Going by the third photo I would hazard a guess at Micropterna lateralis but my knowledge is limited to the odd one that turns up in a light trap.

By the lack of comment I'm obviously completely out of line in not concentrating all my efforts for the singular good of butterflies.

As I was putting up new bird nest boxes the other week I wondered why I was encouraging the breeding of a species that will eat tens of thousand of moth larvae in my oak trees. I tolerate a wild bee colony in an old chimney because I want my fruit pollinated, but they will also consume nectar grown ...

I see that there is a Photography Show at the NEC 1-4 March. I thought I might just go along to ask some stupid questions, put my greasy fingers over some lenses and imagine how much better my butterfly photographs would be if only I could afford that XYZ camera. http://www.thenec.co.uk/whatson/the-...

This month must be my best January ever for butterflies outdoors Two Red Admirals and a Speckled Wood on 10th January, a Speckled Wood (probably the same) the following day, and a Brimstone today.

A few years ago I posted a deliberately awfu l picture in the monthly competition. It was a Large White, badly out of focus and horrendously over-exposed. One person gave the feedback that I had hoped for: advice on adjusting exposure for white butterflies, how to get crisp focus and so on :) Jack ...

Of course it's a brilliant book, I just started recording butterflies in time for some of the little dots to be my little dots, so it's nice to know that I have contributed a fly speck to scientific research

Had hoped to find a UKB stand so that I could get a few calendars. Really delighted to get a copy of the new Butterflies of Surrey Revisited so that I can admire my own dots on the maps. Makes those boring evenings entering up my sightings seem worthwhile and proves that the county recorder does mor...

New Zealand has had to contend with a garden escape namely Yellow Ragwort, Senecio jacobaea and one of the early controls, which gave small boys pocket money, was grubbing or hand pulling. Some parts of the islands now use a plume moth, Platyptilia isodactyla as well as the flea beetle as a biologic...

I am not sure that I have any buckthorn?? That's the coastal one with bright berries isn't it? Where and when do peacocks and tortoiseshells and Red Admirals lay their eggs? Or is it the pupae that over-winter? Or the adults? That's sea-buckthorn. If you've got any Brimstone butterflies then Common...

You can extend the flowering time of the buddleias by deadheading them, cut the lead dead flower head and you will see two side shoot buds below, if they are past that stage, then just below that point and you may get small secondary flowers. When cutting the whole plant back don't cut it as far as ...

The moth is a Straw Dot Rivula sericealis http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=231

Gruditch wrote:Next your be asking for a section on Moths
Regards Gary

And what have you got against moths? Discrimination on the grounds of race, colour or creed now seems to be a criminal offence, and some of my best friends are moths

I find this post interesting.Over the recent years I have hardly seen any large whites,even in my garden where I grow brassicas. P.J.U. Down the road from you I have the most Whites that I have ever seen. Admittedly the Smalls outnumber the Large but they are all laying on my Horseradish which I no...

I usually send my micro moths to the county recorder. I think this may be Crambus pascuella. If you go to the UK Moths site http://ukmoths.org.uk and stick crambus into the moth name search it will give you a list and if you click on the names you get the pictures.

MikeOxon made a sexist comment: Surely, you get your man to do that :!: Didn't you mean a "member of your staff"? (non gender specific). I'm sure John's member would qualify for a tax break. Jack If you know a way for me to get tax back on it I'll apply. I rely on my banker neighbours to ...

MikeOxon wrote:Surely, you get your man to do that

SWMBO says it's my job as I like butterflies

TThis one is taking its mineral shot from the side of a swimming pool.We have many of the latter in Surrey. P.J.U. And they are a real nuisance to pool owners as I have to go round the covered pool as least once a day with a butterfly net to chase them out, otherwise they are inconsiderate enough t...

You have been keeping very quiet about that John. Paul Kipling is another wildflower garden expert and we can all learn from combined experiences. So do tell us more. Jack Botany Bay is like a theme park on a hot day, Oaken Wood has dog poo. I hope that I can tempt their butterflies over to my gour...

And 2km south-west of Botany Bay there was a White Admiral sunning itself on my drive this morning.