Definitely seems like the answer given on Autumnwatch was b*ll*cks. Well, the odd thing is that BBC Autumn Watch sent a query to Butterfly Conservation together with a photograph of a meadow brown with white hind wings, asking if anyone was able to shed any light on the anomalous insect. The query ...

This aberration is caused by a pathological condition resulting in the wing scales on the butterfly's left forewing failing to pigment as one would ordinarily expect, giving the effected area a strange bleached appearance. Historically this type of aberration has not been bestowed with a name; in li...

Sadly I shan't be able to attend, so the list reads:

Rogerdodge
Selbypaul
Mark Colvin (Sussex Salmon )
Wurzel
Philzoid
Gibster (and Sami?)
PJ Underwood
ChrisC
Pete Eeles
Susie

Yes. The first and only edition, published by Hutchinson & Co in 1914. The work comprises two folio volumes (pp. xv + 207 and iv + 206) with 64 plates, 60 of which are in full colour.

Should anybody be after this title, I have a spare set of this monumental 2 volume work for sale in superb condition with dust wrappers. £380. See http://www.holletts-rarebooks.co.uk/book_details.aspx?stock=72223 for a comparable set (although not in such good condition and without wrappers). I'm se...

The colour illustrations used by Brooke Bond were by Richard Ward and reproduced in a book by CA Hall entitled "Know Your Butterflies" published in 1970 by Blacks. It's a charming little book worth owning simply for Ward's illustrations.

Reverdin wrote:I remember Piers helpfully naming this one as ab. suavis

Yes, that's it..! Well done Paul. I couldn't for the life of me remember the name. I don't think that I'm quite as enthusiastic as perhaps I once was...

Vince - so the orange you see is from the underside lunules? Actually Lee, I hadn't thought of that and I don't even have a theory. Here is a closer image. IMG_2794-02S.jpg Does anybody know what is actually going on? :) Cheers, Vince It's not unusual for male chalkhill blues to have small orange s...

Your own private tropical butterfly house eh Susie? Good for you. It makes a change from keeping land snails, cockroaches, scorpions or tarantulas. In fact it's no different from keeping any other insect or invertebrate in captivity or as a pet.

Fingers crossed you achieve a pairing.

Piers.

Giving Phil the benefit of the doubt, is this something that could have occurred without Phil's knowledge during processing, or some sort of double exposure? (forgive my ignorance of digital photography). Looking at Guy's blown-up image, I can not possibly imagine that the image represents what the ...

I agree with Padfield. It's a very unusual case of homeosis. Probably quite unique.

P.J.Underwood wrote:Count me in,I need to track down Piers.
P.J.U.

It wasn't me, it was like that when I found it.

Gibster wrote:Well heck, if Piers is at the bar...

...waiting for you to release the moths from your wallet Seth..! (is that a ten shilling note in there?!)

Piers.

Good lord Mark, what are you saying..?

I'm looking forward to the 2012 UKButts photographic forum already as it is always nice to meet up with folk from here. Perhaps we should have a winter social. We could combine a bit of brown hairstreak egg hunting with a visit to a country pub for a good old natter. Sounds good to me too. Couldn't...

Well it was bloody good to meet Susie and Vince (again); as well as Mark, and Mike Oxon. My only regret was not having enough time to have a good chat with each of you. Very sorry to hear about Gary and Lisa's misfortune, truly gutting, especially after the huge amount of effort that they put into t...

This is cribbed from Hants Moths. Might interest some: Don`t know if anybody else saw along the coast, that there was a movement of Red Admirals today heading South. The first one i saw was at about 0800hrs,then as the day progressed i had well over 100+ heading South through Portsmouth Harbour. At ...

Hoggers wrote:Down here in sunny Kent I've seen three female Holly Blues since last sunday and all in beautiful condition.

Interesting Hoggers, there is a small third brood here in south Wilts at the moment. I wonder if they shall be an ecological dead end.

I would be very hesitant in applying the label 'scotica' Sezar. The situation regarding the 'subspecies' is very unclear, and was originally described from a just a handful of specimens hailing from north west Scotland, where the following features were noted: -Much heavier black markings (upper and...

Look like Chalkhill to me, and that first pic is stunning. And what about Jim Asher's "Chalkhill" from the 14th August at http://upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/b ... tings.html (pic at http://upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/P ... JAsher.jpg)? That photograph is an adonis. I am certain that...