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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you if you have colourful butterflies where you live?

43 replies

CollieEye · 03/08/2013 13:00

In an attempt to calm down DD (2 yrs) who was panicking about a butterfly that flew near her face I said "butterflies are beautiful, they come in lots of lovely colours". She roared at me. "No they don't. They're all white."

And she's right. The only butterflies I've seen all summer are Cabbage Whites. Where are all the Red Admirals and such? Are they living with you?

OP posts:
JambalayaCodfishPie · 03/08/2013 13:15

We're in the NW - there has been an abundance of white butterflies, more than I've ever seen before.

I have seen the brown-y red ones though too.

freddiefrog · 03/08/2013 13:16

Now I think about it, I've only seen white ones so far this year

We used to see loads of different types (no idea what they're called though) in our garden, but have only seen a few, tiny white ones.

I am absolutely terrified of butterflies though

Iamsparklyknickers · 03/08/2013 13:16

I remarked yeasterday on all the Cabbages that have been around the last couple of weeks - they seem to have appeared after the wet weather?

I saw a few Peacocks earlier in year but not some much since all the hot weather.

ThisReallyIsNotSPNopeNotAtAll · 03/08/2013 13:16

I'm in Leeds and only seen white or brown coloured ones.

Wasapea · 03/08/2013 13:17

Same here Jambalaya. Sitting in the garden at the moment surrounded by the buggers. They are lovely though.

Twattybollocks · 03/08/2013 13:39

We have loads. Monarchs, red admiral, a little pale blue one which I've no idea what it's called but is very pretty, the orange ones with the spots, the tan ones with the square pattern, and of course cabbage whites

ReluctantBeing · 03/08/2013 13:42

Lots of white here in Yorkshire, but also red admirals and some rather funky black ones.

GetStuffezd · 03/08/2013 13:42

Beautiful pictures - did you take them all yourself?
Here (Northumberland) we have loads of Cabbage Whites but also plenty of Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks. Haven't seen any others this year so far.

Eyesunderarock · 03/08/2013 13:49

We have dozens of whites and gatekeepers, red admiral and peacock several times a week, orange tip and an occasional tortoiseshell.
You can tell when the schools have finished their projects because we get a big influx of painted ladies. Smile

Oldraver · 03/08/2013 13:49

We have mostly at the moment white ones, though have seen some coloured ones.

When I was a child we ised to see loads of Red Admirals, I have only seen one recently last year...OH didnt know what one was.

We currently have some caterpillars turning into cysalides... so will have some Painted Ladies to release soon.

Is she very afraid of butterflies ? maybe she would like to hatch some (though I wouldn't if it freaks her too much

lljkk · 03/08/2013 13:54

Today Lots of Peacocks, some Admirals, many large Cabbage whites and a few orange-brown ones I don't know on my buddleias (Norfolk).

Doubtfuldaphne · 03/08/2013 13:56

Loads here in the Cotswolds! Especially peacock ones. It's lovely :)

MrsCosmopilite · 03/08/2013 13:56

in Essex - same as lljkk. The orange-browns may be small tortoiseshells or commas, BTW.

We had a lovely moth on the window last night - however I could only see it's underside. Coloured like a poplar hawk-moth but too small to be one.

GrimmaTheNome · 03/08/2013 13:59

There is some seasonality to butterflies. It also depends what plants are available. We get lots of coloured butterflies coming to our buddleia bush, and later they'll be clustered on the sedum spectabila (not sure I've spelled that correctly)

It may be that this year some of the colouredspecies which overwinter got reduced by the long cold spring, and perhaps the whites are thriving in the weather now?

If your DD isn't really terrified of butterflies, do you have a butterfly house anywhere near you? We used to take our DD to the one in the park in Lancaster a lot - fabulous colours in there.

Sallystyle · 03/08/2013 14:00

I have seen a few colourful ones but yes, mainly white this year.

GerundTheBehemoth · 03/08/2013 14:00

Gatekeeper is another orange-brown one that's out in force at the moment: 1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQLmy1mInf0/TE1b62fSP9I/AAAAAAAAAis/vK2BGZjUhVg/s1600/Gatekeeper+male.jpg

Thank you, Getstuffezd - they're all my pics. Wildlife photography's my obsession hobby Grin

WithASpider · 03/08/2013 14:01

In the midlands we are swamped with Peacocks and Commas, plus the Painted Ladies we hatched and released earlier this year.

I'm currently nurturing European Swallowtail caterpillars for release next spring.

My Curly Kale has been decimated by Cabbage Whites this year though! Angry

GerundTheBehemoth · 03/08/2013 14:04

Where are you planning to release the swallowtails, WithASpider? The European subspecies doesn't occur naturally in Britain (except possibly as a v rare migrant) - we have our own native subspecies but it only lives in the Norfolk Broads.

meganorks · 03/08/2013 14:07

I'm in the midlands and fairly urban. I had been thinking same thing. Usually a few whites in our garden at any time. But otherwise only seen one small brown one.

JakeBullet · 03/08/2013 14:11

I would love to see some Chalkhill Blues.

We nurtured and released Painted Ladies this year but have also seen Peacocks plus Cabbage Whites and some smaller ones.

I have loads of pollinator plants in my garden though. I planted them for the bees but happily the butterflies love them too....my Buddlea is awash with colour.

WithASpider · 03/08/2013 14:12

The subspecies i have is the one that occurs in the Norfolk Broads (I think). I've not quite progressed to my own butterfly house yet! :o I'll be heading down to my friend's mother's house in Norfolk for the release.

They only hatched 10 days ago and will be overwintering as a Pupa.

racingheart · 03/08/2013 14:15

Seen peacocks and red admirals and another very pretty orange and red one in our house as well as some blue ones and white ones. DH planted some wild flowers at bottom of the garden and I think they have helped attract more varieties.

GerundTheBehemoth · 03/08/2013 14:24

Good stuff WithASpider. Will be fascinating to watch them grow. Good luck with the rearing and release!

VivaLeBeaver · 03/08/2013 14:38

We have loads.

You need a buddleia bush.

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