I'm sure you will see Swallowtails in the area Rosalyn has detailed tomorrow. Good luck with the photos - they seem to permanently quiver, especially when it is sunny and they rarely sit still. If you walk out into the main Fen, keep your eyes open for flag irises along the rides - the butterflies l...

Spotted this whacking great sawfly galloping up a tree at a local nature reserve today. Hornet sized, I believe it is something from the Cimbex family, but does anyone know if it is likely to be Cimbex connatus or Cimbex luteus? Either way, it was pretty unusual I think.

Trev

A valiant (if misplaced) attempt at speeding up evolution :wink: but unfortunately, it isn't destined to lead to the flutter of tiny wings :( Just imagine the huge blue buttermoth which might result if it was possible though :shock: Now that really would be something wouldn't it! :lol: 4.jpg Trev

I don't post much on here nowadays, but that is a truly amazing piece of work Pete - Just superb - Well done!

Trev

... or maybe a Red Underwing moth? They sometimes act like a butterfly by holding their wings up rather than across their bodies. You can't often see the red on their underwings when they are in flight and they just look "dark". They are also the right sort of size (pretty big for a UK mot...

Hi Ryan, It is actually very likely that the small flies you are seeing are parasitic wasps and they are probably hatching from the butterfly chrysalis rather than trying to get into it... These small parasitic wasps inject their eggs into the body of growing caterpillars and gradually take them ove...

I think you've got it Nigel... many species of caterpillar loose their hairs shortly before pupation and if this one was galloping around on the ground, it was probably on it's way to bed. They often spin the hairs together with silk to form part of a cocoon, but maybe this one was just a bit early ...

One of the Grass moths... Possibly the Elbow-Stripe Grass-Veneer (Agriphila geniculea)?
See: http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/agrip ... a/adult-2/

Trev

I've found it Pete...
It's mentioned on Page 171 in the Newland book.

Trev

Hi Pete, Another excellent addition to the website - many thanks for your continuing enthusiasm for all things butterfly-related. I was under the impression that as well as the Small Copper being known as the Small Tortioseshell in the early 1700's, the Small Tortoiseshell was called the Small Coppe...

Hi Nick,
I reckon that is a Box Tree Moth (Diaphania perspectalis)... a fairly recent arrival to the UK and obviously spreading.
See: http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=14091

Trev

Hello Ewe

That is a Small Magpie Moth. see: http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/anania-hortulata/

Trev

Let's hope she lays lots of eggs Paddy...
The site looked good this year after the undergrowth had been cut back - last year it was left and I feared for Little Grizz's future there (again!).

Trev

Hi Lauren, There are a few day-flying moths on the wing at the moment and they often confuse people. I would imagine your little butterfly could have been a Cinnabar moth (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnabar_moth ). They actually appear much more pink in real life than those photos suggest. ...

Hi Hector,
I think this is the unusual flattened larva of a species of Sawfly with the latin name Platycampus luridiventris.

Trev

I can't find an ab. pallida in the Cockayne collection, but would have thought that might be a likely candidate? Bedford Purlieus has an excellent population of White-Letter Hairstreaks and there is a good photo of an ab. albovirgata from the same venue 5 years ago on the Cambs and Essex BC webpage:...

Hi Laura, Butterflies of the same species often differ very slightly in their pattern/colour. If the difference is not within the usual range of what is generally found for that species, it may be classed as "aberrant". Pete put together a very good article on this website and it shows pho...

Hey Guy,
I've just noticed that Gollum managed to "photobomb" the first image (he's hiding in the front right-hand corner) - the little devil!

Trev

They are chillingly compelling images Guy ,
I presume the first two are of the famed Purple Emperor var lysergica?

Trev

Good call Bugboy. I reckon that's the one.

Trev