Never happened before but this afternoon I had 2 Mrs Brimstone visit my tiny Alder Buckthorn tp oviposit (lay eggs). I now have about 80 babies in waiting and don't think I will be able to provide for all so some will be relocated after they hatch.
Look closely and you can see 2 pale green eggs, one above and one below her ovipositor.
140522FZ1K140522
Doggie mummy living in ancient York, Yorkshire, England.
Joined 1st Jan 2018
1st Jan 2024 have achieved 196%
28 March 2024 200%
I take photos, am not a photographer.
Interested...
I'm stunned at how bad things must be there if you have to watch so closely to decide there isn't enough food for 2 butterflies to lay their eggs. such a contrast to my property where I could not possibly count the number of butterfly varieties I see daily, let alone the numbers. you images and narration are such an eye opener for me
@koalagardens put your mind at ease. I have a very tiny suburban garden with a very young Alder Buckthorn tree. Brimstone caterpillars are fussy eaters, only Buckthorn or Alder Buckthorn will do. The tree can easily feed 20 hungry caterpillars, 80 is far too many. But I have a cunning plan and most will be relocated to a glorious wood meadow, part of an 8000 acre estate where they can live long and prosper.
@koalagardens things are not as good as they should/could be. UK is in the lower 10% worldwide for biodiversity, sadly. I hand raise because it interests me and each year I learn something new. And of course captive raising increases the number of adult Lepidoptera if you consider that out of 100 eggs only 1 or 2 will become butterfly or moth. They are VERY low on the food chain, essential supplies for the babies of higher species and also for some wasp species. All fascinating. As you learn about the needs of your Koalas, so I learn about the needs of Lepidoptera.
Ian