I'm working away under my ivy bower, keeping an eye open for the bees but soon find they are usurped by the beauty of the holly blue butterflies, which have deserted the holly bushes to visit my large spread of forget-me-nots for nectar. They too like the ivy and they have beaten my brimstones, the usual first butterflies to my garden.
Sidrah. No need to worry about bees, or wasps, or hornets, in this country; they do not harm trees. It is quite fascinating to watch, and hear, them rasping away if you get close.
Happymarion. Our holly blues are just out too. The reason they fly around ivy is that they are emerging from pupae in the thicket. The second generation of last year bred on ivy, the caterpillars eating the ivy flower buds and berries. They will now lay their eggs on holly, so the first generation can eat the buds and berries later in the year.
Fascinating. I had to re-line the pond in my garden recently and when I pulled out the old liner, all around the edge I found lots of little tunnels. Later that day I found I was working in what seemed like a small swarm of bees, sacks full of pollen on their legs, trying to locate their tunnels. I felt really guilty about disturbing them so I finished the job as fast as I could and replaced things as well as I could. I have to keep fishing them out of the pond now!
Could anyone tell me if I can spray my Lilies to stop Lily Beetle I have never had so many as this year I keep picking them off but I am sure I must miss a few. I never had Lily Beetle till a couple of years ago there certainly seems a lot more this year
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Thank you, Richard. I am now looking at my holly and ivy in a new light. knowing that i have the perfect conditions for two generations of such beautiful butterflies in my garden,
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Happymarion. Our holly blues are just out too. The reason they fly around ivy is that they are emerging from pupae in the thicket. The second generation of last year bred on ivy, the caterpillars eating the ivy flower buds and berries. They will now lay their eggs on holly, so the first generation can eat the buds and berries later in the year.
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