I let loads of nettles grow this year but cannot see any insects on them
yet, what should I be looking for this time of year and what should I
expect to see now or later
kate

Kate Morgan wrote:

>
> I let loads of nettles grow this year but cannot see any insects on
> them yet, what should I be looking for this time of year and what
> should I expect to see now or later

Caterpillars from the Peacock butterfly feed on nettles.

Peacock caterpillars are black, covered with short spines and speckled
with white spots. They are usually found on stinging nettles.

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"Saxman" <john.h.williamsREMOVETHIS [at] btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:tO6dneIYC_W9uy3ZRVnygQ [at] bt.com...
> Kate Morgan wrote:
>
> >
> > I let loads of nettles grow this year but cannot see any insects
on
> > them yet, what should I be looking for this time of year and what
> > should I expect to see now or later
>
> Caterpillars from the Peacock butterfly feed on nettles.
>
> Peacock caterpillars are black, covered with short spines and
speckled
> with white spots. They are usually found on stinging nettles.
>

Red Admiral caterpillars, too. See,
http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/butterflies.html#RedAd

And tiny little 'Nettle-tap' moths, like pieces of horseshoe confetti.
See,
http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/moths%20p4.html#nettle

--
ned

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk

>
> > I let loads of nettles grow this year but cannot see any insects on them
> > yet, what should I be looking for this time of year and what should I
> > expect to see now or later
>
> Nettles are food for caterpillars; and aphids, in turn aphids are
> food for ladybird larvae. So you should see some caterpillars, aphids,
> ladybird larvae, and possibly, adult butterflies and ladybirds.
>
> Other than the insects themselves look out for holey leaves, leaves
> wrapped up in web (caterpillar hide-out) and caterpillar pooh.
>
> Janet.

Thank you all for that info. I will go and inspect the nettles but first
I have to go and help clear a tree that has come down across the drive
in the winds last night

kate

Gloucestershire

Kate Morgan wrote:
> I let loads of nettles grow this year but cannot see any insects on them
> yet, what should I be looking for this time of year and what should I
> expect to see now or later

I have always kept a patch for comma, red admiral, totoiseshell, and
peacock butterflies to lay eggs on. The stinging nettle is a valuable
food crop for the caterpillars. But, it has to be said, the last
couple of years I havn't seen any sign of them being used.

Harvesting excess nettles and using a solution from them as an anti
aphid spray.

Young nettle leaves also make a interesting tea, & spinach subsitute.
If you cut some now you will get a new young crop.

You might want to do a little research into their use in Biodynamoc
preperations.
J
Kate Morgan <katemorgan [at] btinternet.com> wrote:

> I let loads of nettles grow this year but cannot see any insects on them
> yet, what should I be looking for this time of year and what should I
> expect to see now or later
> kate


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