A to Z challenge 2023 – U is for . . .

 

A to Z challenge 2023 – U is for . . .

My theme for this challenge is Nature in all much of her wonderful diversity. My posts will reflect the fact that I am resident in the south of England.

All photographs in this post are the property of the writer.

Urtica dioica

The plant usually known as stinging nettle has dark green leaves which, together with the stems, are covered in fine hairs, many of which sting on contact. Dock leaves are a traditional remedy for nettle stings and grow in similar habitats. Whether dock leaves really are a balm for nettle rash or they are a panacea that works because we have grown up with the belief that they will cure is open to discussion. If dock leaves do not have the desired effect, bathing the affected area with soap, milk or a weak solution of baking soda may help soothe the sting.

Urtica dioica is an herbaceous perennial that grows abundantly across the UK and forms large swathes of foliage up to 1½ m (5’) tall. Nettles grow from early spring and through the summer and many people like to pick them to use in soups or, once they’re cooked, as a peppery topping for toast. Apparently, the taste is similar to spinach.

A speciality in the north of England is, or used to be, nettle pudding. Essentially, it is porridge mixed with nettles. Some people enjoy nettle tea, claiming health benefits as diverse as the alleviation of hay fever to support for healthy joints and bones.

The best time to pick nettle leaves is when they’re very young and tender, about 30 cms (1’) tall. Whenever you pick them, use gloves. It is possible to pick nettles without being stung (I have done it, once or twice, as a dare, when younger and even more foolish) but it’s better to be cautious. They should not be picked once they start flowering, the catkins appearing from late spring to early autumn,  because the plant produces calcium carbonate which can be absorbed by the body and affect kidney function.

Look at those vicious little stinging hairs

Nettles are a valuable food source for aphids and caterpillars and thus attract ladybirds and insectivorous birds.

Historically, they have been used as medicine. In mediaeval times, nettles were a common diuretic and a cure for the pain of arthritis. They were traditionally used to control high blood pressure.

As with most things, there are superstitions and ancient beliefs associated with nettles. A nettle leaf held in the mouth will cure toothache; I can imagine that the mind would be mightily distracted from the toothache to more urgent concentrated pain in the tongue.

Nettle in flower

Nettles allow the carrier to predict the future and enjoy enhanced fertility as well as receiving protection from lightning. They also grant him or her courage. A hairbrush made from a bunch of nettles makes the hair grow faster and stronger, and one would certainly need courage to use such a brush.

A patch of nettles in the garden (or allotment) will attract butterflies like the red admiral, peacock and comma, which feed on the nectar from the flowers, and supply food for the subsequent caterpillars, which, in turn, feed the birds.

Have you ever smelt nettles? The flowers have no scent, but the leaves smell ‘green’. 

A to Z challenge 2023 – P is for . . .

 

A to Z challenge 2023 – P is for . . .

My theme for this challenge is Nature in all much of her wonderful diversity. My posts will reflect the fact that I am resident in the south of England.

All photographs in this post are the property of the writer.

Pollinators

Marmalade hoverfly on cornflower

The first beasties that come to mind as pollinators are bees and butterflies, but birds, moths, flies, beetles and wasps all play their part. Even small mammals like mice can contribute to the greater good.

Honey bee on pyracantha

Robins, blackbirds, blue tits and starlings are among the birds that are classed as pollinators. Even humans can be responsible for accidentally transferring pollen from one place to another. (Some do it deliberately, with a fine paintbrush. I had a sudden vision then of someone wielding a house-painter’s brush, maybe even a roller!)

Bumble bee in nasturtium

Some of the pollinators have interesting habits. For example, the bumblebees, those big furry insects that tempt one to stroke them, vibrate their bodies to dislodge pollen. The bees then comb the pollen off their bodies into little baskets on their legs. This is called buzz pollination and while most of the pollen is taken back to the nest to feed their young, some will be transferred to the next flowers the bees visit.

Bumble bee with pollen grains

Some species of bumblebees can fly at around 15 kilometres an hour – that’s 9.3 miles per hour. The average walking speed of a reasonably fit human is 3 to 4 miles per hour!

Marmalade hoverfly going about its business

Marmalade hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus) are prodigious pollinators and extremely migratory, able to travel hundreds of miles a day. Billions of them fly in and out of southern Britain every year, carrying copious amounts of pollen. They visit almost three quarters of global food crops and over 70% of wildflowers. They also feed on aphids, so do double service.

Blackbird in honeysuckle

Not all bees live in communities, and the pantaloon bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) is one I haven’t seen, but I love the name. She is one of nearly 250 species of solitary bees and sports a host of long orange hairs on her hind legs, which convey the pollen back to the nest.

Bumble bee  with rapidly filling basket of pollen

Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) have their purpose, too, as pollinators. They have high energy requirements, so search out flower nectar. In the process, pollen sticks to their bodies, so even though they are not as hairy as bees, they are still important pollinators. Remember that, the next time you attempt to swat one!

Cabbage white feeding. Enlarge photograph to see the tongue

Gatekeeper butterfly feeding on scabious

Essex skipper on thistle

Moths and butterflies also collect pollen on their bodies as they search for nectar.

Juvenile starling in honeysuckle

Beetles have been important pollinators for millions of years. Some have adapted to a pollen-rich diet, while others, like the ladybirds, enjoy pollen as a pleasant addition to their usual diet of aphids. 

Dusty-looking six spot ladybird on pansy

Around 1000 species of the UK’s beetles, about a quarter of the total, are pollinators. Some are dedicated pollinators while others pollinate incidentally, moving pollen as they travel around.

 

 

 

Butterfly or Moth?

When I was a child I thought the differences between butterflies and moths were simple – butterflies flew during the day and settled with their wings closed while moths were nocturnal, attracted to light and rested with wings displayed. Then I discovered that some moths are diurnal. Apparently the antennae give the most obvious clues to the nature of the beastie – usually. Butterflies have long thickened antennae which are club or pin-shaped at the ends. Moths' antennae are comb-like or feathery. There are exceptions – some moths have clubbed antennae and some butterflies from central African forests don't.

The Large or Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae) is an exception in the bright world of butterflies.

Most butterflies have brightly-coloured wings - wing colour and pattern play a major role in courtship. Night-flying or crepuscular moths usually have plain colours – black, brown, grey or white. Females attract males by releasing a chemical signal. Additionally their wings may have swirling or linear patterns which serve as camouflage when they are resting during the day. Exceptions are the day-flying moths which have bright colours, especially if they are poisonous. Moths have a frenulum – a minute hook or bristle – linking fore and hind wings. Butterflies lack this feature – usually. There is an Australian Skipper which has this.

The bodies of butterflies are slim while moths have sturdier often hairy bodies. Moths tend to look quite downy because the scales on their wings are larger, perhaps because they need to conserve heat in the cool of the night. Butterfly scales are smaller and they can utilise solar radiation.

Resting butterflies usually fold their wings though they bask with open wings for short periods. However, the skippers often resemble moths in their resting position while moths may fold their wings when in confined spaces.

The Dingy Skipper (Eryynis tages) looks quite like a moth with its thick body and habit of resting with wings outspread.

March butterflies

The only butterflies I can identify with confidence are the Cabbage White and the Holly Blue. I have some classification books but am never sure if I'm making the correct identification.

Hanging out the washing this morning I saw a beautiful butterfly and rushed indoors to fetch my camera. The butterfly waited obligingly while I found the right setting then flew away just as I was focusing on it. Later I saw an orange-brown butterfly on the woodpile and then one that was lemon yellow. I had ideas of posting photographs on the blog but alas, it was not to be – not today, anyway.

So, there you have it, a pretty butterfly with red, black, white and blue, an orange-brown one and a lemon yellow. If my butterfly identification proceeds at the same breakneck speed as my ability to name wild flowers I shall need another lifetime!