Nick Upton / Close-up of a Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Two Dark green fritillary butterflies (Argynnis aglaja) and a Narrow-bordered five-spot burnet moth (Zygaena lonicerae) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland...

Nick Upton / Six-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae), Marbled white butterflies (Melanargia galathea) and a Dark green fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) nectaring on a clump of Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea s...

Nick Upton / Marbled white butterflies (Melanargia galathea) nectaring on a clump of Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Marbled white butterflies (Melanargia galathea) nectaring on a clump of Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Ernie Janes / Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) feeding on thistle flowers, England

Paul Hobson / Marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), group feeding on Marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre). Lincolnshire, England, UK.

Dave Bevan / Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) climbing a Thistle (Cirsium), UK, July. Captive.

Dave Bevan / Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) climbing up and chewing on a thistle (Cirsium) stem, UK, July. Captive.

James Dunbar / Rose chafer (Cetonia aurata) nectaring on a thistle flower, England, UK, September.

Nick Upton / Slow motion cllip of a Marbled white butterfly (Melanargia galathea) nectaring on a Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) flower, with another trying to court with it, Wiltshire, England, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Close-up of a Dark green fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) nectaring on a Greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) flower and flying off, Wiltshire, England, UK, July.

Sven Zacek / Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) at sunset, with bokeh affect, Jogevamaa, Estonia, June.

Ann & Steve Toon / Wildflowers, including poppies (Papaver rhoeas), corn marigold (Glebionis segetum), cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), being grown for seed by Landlife, Fir Tree Fa...

Paul Harcourt Davies / Floral colour in fields on the Piano Grande from Poppies (Papaver rhoeas), Cornflowers (Centaurea), Mustard (Brassica) and Mayweed (Anthemis), Umbria, Italy, June

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and Mayweed (Anthemis) on the Piano Grande, Umbria, Italy, June 2010

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) in fallow fields, near Sugano, Orvieto, Italy, June

Paul Harcourt Davies / Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and poppies (Papaver rhoeas) growing on fallow fields near Orvieto, Umbria, Italy. June 2010

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) growing on fallow fields near Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, June. Taken with fisheye lens

Stephen Dalton / Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) in flight taking off from spear thistle, controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Honeybee (Apis mellifera) flying to Globe thistle (Echinops), controlled conditions.

Fergus Gill / 2020VISION / Chequered skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon) nectaring on a thistle (Cirsium), Glasdrum Wood National Nature Reserve, near Oban, Argyll, Scotland, UK, June.

George Sanker / Least Chipmunk (Tamius minimus) feeding on the seeds of a thistle bush during a snowstorm, Grand Teton NP, Wyoming, USA, October

Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION / Marbled white butterfly (Melanargia galathea) resting on thistle in front of machinery for Wetland habitat creation for the RSPB by Breheny Civil Engineers at Bowers Marsh RSPB Reserve, RSPB Greater T...

Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION / Marsh Thistle (Cirsium palustre) flowering on managed grazing land, Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire, UK, June

Ernie Janes / Silhouette against the sun of floating seeds attached to Scottish spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), UK. August

B&S Draker / Three Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) females feeding on Texas thistle (Cirsium texanum). Sinton, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend, Texas, USA, May.

Alex Hyde / Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo) resting on thistle head. Nordtirol, Austrian Alps.

Alex Hyde / Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo) on thistle head in alpine meadow. Nordtirol, Austrian Alps.

Edwin Giesbers / Mediterranean thistle (Galactites tomentosa) Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, Europe

Stephen Dalton / Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) feeding on (Cynara sp) flower, UK.

Stephen Dalton / Clouded yellow butterfly {Colias crocea} in flight over thistle flowers, UK

Wild Wonders of Europe / della Ferrera / Crab spider (probably Thomisus onustus) preying on a Bush cricket (Tettigoniidae) on Musk thistle flower (Carduus nutans / macrocephalus) near Skrka lake, Hutovo Blato Nature Park, Bosnia and Herzegov...

Wild Wonders of Europe / Hermans / Melancholy thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum) flowers, Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Republic of Ireland, June 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Zupanc / Alpine grasshopper (Miramella alpina) pair mating on a thistle, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, August 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Zupanc / Alpine grasshopper (Miramella alpina) pair mating on a thistle, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, August 2009. WWE OUTDOOR EXHIBITION.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Zupanc / Alpine grasshopper (Miramella alpina) pair mating on a thistle, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, August 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Zupanc / Alpine grasshopper (Miramella alpina) pair mating on a thistle, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, August 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Zupanc / Thistle (Carduus nutans) flower head before opening, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, June 2009

Ross Hoddinott / Marsh fritillary {Euphydryas aurinia} butterfly resting on Meadow thistle flower {Cirsium helenoides} Dunsdon, Devon, UK. June

Wild Wonders of Europe / Quinta / Wild thistle (Cynara humilis) Alentejo, Natural Park of South West Alentejano and Costa Vicentina, Portugal, June 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Flowering meadow with Thistles (Cirsium rivulare) Poloniny National Park, Western Carpathians, Eastern Slovakia, Europe, June 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Benvie / Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo) on flowering Thistle head, Fliess, Naturpark Kaunergrat, Tirol, Austria, July 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) on flowering thistle (Cirsium rivulare) Poloniny National Park, East Slowakia, Europe, June 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Nill / Red-backed Shrike male (Lanius collurio) male perched on Musk thistle (Carduus nutans) Bulgaria, May 2008 UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL USE WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT

Wild Wonders of Europe / Nill / Fallow ground with Denseflower mullein (Verbascum densiflorum) Musk thistle (Carduus nutans) and Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) Bulgaria, May 2008

Rolf Nussbaumer / Broad-tailed Hummingbird {Selasphorus platycercus} male and female in flight feeding on Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA, June

Rolf Nussbaumer / Broad-tailed Hummingbird {Selasphorus platycercus} male in flight feeding on Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA, June

Ross Hoddinott / Marbled white butterfly {Melanargia galathea} underside, Dunsdon Devon Wildlife Trust reserve near Holsworthy, Devon. UK

Kim Taylor / Black-tipped Soldier Beetle {Rhagonycha fulva} taking off from Creeping Thistle {Cirsium arvense} Surrey, England.

Adrian Davies / Male Brimstone butterfly {Gonepteryx rhamni) on March thistle UK, Europe

Colin Varndell / Marsh fritillary butterfly {Euphydryas aurinia} on thistle. UK.

Colin Varndell / Bullfinch {Pyrrhula pyrrhula} collecting down from Sow thistle, UK.

Colin Varndell / Brimstone butterfly {Goneopteryx rhamni} resting on thistle. UK.

Kim Taylor / Seven-spotted ladybird {Coccinella septempunctata} taking off from thistle

Kim Taylor / Large white / Cabbage white butterfly {Pieris brassicae} feeding on spear thistle, England

Bernard Castelein / Red-veined darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) female on Thistle (Cirsium sp) leaf, dew droplets on wings. Klein Schietveld, Brasschaat, Belgium. June.

Nigel Cattlin / Greater knapweed (Centaurea cyanus). Berkshire, England, UK. July.

Nigel Cattlin / Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) with chlorosis caused by PST bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae pv tagetis). Dorset, England, UK. October.

Nigel Cattlin / Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) with chlorosis caused by PST bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae pv tagetis). Dorset, England, UK. October.

Nigel Cattlin / Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) nectaring on Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), thistle with Pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus) infestation. Berkshire, England, UK. July.

Nigel Cattlin / Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) with leaf chlorosis caused by Bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae pv tagetis). Berkshire England, UK. June.

Phil Savoie / Red tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) male flying to Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Monmouthshire, Wales UK, August. May

Phil Savoie / Red tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) male feeding on Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. July.

Alan Williams / Hoverfly (Volucella bombylans), bumblebee mimic nectaring on Thistle (Cirsium sp) flower. North Wales, UK. June.

Ernie Janes / Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon) flying amongst Thistle flowers. Norfolk Broads, Norfolk, England, UK. June.

Ernie Janes / Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon), two flying amongst Thistle flowers. Norfolk Broads, Norfolk, England, UK. June.

Nick Garbutt / Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra), close up. North Tyrol, Austria, June.

Nick Garbutt / Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) in ancient alpine meadow with hut. in distance, North Tyrol, Austria. June 2018.

Nick Garbutt / Tuberous thistle (Cirsium tuberosum), closed bud, close up. North Tyrol, Austria. June. Focus stacked image.

Nick Garbutt / Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon) resting on Thistle (Cirsium sp). North Tyrol, Austria. June.

Nick Upton / Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Marbled white butterfly (Melanargia galathea) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Marbled white butterfly (Melanargia galathea) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Colony of Large knapweed aphids (Uroleucon jaceae) feeding on Black / Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) stem, Mellis Common, Suffolk, UK May.

Nick Upton / Dark green fritillary butterfly (Argynnis aglaja) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Adrian Davies / Knapweed broomrape (Orobanche elatior), parasite on roots of Greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa). Hampshire, England, UK. June.

Ernie Janes / Globe artichoke or Cardoon Thistle (Cynara cardunculus) cultivated plant in garden.

Nick Upton / Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, flies off, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Female Thick-legged flower beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and a Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) nectaring on Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, E...

Nick Upton / Female Thick-legged flower beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and a Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire,...

Nick Upton / Two Dark green fritillary butterflies (Argynnis aglaja), Marbled white butterflies (Melanargia galathea) and a Narrow-bordered five-spot burnet moth (Zygaena lonicerae) nectaring on a Greater knapweed...

Nick Upton / Dark green fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, joined by a Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina), Wiltshire, Englan...

Nick Upton / Marbled white butterflies (Melanargia galathea) and a Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) nectaring on a clump of Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltsh...

Nick Upton / Large knapweed aphid (Uroleucon jaceae) colony feeding on a Greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) stem, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Large knapweed aphid (Uroleucon jaceae) colony feeding on a Greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) stem, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Close-up of a Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) nectaring on a Greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow and flying off, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Two Meadow brown butterflies (Maniola jurtina) nectaring on Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Narrow-bordered five-spot burnet moth (Zygaena lonicerae) and several Marbled white butterflies (Melanargia galathea) nectaring on a clump of Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk g...

Nick Upton / Marbled white butterflies (Melanargia galathea) nectaring on a clump of Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Marbled white butterflies (Melanargia galathea) nectaring on a clump of Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, England, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Marbled white butterflies (Melanargia galathea) and a Dark green fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) nectaring on a clump of Greater knapweed flowers (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshi...

Nick Upton / Corsican burnet (Zygaena corsica / Mesembrynus corsica) an endemic species of Corsica and Sardinia feeding on thistle flowers, Gennargentu National Park, Sardinia, Italy, June.

Nigel Cattlin / Harlequin / Asian ladybird (Harmonia axyridis), larva Berkshire, England, UK.

Nigel Cattlin / Harlequin / Asian ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) larva with black spindle-thistle aphid prey (Aphis fabae cirsiiacanthoidis) Berkshire, June