Creeping Thistle
25th July 2009, SaturdayManaging the Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense ) beds at Castle Water can be a nightmare, if left unchecked this thistle takes over huge areas of grassland very quickly so some management is required. This plant is also an important provider of nectar and pollen for insects, areas that have been left this year to flower were this morning covered in feeding insects. An astonishing 800+ Painted Lady and 67 Peacock made an impressive sight as they fluttered between the thistles, other participants of the feast included 3 Clouded Yellow, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Large White, Essex and Small Skipper, Comma, four bumblebee species and the migrant Hoverfly Scaeva pyrastri. Five of the above are pictured below.
Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Large white
Hoverfly Scaeva pyrastri
And of course Painted Lady