As is my want at this time at this time of the year I have been wandering the local woods looking for Purple Emperor pupa with a UV torch. Unfortunately to take advantage of this trait you have to be in virtually total darkness, which at this time of the year means being in the woods after 10.30pm. ...

Larval web on DR Elm reported in Sussex.
https://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings/
Kind Regards
Mark

2023 was a Black Admiral year at Alice Holt forest. This seems to happen every few years and I guess is probably a result of a frost pocket somewhere in the woods that creates conditions that cause aberrations in White Admirals. This year I saw at least four which were variants of ab.obliterae and p...

Every year I visit a small colony on the Hants/Sussex border which is high up on a north facing slope of the South Downs. The purpose is to do a count for Sussex BC and I suspect I am probably the only person to see them each year. The colony is quite small (20-30 individuals) and restricted to a re...

Living on the South coast in Hampshire I have been expecting LTB for some time. As Ben says they have been frequent visitors to our neighbours in Sussex for some years now but for me, other than a brief encounter on Hayling Island in 2013 they seem to avoid me on home soil. However this year a few w...

After a few years, and many fruitless hours of searching, I now seem to have successfully mastered the technique of finding Purple Emperor larvae by spotting their seat leaf which is left dangling by a silken thread in the autumn. This normally indicates that a larva is hibernating nearby. So far I ...

Good to see some familiar faces, and have Susie back in the fold. Some very enlightning discussion as always - sorry I had to leave early so I missed you Lee.
I am sure I will bump into one or two of you over the next 12months
Roll on next year
Kind Regards
Mark

I’ll be there all being well

After many fruitless searches I finally tracked down Long-tailed Blues on my local patch, Portsdown Hill. Seven or eight were frequently spotted in a fairly sheltered area of south facing slope that they were using as their lek. Three males and a female were extremely fresh and it ultimately resulte...

After seeing my first Long-tailed Blue at Beeding Cement works in 2013 I planted some Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea in my garden. I live in Portsmouth on the south coast, so I don’t think it was completely wishful thinking that one day my plants might be graced with a visit from this lovely butterfly...

Wow - a Marbled White in your nursery garden that’s a brilliant one to have.
Would you mind posting a picture of the garden when you have some time - my guess is that you have a nice meadow area, sounds great.
Kind Regards
Mark

Hi Quince Tree Children and Teachers, That is one of the nicest posts I have read in a long time! My lifelong interest in wildlife started at a young age and was fostered and encouraged by a teacher at my junior school. We need to get children engaged and interested in the natural world if we are to...

There have been a few White Admiral aberrations at Alice Holt Forest this year but this is the most extreme that I have seen so far - a bit faded now but no white bands at all ab. Nigrina?
Kind Regards
Mark

Hi Pauline I remember that Common Blue well and I have never encountered another as small as that since. The tiger SWF made me do a double take - stunning image! I may have found another culprit for Emperor wings on the track as well as bikes and dragonflies- as I was watching two males spar today a...

It was at Hayling for LTB - am working on the egg - saw two females laying today so fingers crossed
Kind Regards
Mark

I told you that your luck would change - hopefully you will get a few more chances and some are still very fresh like this one that Flossie found for you today
Kind Regards
Mark

A trip to Alice Holt Forest to see the Emperors is pretty normal for me at this time of the year and it all went according plan today when I had numerous encounters throughout the morning counting upwards of fourteen individuals. After lunch I walked back down the track, with Flossie my constant com...

Hi Pauline
I think you fly might be Common awl robberfly Neoitamus cyanurus
Kind Regards
Mark

Hi Pete
Couple of sightings currently on Sussex BC including larval webs
http://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings/

Hi Pauline- Guess you you may have been checking for WLH but interesting you have seen Essex Skipper in the area
Cheers
Mark