April 2018

[petesmith]

Lovey shot of mating Green hairstreaks there Nigel!
I had a bit of a personal first two days ago in Lincolnshire. In more than 40 years of butterflying I have never before actually witnessed Small Tortoiseshells in cop. I have watched numerous courtships over the years, but they have all been long and ongoing and never resulted in a pairing that I was able to witness. On Wednesday I followed a courting pair along a nettle-bed on the edge of some farmland close to my local wood. As usual, there was much fluttering of wings by the male, plus tapping/clicking of antennae at the female. I kept with them for over an hour, as the female occasionally moved a short distance. The courtship went on and on, interspersed with periods of apparent inactivity whilst they just sat together.

Finally, the female suddenly lead the male right down into the nettle bed, where they paired up. This was at about 3:20pm. I got royally stung for my efforts, but did at last manage to get a few pics of a mating pair!

[Catteraxe]

Great shots, Pete! Persistence does pay!

Kevin.

[Allan.W.]

Superb sequence of Small Torts there Peter ! great post !
Another Large Tortoiseshell has been added on the "sightings " section of the "Kent and SE .London " butterfly conservation website,with an
excellent photo ,but very little information,other than ,,,,,,,,,,,by Roger 16th April. But I would guess probably taken in Kent ,if not ,maybe a
holiday shot. ! Regards Allan.W.

[NickMorgan]

It has been a bit of a slow start up here this year. I have only seen five species so far, but I have had nine species reported to me for the county.
I saw my first Orange Tips today, which is always a thrill. Even more of a thrill, on my way back from my transect I saw this half male/half female Orange Tip. Sadly I only managed these poor pictures with my phone!

[Matsukaze]

Nothing much doing in Somerset at present in the poor weather, though whites and Orange-tips about when there is some sun.

Presumably the tort at Dungeness would have to be a migrant?

[David M]

Finally, the female suddenly lead the male right down into the nettle bed, where they paired up. This was at about 3:20pm. I got royally stung for my efforts, but did at last manage to get a few pics of a mating pair!

Excellent find, Pete. I'd been wanting to spend some time observing Small Tortoiseshells in the mid to late afternoon this spring but conditions have been such that I haven't had the opportunity.

Looks like after 3pm is the optimum time and it's great to see such behaviour.

Thanks for sharing.

[bugboy]

Finally, the female suddenly lead the male right down into the nettle bed, where they paired up. This was at about 3:20pm. I got royally stung for my efforts, but did at last manage to get a few pics of a mating pair!

Excellent find, Pete. I'd been wanting to spend some time observing Small Tortoiseshells in the mid to late afternoon this spring but conditions have been such that I haven't had the opportunity.

Looks like after 3pm is the optimum time and it's great to see such behaviour.

Thanks for sharing.

Well done with those Small Torts mating, a few stings well worth the reward in my opinion. I nearly had a similar experience the other day. Followed them for about half an hour until the male accidentally lost track of the female. It too was late afternoon. They really do make them work hard those females don't they!

[David M]

Spent a couple of bonus hours (given that the forecast had been for cloud) at Cwm Ivy on the north Gower coast on Saturday.

Lots of Speckled Woods, Holly Blues and Orange Tips, but precious few 'Whites':

Speckled Wood 50-70
Holly Blue 30-40
Orange Tip 15-25
Peacock 3
Green Veined White 2
Brimstone 2
Red Admiral 1

Thanks to the cooler weather, one or two male Orange Tips were briefly becalmed:

[petesmith]

They really do make them work hard those females don't they!

Oh they certainly do, bugboy! Hats off to the male Torties for perseverance and attention to foreplay!!
Lincolnshire weather has now deteriorated again after the brief spell of warmth and sunshine. I have been concentrating more of late on some larval searches. Our local main Marsh Fritillary colony looks like it may be heading for a good season, if the weather eventually plays ball. Plenty of larvae visible about a week ago...

I also managed to find a few post-hibernation White Admiral larvae in various stages of development. Below is an early 4th instar larva:

The one below evidently got ahead of the game and must have managed to find better weather than most, as it is well on in the 4th instar and sporting some nice green colouration already:

[millerd]

I saw my first Orange Tips today, which is always a thrill. Even more of a thrill, on my way back from my transect I saw this half male/half female Orange Tip. Sadly I only managed these poor pictures with my phone!

That's quite a find, Nick. A bilateral gynandromorph! A spectacular aberration in something like an Orange Tip (my only one was a Silver-spotted Skipper last year, and it was far from obvious...). I'd love to find one.

Dave

[David M]

That's quite a find, Nick. A bilateral gynandromorph! A spectacular aberration in something like an Orange Tip (my only one was a Silver-spotted Skipper last year, and it was far from obvious...). I'd love to find one.

Wow! I feel quite ashamed that I initially missed this, Nick.

What a specimen! Such a shame it didn't hang around for you to get more images of it but irrespective of this, a bilateral gynandromorph is a notable find, particularly when it is an Orange Tip, where the contrast between male and female aspects is particularly prominent!

[NickMorgan]

Thanks Dave and David,
I was very excited to see it. Typically I had a new phone so struggled to take a picture, but at least I have a bit of a record.
I went back on Monday with my camera, but didn't see it again. I will have another look tomorrow.

[David M]

Thanks Dave and David,
I was very excited to see it. Typically I had a new phone so struggled to take a picture, but at least I have a bit of a record.
I went back on Monday with my camera, but didn't see it again. I will have another look tomorrow.

Definitely worth perservering with, Nick. This kind of specimen is a 'once in a lifetime' show, so good luck with your hunting and hopefully it's still in the area.