Quite big in 2 large sections offset. Each about 50 foot by 40 foot. Lots and lots of escaping bamboo, digger being brought in.
Seen caterpillars on the nettles here as well but not sure what moth or butterfly they are related to. Another positive I have noticed is that they often seem to provide some shelter for ladybirds that play a role in controlling aphids and some other plant pests. Just read recently that the aphids that live on nettle have a slightly different life cycle to many of the other aphids in the garden so one of the reasons I have noticed the ladybirds on nettles so often may be because they are getting food on them when it is less available on other plants. No choice with having some nettles here as it would be a full time job trying to eliminate them altogether so content myself with just clearing them from where they are likely to sting me or are competing too much with something I've planted.
Young nettle leaves are the food of the caterpillars of Peacock and Tortoiseshell butterflies.
Tortoiseshell butterflies need to produce two generations in each summer, and the caterpillars need young fresh nettle leaves, so on his farm Chris Skinner mows patches of nettles in June/July … after the Peacock caterpillars have pupated, to produce fresh young growth so that the Tortoiseshell butterflies who hatched from the eggs laid earlier in the year can lay their eggs.
These will become the adult Tortoiseshells who will overwinter and lay eggs in the spring.
The overwintered tortoiseshell butterflies then die after laying their eggs in the spring so the second generation each year is vital.
To hear Chris describing this you can listen to The Countryside Hour on BBC Sounds podcasts … look for the episode titled ‘Nettles and Carrion Crows’. 😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Peacock and tortoisheshell are our two main butterflies here. They clearly don't need too much help from me with the nettles! We get angle shade moths too, as mentioned by @wild edges A patch of varying plants will always provide a good start @janestevens990. The nettle tea that some of us have mentioned is very useful, but take some time to see what is around your area too, before devoting very large areas to one specific thing.
There was someone recently who wanted to plant something specifically for the hummingbird hawk moth. That's great - but pointless if they aren't present in the region you're in, which can be for various reasons. We don't have them here, for example, although there are colonies in the east.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I agree with a variation of plants being more important than just the odd one on mass. I try to add as many nature friendly plants in the hope of attracting things and tbh I'm most delighted when I find something I didn't even know existed, living happily in the garden.
I'm with Ken on this one - there are plenty of nettles nearby so I will keep my garden for plants that I like. But if it's important to you to have nettles and their accompanying caterpillars etc within your garden where you can look at them, that is great.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
A patch of varying plants will always provide a good start @janestevens990. The nettle tea that some of us have mentioned is very useful, but take some time to see what is around your area too, before devoting very large areas to one specific thing.
There was someone recently who wanted to plant something specifically for the hummingbird hawk moth. That's great - but pointless if they aren't present in the region you're in, which can be for various reasons. We don't have them here, for example, although there are colonies in the east.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...