Tags
British butterflies, British insects, British wildflowers, Common fleabane, fleabane, insects on fleabane, Pulicaria dysenterica
The local fields are ablaze with Common fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), which the Plantlife website says has a
‘curious scent, with hints of carbolic soap and chrysanthemum, [which] is an insect repellent. In the past it was kept in houses specifically for the purpose of driving away fleas. Bunches were dried and burned as a fumigant or hung in rooms.’
Well, it may be the bane of fleas and it may act as an insect repellent when it’s been dried but, from what I can see, when it’s alive and fresh, most insects love it!
As well as that Speckled bush-cricket, I’ve found 9 species of butterfly and 1 moth nectaring on Fleabane flowers.
And then there are the hoverflies and assorted other flies, bees and bumbles. It’s more like a magnet than a repellent.
That’s an impressive rogues gallery of insects, I find the same with fleabane around here as well, particularly popular with Colletes bees.
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Good to hear your fleabane is also a popular attraction, Philip. I haven’t seen many Colletes yet this year but I’ve noticed the ivy flowers are almost ready to open so I’ll look forward to seeing some Colletes hederae soon.
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