Purple During the winter I marked up the location of 7 Purple Hairstreak eggs on a local Oak tree in Brighton. Visiting the Oak on the 28th March I found that eggs 2, 4 and 6 (of the 7) had already hatched and egg 3 appeared to be in the process of hatching, with a small opening hole in the micropy...

David M wrote:Jamie, many thanks for this priceless information. I shall be doing some research on the grid references you provided and will certainly be heading out to them to check them out.

I shall PM you shortly.

You're most welcome David. Fantastic, really pleased to hear.
I'll await your PM.

David, in addition to the above records, please send me a DM with your email address, as I'll be able to put you in contact with someone who can send you further grid references to the location of elms within the Gower!

David M, for you - Elm in Wales: Lots of wych elm at Penllergare Valley Woods a few years ago - it's just off Gower, by Junction 47 of the M4. A line of elms at SS62393 97982. Also in survey areas with central grid refs SS625 984, SS625 0983, SS623 980, SS623978. Dutch elm is common around Bridgend,...

Great work Jamie, I don’t suppose many people have observed these three in the wild. Nice photos too, tiny caterpillars are not easy to photograph! James Thank you James, much appreciated! Perhaps not, it's a real joy to see the caterpillars interact with their natural surroundings, being of small ...

Brighton Trio: Hair raising observations! The following photos were all taken today: 9th May 2018 White-letter Hairstreak Cat.JPG White-letter Hairstreak, caterpillar, on Wheatley elm. Purple Hairstreak Cat.JPG Purple Hairstreak, caterpillar, on English/ Pendunculate oak. Brown Hairstreak Cat.JPG B...

Back on 22nd April, I observed that the Brown Hairstreak eggs within Brighton, had now started to hatch. Brown Hairstreak, Hatched Egg.JPG Following this, I was amazed to actually locate one of the caterpillars nearby, a first for me. The length of the caterpillar was hovering around 1mm. I describe...

Impressive. You have many strings to your bow, Jamie. Thank you David. I do own a violin :lol: I'm waiting to hear back from a contact, then I will share what information I have collected for you, regarding elm locations in Wales, here in my diary. Their replies unfortunately haven't been very spec...

Could I be called a Conservation Artist? - Check out my art prints and originals (my job), by making a purchase you will be supporting the conservation of the White-letter Hairstreak butterfly, a percentage from each sale will go towards disease-resistant elm trees. Visit my shop here: https://www.e...

I will post a detailed description about the disease-resistant elm cultivars Ulmus minor 'Ademuz' and Ulmus 'Nanguen' LUTECE in my personal diary, in early March. I don't want this conversation to take away from the outstanding work and dedication that James has shown, a truly inspirational story an...

My method of finding Elm I have used a particular method for finding suitable butterfly habitat, for various Sussex species, without the need to leave my house, helpful when you have limited transportation. This method has helped me to find new Brown Hairstreak, Green Hairstreak and White-letter Ha...

Copied from my post on Butterfly Conservation - Sussex Branches, Sightings page: Playing catch-up. Back on the 7th January I joined around 25 members of Friends of Hollingbury and Burstead Woods, volunteer group and Brighton and Hove City Council, Cityparks Ranger, Will Furze. I joined the group to ...

Copied from my post on Butterfly Conservation - Sussex Branches, Sightings page: Back on Saturday 27th January, I surveyed Roedale Valley Allotments in Hollingbury, Brighton, to address where five disease-resistant elm trees could be planted, then yesterday, Sunday 28th, I visited Lower Roedale Allo...

Many thanks for the offer, Jamie! I only know of one extensive patch of elms in nearby Loughor and there is indeed a WLH colony there. I'm sure there must be others in the vicinity. Well done finding the Brown Hairstreak ova by the way. Let's hope the adults turn up later in the year. More than hap...

Hi Jamie, I've recently found a WLH egg on a patch of Elm suckers at work in central London. The horticultural dept are keen to promote and encourage native wildlife to the site (my end of year in-house report covering the transects I do being the highlight of their team leaders year :D ) and I was...

Direct copy of what I've posted onto the Butterfly Conservation - Sussex Branch, Sightings Page: Following my guided walk "Keep the Ridge Green" last summer, at Green Ridge in Brighton & Hove, I was convinced that the Blackthorn hedgerow should host Brown Hairstreaks. The location almo...

David M wrote:Fascinating information again, Jamie. I only wish I could find colonies near me to study! It's a job finding elms on the Gower, let alone WLHs.

Thank you, David! I've got two Elm contacts, I'll ask them when I have more time if they are aware of any elms in your area. Fingers-crossed!

Female White-letter Hairstreaks, clearly have a strong preference of laying their eggs at the base of leaf buds, at the tips of branches. Based on photographic documentation by many individuals. On Huntingdon elm, there is a more general preference to lay their eggs on the "scar band", tho...

Cheers for your very detailed reply Jamie. It looks like things might not be as bad as I thought, fingers crossed :? Interesting idea about smelling the spores, if they rely on scent for attracting mates they must have some form of chemo-receptor so I suppose that could be possible, it would certai...

Back in December I joined Friends of Hollingbury & Burstead Woods volunteers, at Hollingbury Park in Brighton, we cut all the vegetation in some of the bays along the woodland edge down to the ground. In doing so this makes Creeping Thistle send out new shoots, creating more plants, a key nectar...