The Glanville Fritillary larvae in the Cutting at Hutchinsons Bank have grown near to hibernation size in the 2 webs found so far, here is a picture from today. There is a very small chance of a few 2nd brood as they were flying early this year. HBWeb2b.JPG 23rd June 2019 GlanvilleWeb2c.JPG 15th Jul...

I have known wasps to be a big problem, and take large Indian Moon moth larvae that were sleeved on Apple, and once they learn where they are they keep coming back for more, and being wasps they can chew though netting and wood. A fully grown Brimstone larva would be an easy meal for a wasp, at leas...

"Pauline" I THINK the DGF at this site roost in the trees. Do they roost low down elsewhere?

I have found DGFs roosting amongst Common Blues head down on long grass stems, at Hutchinsons Bank.

Two Larval webs of Glanville Fritillary at Hutchinsons Bank, and planty of Dark Green Fritillaries at Chapel Bank.

Small Blues still about in numbers.

Fantastic recent pics, Dave. Two years ago I was told of Hutchinson's Bank and went there for the Glanvilles because I was told they had died out at Wrecclesham. For me the trip to Hutchinson's is awful. I went by car both times and it took ages down all the suburban roads with an enormous amount o...

373 Small Blues today at Hutchinsons Bank, will i top 400 next week Amazing statistic. I once counted 200-250 and thought that was impressive! Thats only in a 10metre wide strip, and the other side of the valley is not included either. everytime i enter the numbers into UKBMS i get the "Small ...

373 Small Blues today at Hutchinsons Bank, will i top 400 next week

Ian Pratt wrote:Hardly any butterflies in South London. Where have they all gone to?

They are all at Hutchinsons Bank,

175 Small Blues on Transect this week, and 431 so far this year. There are many more off transect and groups of 20+ on a few leaves are common.

The Sallow Kitten was probably a male, as it would have called in a male [if one was around] if it were a female and you would have found a pair or the female alone, the next morning.

You sould look for frass in the container. if it doesnt eat any of the trees shrubs try some well known flower/low growing plants. I would rule out a geometrid and most of the Noctuids, and i will check further in the caterpillars book, if you have the margaret brooks moth book look through that as ...

I think the caterpillar is a moth, and you should try a mixture of leaves

I would try Oak,Sweet Chestnut, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Sallow, Willow, etc until it is identified, moth larvae tend to have a wider foodplant choice than butterflies

At Hutchinsons Bank today

Clouds of Small Blue mostly males, 170+ on the transect alone, a Glanville Fritillary female, and the Male Adonis Blue.

Lots of Small Blue at Hutchinson's Bank in New Addington today. And during a period of sunshine a single Glanville Fritillary. SB.jpg GF.jpg The male Glanville looks fresh, they are still emerging, the last few days have not been ideal weather to see them, you dont get that problem with the Small B...

Its a Garden Tiger caterpilllar, these are rare site these days, you wont have trouble with the foodplant, a friend used to use them in his compost bin, if its green they eat it, including cactus. Green material to frasspost in days. I found 3 in my garden a couple of years ago all got at by flies :...

Masses of Smalll Blues are hatching at Hutchinsons Bank at the moment, a lot on dung too, a pairing was seen today the first female emerged and was outnumbered by about 40 males in that area. Other Species were seen, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, Small Copper, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Gr...

Caterpillar is Silver Washed Frit.

It looks like they will be early this this year.

We did have a cold spell before this weekend, I think wales missed that more, as the cold wind was more eastern, but things are now catching up here in the south east all at once. Dingys still not appeared on our warm site either, although we had a good number last year. Grizzleds hatched earlier in...

Things are early but in a warm year they are due about now

Brown Argus 22-Apr-09 01-May-10 18-Apr-11 01-May-12 16-May-13 26-Apr-14 19-Apr-15 04-May-16 23-Apr-17

other things are also appearing on time for a warm year.

I have known butterflies get stuck in cop, normally its the male that wont let go, the female normally throws the male off when she is ready. I have known pairings to be 3 days, then i have made the male let go, before they both starve. If a pairing is late in the day, they normally stay overnight a...

Prunus spinosa is a foodplant used on mainland Europe, and probably P. mahaleb too, i have bred some through in the past.