Saturday, June 26, 2010

Tutsan caterpillars

Some of the leaves of the Wbx tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum) have been rolled up by small green caterpillars.

20100626 Wbx tutsan caterpillar 006

I suspect they are one of the omnivorous micromoths, but they could be the  greater purple flat-body (Agonopterix liturosa),an Oecophorid moth .  I'll have to see if I can rear one to adulthood.

In the picture above you can just see the tail of the caterpillar sticking out at the stem end of the leaf.  Below, looking down the tube, you can see its head.

20100626 Wbx tutsan caterpillar 003

Monday, June 21, 2010

Midsummer box

Today is the formal start of summer and the box is looking quite pleased with itself.

20100621 WBX 002

For some time it has been against the east wall of the house from where my wife, Cynthia, can see it, hence the grape vine leaves in the background.

The white clover now covers most of the ground and is flowering.  The tutsan on the right is doing well as is the Leycesteria towards the left.  The reddish leaves are of herb robert which is now coming towards the end of its annual cycle.

It is good to see the box doing so well after last winter when it was frozen solid for weeks.