Gary Francis
Well-known member
Hi Folks
We recently caught a female Brimstone that laid 46 eggs before release (I thought we only had 14 but loads were hidden on a sprig I couldn't see). To get the Brimstone to lay, a nursery kindly sold us 3 small whips of Alder Buckthorn at a knock-down price. Problem now is, the plants have no-where near enough foliage to support 46 larvae and, as we got the plants so cheap, I don't like to go back and ask for more (also don't think they've got many).
Despite many trips into the local wilderness I've been unable to locate any wild Buckthorn. They're obviously around here somewhere due to the number of Brimstones, but I can't find them and neither can friends who work on nature reserves.
The books say foodplants are limited to Alder Buckthorn and Common Buckthorn, but I'm just wondering if someone has discovered an alternative. Does anyone know of another (reasonably common) foodplant, or is there anything else that might be worth trying? If I can't find one I'll have to destroy half the eggs, but that seems an awful waste.
Thanks in anticipation
Gary
We recently caught a female Brimstone that laid 46 eggs before release (I thought we only had 14 but loads were hidden on a sprig I couldn't see). To get the Brimstone to lay, a nursery kindly sold us 3 small whips of Alder Buckthorn at a knock-down price. Problem now is, the plants have no-where near enough foliage to support 46 larvae and, as we got the plants so cheap, I don't like to go back and ask for more (also don't think they've got many).
Despite many trips into the local wilderness I've been unable to locate any wild Buckthorn. They're obviously around here somewhere due to the number of Brimstones, but I can't find them and neither can friends who work on nature reserves.
The books say foodplants are limited to Alder Buckthorn and Common Buckthorn, but I'm just wondering if someone has discovered an alternative. Does anyone know of another (reasonably common) foodplant, or is there anything else that might be worth trying? If I can't find one I'll have to destroy half the eggs, but that seems an awful waste.
Thanks in anticipation
Gary