The neat gemmed fritillary , like many other caterpillar , relies heavily on finding a suited food source to survive . In the case of the great gemmed fritillary caterpillar , their diet dwell entirely of violets . These beautiful butterflies have a particular affinity for violets and count on them for their victuals and growth .
As a gardening and landscape gardening expert , I have come across these caterpillars in my own garden and have witnessed their voracious appetite for violets firsthand . It is gripping to discover how they seek out patches of violets , go through the leaf with corking enthusiasm .
violet , with their vibrant flowers and pith - shaped leaves , furnish the ideal victuals for the bully jeweled fritillary caterpillars . They are rich in substantive nutrient and mineral that caterpillars want to grow and develop . The Caterpillar will go through several molt stages as they increase in size , shake off their honest-to-goodness skin and egress with a fresh appetite for more violet .
It is significant to note that the great jewelled fritillary caterpillar have a specific dieting requirement . They can not survive on any other industrial plant species but violets . This specialisation is similar to how monarch caterpillars solely feed on milkweeds . It highlights the ticklish Libra the Balance in nature and the unique relationships that exist between certain insects and their preferent food sources .
To create an surround that abide the growth and survival of great spangled fritillary cat , it is crucial to provide an ample supply of violets in your garden or landscape . Here are some tips to encourage the bearing of these beautiful butterflies and caterpillars :
1 . Plant aboriginal violet species : Native violets are well - adapted to the local environment and are more potential to attract the great jewelled checkered lily . Look for specie such as Viola sororia ( common dreary violet ) or Viola pubescens ( downy white-livered violet ) .
2 . Provide suitable habitat : Caterpillars need a secure and desirable home ground to flourish . assure there are patches of violets in areas with dappled sunlight and some shelter from strong winds . make a various garden with a admixture of blossom plants and shrub will also attract other beneficial insect , creating a healthy ecosystem .
3 . Avoid pesticide : pesticide can be harmful to cat and other beneficial insects . choose for lifelike pest ascendance methods or integrated pestilence direction techniques to maintain a sizable balance in your garden .
4 . embracement imperfection : violet , like many wildflowers , may not have the same neat and goodly show as school plants . espouse their instinctive growth habit , allow them to spread and provide ample food for thought for caterpillars .
By put up a suitable environs and an abundant supply of violets , you’re able to support the life wheel of the slap-up spangled checkered lily butterfly . It is a rewarding experience to find these caterpillar transmute into beautiful butterflies , adding a touch of natural admiration to your garden .
Caroline Bates
