BUTTERFLY NECTARREPORT SOURCES 2011
145
BUTTERFLIES VISITING NECTAR SOURCES IN AN IPSWICH GARDEN RICHARD STEWART We moved to our present house on Westerfield Road in late November 1995. Since then it has been the intention to design and manage the gardens to attract a wide variety of wildlife, especially butterflies. The garden, front and back, is approximately a fifth of an acre and faces east. It attracts sunlight from the south for much of the day and with the removal of a large tree by our next door neighbours, shafts of evening sunlight penetrate to the back garden. The location forms part of a long series of mature gardens which stretch to the old cemeteries adjacent to the Ipswich – Felixstowe railway line, itself marked as a designated ‘green corridor’ on planning maps. Close to the house another ‘green corridor’ links Westerfield Road to Tuddenham Road. Since we moved in only two adverse developments have occurred: our neighbours have redesigned their back garden to a more formal and less wildlife-friendly habitat, while the large field across the road is now covered by housing. Previously it had areas of rough pasture and bramble bushes, which attracted many butterfly species. On 29 July 2007 a Brown Argus butterfly was identified in our garden, this being the 27th recorded species. It seemed unlikely that any further species would be seen and my attention was marginally diverted to studying the nectar plants we provided and which species visited them to feed. Forty five nectar sources were available but four butterfly species, though recorded in the garden, had not been seen feeding: Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Swallowtail and Clouded Yellow. The 45 nectar sources are listed below, with the species feeding on them and some additional observations: 15 - Buddleia davidii: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Purple Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, (Plate 11) Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown. This tall purple flowering Buddleia is in a sunny position close to our kitchen window. Its flowering period is extended by frequent deadheading. 15 - Marjoram: Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet. Several beds of Marjoram also attract many foraging bees. 12 - Aubretia: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma. One bed is adjacent to our pond while the other, at the far end of the back garden, forms part of a long sunlit border to the vegetable plot. Aubretia has normally ceased flowering before the arrival of summer species such as Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. 10 - Verbena bonariensis: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper. This tall plant benefits from a long flowering period and is underplanted with other nectar sources.
Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 48 (2012)