Where have all the butterflys gone...

I know they are not really the gardeners friend .. but where have all the insects gone ... the goodies who eat the baddies , we need baddies for the goodies. To be honest have you seen many?

Has the terrible weeks of rain drown them all, are they still in hibernation because of no sunshine warmth?

Does this mean when the rain stops there will be swarms? Or if drowned there wont be any offspring for next year?

 

The news from RSPB and others is very grave at the moment. Haven't seen a butterfly or a bee for about a week.

 

I saw 1 bee on my beans Sunday !!!!

 

I've seen a few bees but only about 3 butterflies so far this year. I actually planted bee and butterfly friendly plants this year as they are in decline, but still not seen many. I was putting down to the wet weather though.

Rusty

 

There was a Red Admiral on the dark purple Buddleia this morning. To take picture ( with the sun behind me) I would have had to go into my next door neighbour's garden. It was a bit early for that so I didn't get a photo. The blooms are smelling like spilt caramalised honey this morning and I will keep an eye out for more action later,

 

seen the odd red cinnabar moth few weeks ago (the ones that love senecio/ragworth plants)
and one (only) red admiral on my buddleia just this week
and some weeks ago quite a few which looked like a small version of may beetles

 

Not many round here either. I think its the horrid weather. Apart from the fact that there's less flowers because of the weather, the flowers that are there aren't as much good as a source of nectar as usual I guess because the relentless rain has washed the nectar away.

This is one of the reasons I always grow nasturtium for the bumblebees. The flowers tend to hide under the canopy of leaves, but the bees can still find them, so the bees get to forage in relatively pleasant conditions. Doesn't help the butterflies though, that don't seem to feed at the nasturtiums.

I saw something on the BBC news recently that said this year was practically 'an apocalypse' for wildlife. Of course the media has to exaggerate, but its not very often they resort to using words like apocalypse.

All this highlights two important points for me:

1. We have to plan for all weather conditions.
2. Its our job to try to provide as diverse a habitat as we can for our little buddies, if we're still going to have them around for our kids and their kids to appreciate.

 

Ive seen nothing in south Essex. The odd Bee but no Butterfly's. No wasps thankfully though.

G

 

Loads of bees here, even during the wet weather they were soldiering on, not as many out as when it was sunny but there were a few about. Hover flies have been non-existant until the last few days until I've noiced a few knocking about.

The worrying one for me is the butterflies, I've seen none during the wet weather, slightly encouraging is the fact that a few do appear as soon as we get some sun, Whites, Brimstones, Peacocks, Speckled Woods, Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells have all visited our garden in the last few months but in low numbers.

With the return of the sun over the last couple of days, I've seen a few butterflies about along with plenty of bees and good numbers of hoverflies, also had a couple of large dragonflies visiting my little water feature (bucket ). The ladybirds were also out in force yesterday

 

Yes, I think the sunshine is bringing them out again. I've noticed a marked increase in bees & hoverflies. I still haven't seen many butterflies and hope they will reappear soon.

 

Saw a massive bumble bee yesterday that made me smile. Couple of butterflies and plenty of bees round the lavendar

 

Amazing what the sunshine brings. My garden is buzzing too and although not so prolific as in most summers there are butterflies about.