 | | | “Stingers are a vital part of growing up, giving us one of the most painful early memories of close contact with nature.
It is much later in life that most of us realise just how valuable they are, especially for some of our most beautiful wild creatures.
Without stinging nettles, peacock, small tortoiseshell and red admiral butterflies would have nowhere to lay their eggs, so do please find a space for nettles somewhere in your neighbourhood.”Professor Chris Baines
Environmentalist and Broadcaster |
| | Burnished Brass - Diachrysia chrysitis
© David G Green | The metallic patches on the upper wing make the Burnished Brass easily identifiable. |
A common moth throughout the British Isles, the Burnished Brass can be found in a variety of habitats from woodland to wasteland and gardens. It can sometimes be seen feeding from Buddleia around dusk. The larvae hatch from their eggs in late summer, feed for a while and then hibernate when quite small in the leaf litter at the base of the foodplant. The caterpillars resume feeding in April and completes its growth by the end of May. The caterpillar then forms a cocoon on the underside of a leaf folding the edges of the leaf around it as it progresses. The adults then emerge about four weeks later. Back to moths of the nettle patch |
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| | | | Did you know? | | Horse breeders have often added nettle seeds to horse feeds to give the animals a sleek coat. |
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