tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post6849737686654637174..comments2024-01-08T19:01:37.331+00:00Comments on Donegal Wildlife: My gardenStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-53455798948107372882009-10-04T18:53:50.162+01:002009-10-04T18:53:50.162+01:00"It should be noted that the flower called Na..."It should be noted that the flower called Nasturtium belongs to the Tropaeolum genus and should not be confused the the genus Nasturtium which is, indeed, a brassica."<br />Quite so, but I believe it produces some of the same chemicals (the sharp, mustardy smell and taste) which is what attracts the 'cabbage' white butterflies.Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15736035484977149890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-48166484401686677012009-10-03T18:02:04.460+01:002009-10-03T18:02:04.460+01:00In fact, the record that broke the 10 year drought...In fact, the record that broke the 10 year drought was found on Nasturtium.<br /><br />It should be noted that the flower called Nasturtium belongs to the Tropaeolum genus and should not be confused the the genus Nasturtium which is, indeed, a brassica.Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-53395686010894628582009-10-03T16:26:33.016+01:002009-10-03T16:26:33.016+01:00Surprising to think no residents in your 10k squar...Surprising to think no residents in your 10k square would grow Nasturtium's for 10 years, another of the brassica species very much a favourite by both humans and White's.Yoke,https://www.blogger.com/profile/02596190126355462132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-72976883323155277712009-10-02T16:44:25.663+01:002009-10-02T16:44:25.663+01:00Fascinating - so presumably the braconids (and may...Fascinating - so presumably the braconids (and maybe the butterflies too) are navigating by smell, picking up chemical cues from the target plants?Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15736035484977149890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-79407791046813036922009-10-02T00:36:21.310+01:002009-10-02T00:36:21.310+01:00>So if the parasitic larvae only eat the fat de...>So if the parasitic larvae only eat the fat deposits in the caterpillar, does it (the caterpillar) survive to pupate and emerge?<br /><br />No. It's quite dead. The fat deposits aren't required by the caterpillar, but they would be essential for the pupation to succeed.<br /><br />>Or do the braconids emerge first and then re-parasitise the butterfly pupa or adult?<br /><br />There are a few parasitic wasps that parasitise adults of insects (and spiders), but the vast majority only parasitise larvae.<br /><br />>Makes you wonder where the parasites were hiding all those years there weren't many white butterflies....<br /><br />One of the things I notice about the Campodorus is that they clearly navigate by plant type. The wasps land on the tree and then seek larvae, rather than flying directly to the host. Various studies postulate that the parasitoids navigate firstly by habitat/environmental features, then by plant, finally seeking the host.<br /><br />So I suspect the wasps flew in from further afield, presumably attracted by my broccoli. (I also suspect the butterflies weren't actually missing from my patch but were simply present but unrecorded.)Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-79628460732494612302009-10-01T23:32:55.990+01:002009-10-01T23:32:55.990+01:00So if the parasitic larvae only eat the fat deposi...So if the parasitic larvae only eat the fat deposits in the caterpillar, does it (the caterpillar) survive to pupate and emerge?<br /><br />Or do the braconids emerge first and then re-parasitise the butterfly pupa or adult?<br /><br />Makes you wonder where the parasites were hiding all those years there weren't many white butterflies....Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15736035484977149890noreply@blogger.com