Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
caterpillars on nasturtiums
Hi
My nasturtiums has been atatcked with loads of caterpillars. They are yello-green with black spots. Any idea what these caterpillars will turn into? Thanks. Feung |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"sfc" wrote in message ... Hi My nasturtiums has been atatcked with loads of caterpillars. They are yello-green with black spots. Any idea what these caterpillars will turn into? Thanks. Feung I think they are cabbage whites, at least the ones on our nastursiums are the same as some of the ones shredding our cabbages. Sam |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Malcolm" wrote in message ... In article , Sam writes "sfc" wrote in message ... Hi My nasturtiums has been atatcked with loads of caterpillars. They are yello-green with black spots. Any idea what these caterpillars will turn into? Thanks. Feung I think they are cabbage whites, at least the ones on our nastursiums are the same as some of the ones shredding our cabbages. The term "cabbage white" actually refers to three different species, Large White, Small White and Green-veined White. The caterpillars of all three species feed on cabbages and most other brassicas, and also on nasturtiums, among other plants. Yellow-green caterpillars with prominent black spots along the back are Large White. The other two are both green with small yellow spots with dark centres along the sides, the main distinction being that Small White caterpillars live in groups, like Large White, while Green-veined White caterpillars are usually solitary. End of biology lesson! Mine have all been eaten too but I don't care. I enjoyed them while I had them and next, I will enjoy the butterflies. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
In article , Malcolm
writes In article , Sam writes "sfc" wrote in message ... Hi My nasturtiums has been atatcked with loads of caterpillars. They are yello-green with black spots. Any idea what these caterpillars will turn into? Thanks. Feung I think they are cabbage whites, at least the ones on our nastursiums are the same as some of the ones shredding our cabbages. The term "cabbage white" actually refers to three different species, Large White, Small White and Green-veined White. The caterpillars of all three species feed on cabbages and most other brassicas, and also on nasturtiums, among other plants. We live and learn! I always thought cabbage white was the large white, and the small white and green veined white were different - I'd certainly never have referred to either of those as 'cabbage white'. -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
In article ,
Malcolm wrote: In article , Kay writes I think they are cabbage whites, at least the ones on our nastursiums are the same as some of the ones shredding our cabbages. The term "cabbage white" actually refers to three different species, Large White, Small White and Green-veined White. The caterpillars of all three species feed on cabbages and most other brassicas, and also on nasturtiums, among other plants. We live and learn! I always thought cabbage white was the large white, and the small white and green veined white were different - I'd certainly never have referred to either of those as 'cabbage white'. No, I'm sure you wouldn't and nor would others who have your knowledge of our fauna and flora, but "cabbage white" is, in my experience, very widely used as a generic term meaning any white butterfly(1), and as such is just as imprecise as the term "seagull"! Precisely. It is correctly used as a generic term for any whitish butterfly whose caterpillars live on cabbages, but the most common meaning is for what you call the large white (i.e. just that one). (1) My own parents were certainly guilty of this until their budding (and doubtless irritating) naturalist of a son put them right! Or put them wrong. The English language is defined by its usage, and the OED confirms that the experiences of most people posting to this newsgroup are typical of English usage. And therefore correct. Real scientists use scientific terminology when they want to refer to precise genera, and accept that common English taxonomic terms do not necessarily map to zoological taxonomic ones. It is NOT incorrect to use the term with either of its common meanings. It IS incorrect to use the term as a synonym for the genus Pieris. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... snip It is NOT incorrect to use the term with either of its common meanings. It IS incorrect to use the term as a synonym for the genus Pieris. Especially as the Orange-tip, Clouded Yellow and Brimstone are pieridae, but not 'cabbage whites'. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
In article ,
BAC wrote: "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... snip It is NOT incorrect to use the term with either of its common meanings. It IS incorrect to use the term as a synonym for the genus Pieris. Especially as the Orange-tip, Clouded Yellow and Brimstone are pieridae, but not 'cabbage whites'. Yes, but not Pieris. However, I have heard the orange-tip referred to as a cabbage white, and that is a reasonable use (given that the term "cabbage" is applied more generally than to just brassica). A very loose use, true, but then the term is a loose one. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
In article , Malcolm
writes No, I'm sure you wouldn't and nor would others who have your knowledge of our fauna and flora, but "cabbage white" is, in my experience, very widely used as a generic term meaning any white butterfly(1), and as such is just as imprecise as the term "seagull"! I used to play chess with an enthusiastic 'twitcher' who nevertheless dismissed a whole section of his interest as 'quackers' :-) -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
In article ,
Kay wrote: I used to play chess with an enthusiastic 'twitcher' who nevertheless dismissed a whole section of his interest as 'quackers' :-) Not all twitchers are quackers? Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , Kay wrote: I used to play chess with an enthusiastic 'twitcher' who nevertheless dismissed a whole section of his interest as 'quackers' :-) Not all twitchers are quackers? Most are probably C of E Franz |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
"Malcolm" wrote in message ... In article , Franz Heymann writes "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , Kay wrote: I used to play chess with an enthusiastic 'twitcher' who nevertheless dismissed a whole section of his interest as 'quackers' :-) Not all twitchers are quackers? Most are probably C of E I would have thought them more likely to belong to the American sect, the Shakers..... Aren't the Shakers extinct? |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
In article , "BAC" writes: | | Aren't the Shakers extinct? Yes. They had too low a reproduction rate to survive. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
"Malcolm" wrote in message ... In article , BAC writes "Malcolm" wrote in message ... In article , Franz Heymann writes "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , Kay wrote: I used to play chess with an enthusiastic 'twitcher' who nevertheless dismissed a whole section of his interest as 'quackers' :-) Not all twitchers are quackers? Most are probably C of E I would have thought them more likely to belong to the American sect, the Shakers..... Aren't the Shakers extinct? Heading that way, apparently because they don't accept new members! http://religiousmovements.lib.virgin...s/Shakers.html Nothing like the RSPB, then! Thanks for that reference - fascinating. So where does all this nearly new Shaker furniture come from? We should be told .... thinks How did we get here from cabbage whites? By means of thread drift via the usual flirtation with pedantry/pedanticism, perhaps? |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
"Janet Baraclough.." wrote in message ... The message from "BAC" contains these words: Aren't the Shakers extinct? Quakers aren't. Species divergence between Quakers and Shakers occurred ages ago, according to the excellent potted history posted by Malcolm :-) |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Nasturtiums - nasturtiums.jpg | Garden Photos | |||
Raspberries and Nasturtiums as bedfellows | United Kingdom | |||
In praise of nasturtiums | Texas | |||
Nasturtiums as House Plants? | Gardening | |||
Nasturtiums | Edible Gardening |