How well do you know your eye-spots? I suspect these four shouldn't be too difficult:

I think it is one of the bee hawk moths. I'll go for broad-bordered.

Alexander

Hi all, I haven't posted any sightings for a while and so I thought I'd share some of my recent photos with you: 30th June 2009, Littlehampton Bridge, Sussex: Meadow Browns, Large Skippers, Large Whites, Commas and a few Painted Ladies including this rather worn individual. painted lady.JPG 5th July...

That was a very enjoyable little article Neil. Made me remember the times on Dartmoor that I've waded through the bracken slopes like you did, and those special moments when you find small clearings of bramble and HBFs Glad you had a good time and got some fantastic shots too!

Alexander

Hey Shirley, they have been in Britain for a while now. I would urge you not to kill them as the patterns on their elytra are highly variable and can sometimes look similar and be confused with our native ladybirds.

Lots of info here for you: http://www.harlequin-survey.org/

Alexander

I would definately recommend the East Devon coast - having lived there I know it much better than the FoD which I have only been to twice... Superb diversity of plants too, and for anyone who has the inclination to find Chalkhill Blue colonies on cliff faces then it is your number one spot :!: Hooke...

Hi Deano, Red Admirals have not crossed my path in any great numbers so far this year, just a handful of sightings in Sussex. They are around though! 16th March x1 Tortington Common. 19th March x1 Sherwood Rough. 15th April x1 Marsh Farm, Binsted, x1 Binsted Wood. 18th June x1 Hill Farm, Oakshott. 1...

Frances wrote: large and small heaths

Only the Small Heath lives in Cornwall, the Large Heath is a nothern species so it's likely you made a mistake on that one.

Alexander

Ah so all Silver-Studded then! I was hesitant because I haven't seen a female with that much blue on the wings, although my experience of this species is very limited unfortunately. As you can see, Cornwall is very rich in butterflies; I have always enjoyed the coast especially. There should still b...

Hi Frances,

Welcome to UKB Numbers 1, 2 and 4 are all Silver-studded Blues. No. 3 I think is Silver-studded (female) but I'm not 100% on that... I'm sure somebody will be able to confirm this one.

Alexander

That is correct Jack they are both out now in these parts, but not in full numbers yet. __________ No sign of White-letter Hairstreaks today at Littlehampton golf course, but I will be keeping my eyes open. Seven other species seen: Large White, Large Skipper, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Comma, Speckle...

Eccles, the Wood White is found in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire; the species has been recorded there from the 1970s. Also, CC you must live in a very good area for Wood Whites to see them doing well... according to the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology they declined by a very large 66% from ...

Thanks Paul and Guy for the education, I'll know what to look for in the future. I think this one is ssp salmacis then. I can see what you mean about the wing apex shape. The upperside orange lunules are bolder than Paul's example of salmacis but are equivalent to others photographed on the NBA (sal...

Hi, perhaps a forum member could teach me a little about the Northern Brown Argus :) Firstly, what are the visible differences between the two British Brown Argus species? Secondly, what is the butterfly's range here? This site appears to show it living no further south than Lancashire and Yorkshire...

I too went to Ferring this week, I'm fairly confused about the taxonomy... going by lip shape, markings, sepals and leaves I could see plants with these characteristics fairly clearly: Common Spotted Early Marsh Southern Marsh Southern and Comm Spot (Leopard) (presumably hybrid) Southern and Early M...

Hi Keith, welcome to UKB

It is indeed something a bit rarer - a Silver-studded Blue. This one's a male.

You can read about them here:
http://ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php? ... ded%20Blue

Alexander

Hi Timerine,

yes your IDs are correct They are both fairly plentiful in the UK in chalky and limestone areas, especially towards the south of the country.

Alexander

All very good indeed, very similar I'd say. I like to be able to see some detail in the surrounding habitat in photos, which none of these have. No. 3 is the closest to what I like in this respect. No. 1 has stunning colour and beats the others there - spot on exposure. No. 4 has the best compositio...

I might give it a go later on for you Guy, no guarantees of success mind. All of the butterflies on my photoshop comp entry were done by hand - the tool (at least on my version) on PS is no good at all for it.

AH

21st May 2009: I was passing back through Dorset today and stopped off quickly (literally 20 mins) at the Cerne Abbas giant, as I hadn't passed this place before. I spotted Brown Argus, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Small Heath, Dingy Skipper, Large White and what I thought was a Chalkhill Blue (m). ...