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Brian Stone · Mar 23, 2004

The plume is almost certainly 1524 Emmelina monodactyla. It is just about the only common plume moth on the wing at this time of year I think.

Surreybirder · Mar 23, 2004

Certainly looks like that, Brian! Oh dear, we must have convolvulus.... perhaps we'll get a c. hawk-moth

scampo · Mar 23, 2004

Who hasn't got convolulus? It's everywhere around here - bht major and minor. We used to love it as kids - "Grandmother, grandmother, pop out the bed!"

Haven't yet seen a C. Hawk moth, though!

CJW · Mar 23, 2004

scampo said:
Who hasn't got convolulus? It's everywhere around here - bht major and minor. We used to love it as kids - "Grandmother, grandmother, pop out the bed!"

Haven't yet seen a C. Hawk moth, though!

Plant some nicotiana (preferably the white variety) and you'll increase your chances 10-fold.

harry eales · Mar 23, 2004

CJW said:
Plant some nicotiana (preferably the white variety) and you'll increase your chances 10-fold.

Convolvulous Hawks eventually come to he who waites, and waites and waites. I have had two in 40 years, but then I am in the north.

Harry Eales.

Surreybirder · Mar 24, 2004

CJW said:
Plant some nicotiana (preferably the white variety) and you'll increase your chances 10-fold.

I've already got a seed tray full of them. Considering that the height they reach is said to be 3ft and the packet contained 2,000 seeds, I should have enough to cover an acre!

scampo · Mar 24, 2004

CJW said:
Plant some nicotiana (preferably the white variety) and you'll increase your chances 10-fold.

Thanks for the tip - Nicotiana are on my shopping list for this year's annuals! Actually we're replanting our garden this spring - hit's a small garden but we want to attract moths, butterflies and birds. Can you suggest any plants to put in? I have so far thought of buddleia, stonecrop and solidago.

Brian Stone · Mar 24, 2004

Nicotiana sylvestris is supposed to be the best and will self seed, but N. alata may also be OK and is shorter. Get sowing now!

Surreybirder · Mar 24, 2004

Sedum is a must--I got lots of butterflies and moths on mine last year. Honeysuckle, ivy, nettles, berberis, field scabious, pyracantha, elder, rowan, marigold, sunflower, verbena, oak tree(!), the list is endless. It depends what you most want to attract.

scampo · Mar 24, 2004

We have such a small plot - the rear garden is only about 30m x 15m. so moths are what we thought of working hardest at attracting as my son is keen to use his moth trap to the best advantage!

harry eales · Mar 24, 2004

Surreybirder said:
Sedum is a must--I got lots of butterflies and moths on mine last year. Honeysuckle, ivy, nettles, berberis, field scabious, pyracantha, elder, rowan, marigold, sunflower, verbena, oak tree(!), the list is endless. It depends what you most want to attract.

I couldn't agree more Surreybirder about Sedum but only the spectabilis form is very good. All other forms seem to be very mediochre or useless in attracting insects.

For late season attracting, Micklemass Daisey's are excellent, especially if they are in a sunny position.

For Vanessids, and many other insect species, Bugbane, Simicifuga ramosa is a must. This is a perennial which has white flower spikes, and is more attractive to insects than even Buddlia, which is over by the time Bugbane comes into flower, which is during September and October.

It grows to about 150cm (4'6-5' ft) in height. It does need some support from a frame or a few canes. It dies right back during the winter so it will pay you to mark it's position, so you don't accidentaly dig it up when turning over the flower border. It's not easy to find plants in Garden Centres but it is well worth searching for.

Last October I counted over 100 Peacocks, Red Admirals, Painted Lady's, Small Tortoiseshells and Commas on a single plant in a friends garden. It also attracts Bees, Hoverflies and at night, many Moth species, hence it's common name of Bugbane.

Harry Eales.

Brian Stone · Mar 24, 2004

Last autumn (mid-Sept) I noticed a shrub in the sculpture garden at Burghley House near Stamford (brilliant for birds - LSW, Nuthatch, etc. - and insects). These were smothered in Hoverflies, a few Hornets, Silver Y's, butterflies and other insects.

I can't find a picture but it had flowers like lilac but a bit more open and smaller in a pale blue colour. The shrubs were about 7-8 feet tall, broad and quite dense, with elongated undivided leaves.

Sorry its a bit vague but any ideas what it is. I tried looking it up but came up with nothing.

CJW · Mar 24, 2004

Red Valerian is also good.

Surreybirder · Mar 24, 2004

brianhstone said:
Last autumn (mid-Sept) I noticed a shrub in the sculpture garden at Burghley House near Stamford (brilliant for birds - LSW, Nuthatch, etc. - and insects). These were smothered in Hoverflies, a few Hornets, Silver Y's, butterflies and other insects.

I can't find a picture but it had flowers like lilac but a bit more open and smaller in a pale blue colour. The shrubs were about 7-8 feet tall, broad and quite dense, with elongated undivided leaves.

Sorry its a bit vague but any ideas what it is. I tried looking it up but came up with nothing.

Not buddliea?

Surreybirder · Mar 24, 2004

Harry, what form did you obtain Bugbane in? Seeds, plant, cutting?

Brian Stone · Mar 24, 2004

Nope, not like Buddliea, closer to Lilac in all ways.

The Hummingbird Hawk-moths we had last year fed from Verbena in hanging baskets.

harry eales · Mar 24, 2004

Surreybirder said:
Harry, what form did you obtain Bugbane in? Seeds, plant, cutting?

Hi Surreybirder,

I found three plants in 4" square pots at a Specialist Nursery about 20 miles from where I live. If I remember correctly they were about £2.00 each. When I got them the nurseryman mentioned he had never seen so many butterflies around, as when they were in flower.

I have not seen seed for sale and I think it is unlikely to be available commercially. According to what I have read about it, the seed needs to be planted as soon as it is ripe on the flowerhead, in order to get successfull germination. I doubt if any seedsman could guarantee the percentage of germination required, if packaged.

I think cuttings could be taken, if you can get your hands on a plant, but it doesn't come up above ground until May, and that would not give you much time to develope the plant to the flowering stage the first year.

Best thing I can suggest is you ring around the various Garden Centres or Nurseries in your area and try to buy them in pots.

Good hunting.

Harry Eales.

Elizabeth Bigg · Mar 24, 2004

Try here:

http://www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk/cat web A to M.html

http://www.edromnurseries.co.uk/alphalist.asp

There could well be lots more - just found this from a quick Google!

harry eales · Mar 24, 2004

Elizabeth Bigg said:
Try here:

http://www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk/cat web A to M.html

http://www.edromnurseries.co.uk/alphalist.asp

There could well be lots more - just found this from a quick Google!

Many thanks for your help Elizabeth,

I have checked both sites with a negative result, but there are many others to look at. Over to you Surreybirder, start looking. lol.

Harry Eales.

Surreybirder · Mar 24, 2004

Isn't Google amazing. I found it within about 10 secs
http://plants.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/7295/1?SA=1303

It is listed in at least the first of Elizabeth's URLs but as
ACTAEA ramosa

Plant taxonomy seems worse than insect or bird taxonomy. There is a plant under EB's second URL listed as:
Actaea pachypoda (Baneberry)!

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