Thanks to those that voted on my Backlit Swallowtail. I don't usually like my own images, so was pleased it got some attention. Not sure what people think of it other than it did receive a good number of votes and the mention that John (Fishiee)and Gary gave, so thanks guys for your appraisal. It wa...

Fair comment Guy. I think it's advice which is useful.

Those fortunate enough to spend time out of doors should pay heed because the disease is extremely serious. :!: The more so if left untreated. I say this with good hindsight, having seen a fellow butterfly enthisiast go down with the infection (picked up in France) which I think contributed to his e...

Definitely Mother Shipton. You can just make out the nose or 'witch' face on the right hindwing.

Ok A_T so not yet. keep the faith though....

A couple of years ago I visited my relatives graves in a small churchyard at Bransgore in Dorset. It was covered in wildflowers and was a really pretty picture, and I think it a fitting tribute to the memories of departed souls. Unfortunately my aunt was there strimming them all! She was really cros...

Well speaking of early sightings and Bramble, its flowers are already out on one of my good local spots and they are west facing. Butterfly and moths species in the woodland edge and adjacent meadow will surely be coming out to take advantage of this free source of food. Similarly, I believe that th...

Here in E.Anglia, there has definitely been a range expansion according to our county recorders of E.Anglia, and it seems very unlikely to have been releases. The spread has been so vast in terms of distances covered that it would appear typical of natural expansion. This is also in the light of rec...

Yes most definitely but when in the mood they will usually lay. The eggs are as you probably know pretty round and squamous shaped but incredibly tiny. You have to look very carefully to see them. Even when you have got your eye in, it can be tricky.

How ridiculous to put out a poll asking Joe Public if certain legislation should be "scrapped" without any clear message of what would happen next. I agree totally.... If they'd set it up as a consultation document and with some well meaning aims/ideas of what to do next other than just p...

Well at least they are there Dave.
Keep us posted on how it goes..

Julian

Dave I suspect Brimstones can travel a long way, indeed females are found flying far from known bushes, presumably to seek out new spots to lay their eggs. You obviously are aware of this. To give a precise figure of a theoretical maximum would be folly but I would say (and from personal experience)...

Very interesting topic... not wanting to steer to far off track about woodlands, but to divert out onto heathland for a minute and quote Liz... there was a paper discussing Nitrate Deposition and the effects it was having on grassland habitats. In Hertfordshire we suffer the negative effect of ND -...

Thanks Neil . Phew... I'm somewhat stunned by your comments because the picture was a fluke really in photographic terms as I just pointed and shot and let the camera( Eos 40d + ef100 macro) do the rest. Having both larval foodplants thriving in the garden for over a decade did of course help and ju...

Yes Goldie, that was an interesting shot and very different so well worth uploading.
Well done on the capturing the image.
Julian

You're welcome A_T. I have posted on this site before extolling the virtues of planting Buckthorn. I'm still planting it whenever I get the chance and of course, at this time of year, just as the days begin to lengthen, I begin to muse on the first true butterfly harbinger of Spring, usually a male ...

Congratulations A_T on this planting. It will surely reward you with Brimstones. :D As far as I've found, patience is the watchword but you will probably get them sooner rather than later. They are great wanderers and will find your bushes. As if to prove this, some years back I helped with a succe...

The age old argument about the validity / legality of surreptitious releases, interesting as it is, shouldn't be a cause for too much divide among people that claim to love or enthuse over lepidoptera. Neither should it sidetrack us from the real challenge of how to save our threatened lepidoptera. ...

Thanks folks for voting for me, I'm really pleased to get a 1st - and well done to all the other entrants. There were some really excellent photo's for this competition. Especially John (Fishiee's) close up of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth and Teejay's amusing Brimstones 'queueing' picture. A little remind...

I had a look today and of three pairs I saw in flight (well enough to sex) it was in each case the female who led. The pairs were: great sooty satyr, silver-washed fritillary and wall. Now you've mentioned it I will clock every flying couple I come across and see if males do the leading too. Guy In...