Do Butterflies Lay Eggs On Stinging Nettles?

Many common garden butterflies, such as the Red Admiral, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell, lay eggs on stinging nettles, but other butterflies breed on more garden-worthy plants.

Do nettles sting butterflies?

Stinging nettles will attract five colourful species of butterfly but you need to manage the area so they don’t take over the garden. Stinging nettles need nutrient-rich soil and should be cut back in June or July to stimulate new shoots to grow, providing more food for caterpillars.

What lives on nettles?

Stinging nettles are great wildlife attractors: caterpillars of the small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies use them as foodplants; ladybirds feast on the aphids that shelter among them; and seed-eating birds enjoy their autumn spoils.

What time of year do butterflies lay eggs on nettles?

Frequent visitors to nettle patches are the Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Comma butterflies. The eggs and larvae of these butterfly species are present on nettles between April and June, with adults emerging between May and October.

Which insects lay eggs on nettles?

Butterflies and moths generally lay their eggs in the centre of a nettle patch so the outer plants will be fine for us to eat. Nettles are incredibly rich in iron, folates and other minerals as well as tasting great when made into a soup.

What’s the difference between nettle and stinging nettle?

Stinging nettle is the name given to common nettle, garden nettle, and hybrids of these plants. Originally from the colder regions of northern Europe and Asia, this herbaceous shrub grows all over the world today.

What is the purpose of stinging nettles?

The leaves are sometimes eaten as a cooked vegetable. Stinging nettle is most commonly used for diabetes and osteoarthritis. It is also sometimes used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, enlarged prostate, hay fever, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

What animal eats nettle stings?

Stinging nettles are great for wildlife
Peacock, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, comma and painted lady butterflies all have caterpillars whose only, or main, source of food is the nettle.

What plants do butterflies lay their eggs on?

Some of the best plants for attracting butterflies are:

• Butterfly Bush.
• Joe Pye Weed.
• Caryopteris.
• Lantana.
• Butterfly Weed.
• Cosmos.
• Shasta Daisy.
• Zinnias.

What are the black caterpillars on nettles?

Aglais urticae. Fastidious in its food requirements, the caterpillar of the Small Tortoiseshell feeds almost exclusively on the leaves of stinging nettles. It folds the leaves over itself as a protective tent while it feeds.

What is the best way to get rid of nettles?

Weedkiller control

1. Neglected areas can be cleared of established nettles by spraying them with a glyphosate-based weedkiller (such as Roundup Ultra or Doff Weedout Extra Tough Weedkiller) which should be applied as a spray in June, shortly before they flower.
2. A second application may be necessary in September.

What are the green eggs on the leaves?

Trees Have the Gall to Fight Back
Trees may contribute to what looks like little green eggs on their leaves, when in fact they are small pockets that encase an insect. Some insects and mites have the ability to trigger this reaction in a tree by feeding on it or laying eggs.

Do bees like stinging nettles?

The dead nettle has bright orange pollen which give the foraging bees an orange stripe on thier heads. This weed is particularly useful to them as that pollen may be in short supply if there are few flowering trees in your area.

What happens if you touch nettles?

Nettles are plants with sharp hairs on their leaves. If you touch them, these hairs inject irritants into the skin, making it itchy, red and swollen.

Who should not drink nettle tea?

Pregnant people
Interactions. Pregnant people should not take nettle or drink nettle tea. Due to a lack of research, children under the age of 12 years should also avoid nettle. It is important that people with existing conditions and those who take certain medications speak with a healthcare professional before trying nettle.

Can we eat stinging nettle?

Stinging nettle can be eaten on its own or as an ingredient in foods. Nettle leaves must first be cooked or steamed to destroy the hairs on them, which contain a number of irritating chemicals. Most medicinal uses of stinging nettle use more of the plant than you would typically eat.

Is stinging nettle poisonous to dogs?

Stinging nettles aren’t known to be poisonous for dogs, and typically stings cause only mild discomfort for a few hours. However, there have been cases of dogs suffering from toxicity.

How do you pick nettles without getting stung?

Nettle-Picking Tips
Use rubber gloves or pinch the leaves hard, so you don’t get stung. Once picked, lay the nettles out on a tray to wilt. Once wilted they can no longer sting you.

Can you eat nettles raw?

You might think that nettles would be difficult to eat raw, but actually they are fine. You can pop them into smoothies, juice them, or ferment them (I’m planning on making a lovely non-alcoholic water kefir nettle beer with my next batch). Nettles add a lovely mild flavour to any dish.

Are nettles good for the garden?

In the garden, nettle is indispensable as a fertilizer, insecticide, and compost activator. On the farm, nettle’s uses don’t just end there. The farm animals also benefit from all the goodness of nettle as well.

How long does a nettle sting last?

This acid can redden the skin and cause a non-spreading rash that can last up to 24 hours. Remedies for this sting include a plant that often grows next to it called jewelweed.