Cabbage White Butterflies

[Jeanbean]

Is it me or have they disappeared? So far this year even with the sun shining I haven't seen any cabbage whites. Is it too early or are they hopefully taking a vacation to a different country. Has anyone else noticed a lack of them? I am not concerned  by their absence just intrigued.

[Jeanbean]

[Silverleaf]

I've seen a few, and found some eggs on a mizuna leaf. But yeah, far fewer than usual.

[gazza1960]

Had a few individuals depositing their eggs on my cabbages but I was on hand to squash the bloomin things,missed a few though as some leaves have been munched on,but yes,not many here in Dorset.....so far.

Gazza

[ancellsfarmer]

Dont worry but they are in North east hampshire, swarming and soon to fly to all parts! Get the salted washing up water ready.

[small]

I thought it was just us, I had loads of peacocks and tortoiseshells earlier, but only one white all year, and that needed to be rescued from a cobweb...no, I don't know why I did that either...but I have been very careful netting brassicas this year....

[Digeroo]

I think they are at there most destructive the first couple of weeks of august, one of my plot neighbours regularly goes on hols and finds all their cabbage well eaten when they get back.

I have seen a few brimstones.

[Silverleaf]

Most of my cabbage has been scoffed by slugs, so I pity any butterfly laying eggs on it!

[Jayb]

There were a quite a few several weeks back, but since then the weather has been wet and windy and I've not seen many flutterbys of any kind. I did see a dead Cabbage White this morning in the poly-tunnel and I expect they won't be long in appearing in force if the weather stays warmer than recent weeks here.

[Sinbad7]

I was thinking the same thing yesterday, where have they all gone.  I saw loads earlier in the season, before I had planted any brassica's.  Long may they stay away.

[Silverleaf]

Lots of other butterflies here - I've seen peacocks, small tortoiseshells, holly blues, meadow browns, and a lot of speckled woods. Pretty things.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've seen a lot of butterflies, but very few whites. It's not only cabbage whites, there haven't been many orange tips either.

[Silverleaf]

I don't think I've ever seed an orange tip. Weird.

[walker]

I haven't seen many butterflies at all but the slugs are making a feast on my cabbages I/ll be lucky to harvest any, any one got a solutions apart from eggshells they don,t seem to do any good.walker

[Silverleaf]

It's too early to tell really, but I put down organic slug pellets on Saturday and that does seem to be helping. I do the late-night torch patrol too.

[Jayb]

I've seen several Cabbage Whites dancing about this morning! Warm weather must be bringing them out!

[squeezyjohn]

I found one (presumably overwintered) in my shed - and have to admit I destroyed it.  Haven't seen any of them out and about yet though ...

Don't hold your breath ... we've had an amazingly mild winter - anything that could have overwintered will have survived in much larger numbers ... I predict a cabbage white riot in a month or so!

[cestrian]

Last year I had a lot of commas!!!!!!! Attracted by my hop vines. Not seen many if any flutterbys yet this year though.