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4Nature Trail
PAGE 11
Native Wildflower Meadow
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11 Native Irish Trees
22 Pond Fjords
33 Conifer Woodlands
44 Native Wildflower Meadow
55 Deciduous Woodlands
66 The Boardwalk
AA Picnic Area
BB Piazza
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Native WildflowerMeadowIreland is home to a remarkably diverse range of wildflowers. The Burren in County Clare isfamous for the wildflowers found on its limestone pavements. Here in Honeypark there areover 20 different species of native and introduced wildflowers. Here are just some of them.
Flowering Time: July-September.Biennial.Native.Height: 60-130 cm
Native Wildflower Meadow
Mini-beast huntA bonus of a wildflower meadow is the wild life it attracts, including bees, butterflies andother beneficial insects. The world's bees and other pollinating insects are in crisis- withouthealthy populations of insect pollinators, our future food security is under threat. It is thereforeimportant to restore and protect our threatened wildflower meadows.
Often confused with Honey Bees, the Bumble Bee is larger and furrier.There are 20 different species of Bumble Bee in Ireland. 14 true BumbleBees and 6 Cuckoo Bumble Bees. Bees store their venom in a sacattached to their stinger and only female bees sting. Bees see all coloursexcept the colour red. That and their sense of smell help them find theflowers they need to collect pollen.
Around 180 species have been recorded in Ireland in a wide range ofhabitats. Many species mimic Bees, Wasps or Bumble Bees to deterpredators. The mimicry is often very close and it makes people nervousof them. But it’s only a bluff because no hoverfly species can sting.
Wasps are distinguishable from Bees by their pointed lower abdomensand the narrow "waist," called a petiole, that separates the abdomenfrom the thorax. Typically, Wasps are most active during the day and usually return to their nests at dusk. Most Wasps live less than oneyear and some only live for a few months. Queens sometimes live forseveral years.
A large and strong-flying Butterfly, The Red Admiral is common ingardens and can be found throughout Ireland. It is attracted to gardenswhere it feeds on buddleia, several other flowering species and alsoover-ripe fruit.
The Peacock's spectacular pattern of eyespots, evolved to startle orconfuse predators, make it one of the most easily recognized and bestknown species. It is from these wing markings that the butterfly gainedits common name.
The adult Emperor Moth is a truly spectacular insect. The male of thislarge, day-flying moth species is a particularly striking sight, withprominent black and yellow eye spots, reminiscent of the eyes of an owl.It can easily be mistaken for a butterfly due to its bright colours.
Lacewings are common flying insects about 12 - 15mm and with greenbodies and lovely delicate green lacy wings which lie folded on their backwhen at rest. They are best known as a predator of aphids, and fully deservethe nickname "aphid lion" as a single insect can consume 100-600 aphidsin its lifetime.
There are 18 species from the ladybird family living in Ireland, the mostcommon species is the seven-spot ladybird. Most ladybirds eat aphidsor greenfly which are garden pests and this is why so many people loveto see ladybirds..