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Message: <blockquote data-quote="harry eales" data-source="post: 1278137" data-attributes="member: 3028">Hello Kathy,I don't know very much about this parasitic fly at all, but I assume that the female doesn't just lay ova willy nilly all over the place. It's more likely that the female parasitic fly has some way of detecting lepidopterous ova, and will lay her own ova in the near vicinity.I have heard no reports of it being found in the NE of England as yet. Presently, I think there is more danger to butterfly species due to climatic conditions than any predatory insects.Keeping some Nettles in your garden may seem like a good idea, but most Nettle feeding Lepidoptera are very fussy indeed as to the location of where they lay their ova. Gardens are very seldom suitable. In my own experience the Vanessid butterflies that feed on Nettle like a young growth. What I have done with some moderate success is to strim my Nettles down when they get to about 8" tall. These will regenerate and butterflies seem to like these succulent fresh plants. The Nettles should be in a warm, sheltered, sunny position, not stuck under trees or shrubs.It's always worth trying to attract them to breed in your garden, but don't be disappointed if they don't.Harry</blockquote>