Hi Cotswold Looks like a teneral (fresh) female Southern Hawker to me. Probably resting up while wings dried out. Yes, I was thinking along those lines. There is a large flood balancing lake about 200 metres away as the Hawker flies and it possibly originated from there. Quite an interesting site t...

Thanks for the replies, both. I guess I'm a little late for this year's WW appearance now. Next year, maybe. Does anyone have landranger grid references? Thanks again, Mike. Not quite too late yet for the Forest of Dean (FoD). Log on to The Gloster Birder and check the "Sightings 2009 Jan-June...

To my certain knowledge, L.sinapis occurs in several Gloucestershire woods outside the vast confines of the Forest of Dean where it also occurs. I have seen it in adjoining counties including Worcs, Gwent, Hfds, Oxon as well as in other counties such as Northants and Bucks. Several times I have seen...

No flames from this quarter although I suspect one or two may form a queue to do so.

By the way ~ welcome 'new here'.

No wonder I never spot them on the holly - they're tiny! Great shot. That little larva is about twice that size today although still small, feeding again on the green unripe berries. There was a small Ant species on its back. I will try for another picture soon. Although the Holly Blue's wingspan i...

Large Blues ~ Hmmm, that reminds me. Last month, I attended a 'Mothing Night' arranged by my long standing entomologist friend who has the contract to maintain the superb area known as Stratford Park on the Painswick side of Stroud in Gloucestershire. He is also curating the insect collection in the...

Had a bit of a lay in on Saturday ~ got up at 0930 and made my way downstairs to make a pot of tea for the family all still in bed...:) Looking out of the kitchen window, I saw a large Dragonfly cruising up and down our patio in the warm morning sunshine. It then dived under a bush near my greenhous...

I believe that is one of the "Horse Flies" ~ Tabanidae ~ It looks like one that settled on my wrist forty years ago in West Sussex when I pulled up in the road in a heavily wooded promising looking area new to me. It 'bit' me and I slapped my other hand over it expecting it to be crushed b...

I noticed that the Holly Bush I saw a couple of larvae feeding on last summer had many hundreds of green Holly Berries this year, many more than last season. I spent a few seconds looking at the berries for signs of feeding but could not detect any signs. Plenty of Holly Blues about the garden since...

You mention "a lot of them". Red Admiral Larvae are usually solitary whilst Small Tortoiseshell ( Pictured) and Peacock larvae ( Velvety Black ) are colonial, separating only when near to or, fully grown. Red Admiral Larvae are stouter in build, more secretive and leave their nettle leaf t...

Thank you all for such fascinating information. Wonderful stuff and goes a long way to explain this joyeous influx. :D My PLs with blue spots are all like Denise's and not the American one (sorry if I got anyone excited!). The information I had about the butterflies flying until their fat reserves ...

Several reports of numbers seen in Gloucestershire during the past week or so suggests a huge invasion from Europe and possibly North Africa to England. There were several in my garden for most of the day ( Tuesday 26th May 2009 ) during the warm sunshine from about 9 a.m. onwards ~ at least three a...

Finally! A brimstone was laying eggs on the alder buckthorn this morning. :D Perfect timing. It all comes to those who wait...;) Whilst watching the Monaco F1 GP on TV back in May 1992 ( Mansel v. Senna ), I looked out of the window to see a female Brimstone flying against my Greenhouse glass tryin...

It even looks like a Red Admiral in flight at first glance ~ When I first saw that other bright dayflying Tiger, the Jersey flying in Devon, I thought they were Painted Ladies... Long time ago...:) Another coincidence, along with my schoolfriend, I found my first Scarlet Tiger Larvae back in 1954 wh...

I have been observing butterflies for a shade over sixty years. It's so easy to blame poor weather for a decline in any species but, poor weather plays a lesser part in any species' decline. There are far more agencies that affect populations and localities. Indeed, poor weather need not affect numb...

Above all, if you want to be a successful butterfly breeder, obtain a stock of healthy growing butterfly foodplants. Get those growing well and established before getting livestock. This has many advantages not least it will ensure a healthy well fed stock. As they are growing plants, there will be ...

In captivity at least, both Violets are used when rearing various Frits. Are you certain of which is which?

Conversation eh! 'Nice one'. :lol: I wish I could say I had made that mistake. I was just hopping from forum to forum and lost track of where I was I'm afraid. Think i'm developing Terry Pratchett's disorder. May be why I had Conservation on my mind... Conserving what is left of mine. Best place fo...

A strong flying glorious male Brimstone. About 11.30 this beautiful sunny and warm morning in Quedgeley, a couple of miles south of Gloucester. Iris and Crocus suddenly all out in my south facing rear garden, Hyacinths buds will open shortly. I adore their perfume ... almost addictive. Roll on sprin...

It would help me in giving advice to someone doing a butterfly planting scheme to know if anyone has noticed Holly Blues laying eggs on variegated holly? Never actually found ova on that variety of Holly but, never searched the plant much and I have a small one in my garden. Any Holly which produce...