Mark Lane
Head Gardener, Buckingham Palace

Butterflies of the nettle patch

Many of our most colourful and well known butterflies depend on nettles for the growth of their larvae. They are all members of the Nymphalidae ( pronounced Nim-fa-lid-eye ) or Brush-footed butterflies. This is due the front pair of legs ( which are much smaller than the other two pairs and so not used for walking ) being covered in tufts of hair like scales.

Let's take a look at those you may see in a sunny nettle patch.

	Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta [more] A common sight in gardens in the autumn where it will feed on Buddleja flowers and fallen fruit. Migrates from Africa each spring.
	Small Tortoiseshell - Aglais urticae [more] The adults are frequent visitors to garden flowers.
	Peacock - Inachis io [more] Unmistakeable resident butterfly with large distinctive 'eye-spots' on the wings.
	Comma - Polygonia c-album [more] The comma was struggling in the early 1900's but has made a remarkable comeback and is moving steadily northwards.