Maximus
Re: Maximus
Taking another look at the photos, Wurzel, it looks like the larva do actually hatch from the bottom of the egg. Looks like they chew around the bottom edge but not quite all the way around. They appear to leave a ‘flap’ of eggshell to keep the eggs below attached and have just enough space to crawl out. Amazing that they know just how much to leave uncut
It is fascinating, Katrina, there’s always something more to learn.
Thanks, David, another butterfly that would make a great addition to the the UK list. Apart from the possibility that the strings of eggs resemble nettle flowers, I also cannot think of a another reason for this strategy.
Thanks, Dave, I’m also fairly sure that this species would be most welcome in the UK. Although they spend the winter as a pupa, I don’t think this would be a problem, as the winter weather here in northern France is the same as in the south of the UK.
Since moving to France, and having a large garden, we have been spending plenty of time working outside. One thing guaranteed to stop work is whenever a Swallowtail appears. We will never tire of watching them gliding majestically around our garden, before finally being lost from view either in search of nectar or to oviposit on the fennel, of which there is plenty.
I must have missed the first instar, but I think that these are second, third and fourth instar stages.
We have two 2nd instar and two 4th instar cats windowledging at the moment, as the fennel was flattened by todays strong wind and heavy rain.
It is fascinating, Katrina, there’s always something more to learn.
Thanks, David, another butterfly that would make a great addition to the the UK list. Apart from the possibility that the strings of eggs resemble nettle flowers, I also cannot think of a another reason for this strategy.
Thanks, Dave, I’m also fairly sure that this species would be most welcome in the UK. Although they spend the winter as a pupa, I don’t think this would be a problem, as the winter weather here in northern France is the same as in the south of the UK.
Since moving to France, and having a large garden, we have been spending plenty of time working outside. One thing guaranteed to stop work is whenever a Swallowtail appears. We will never tire of watching them gliding majestically around our garden, before finally being lost from view either in search of nectar or to oviposit on the fennel, of which there is plenty.
I must have missed the first instar, but I think that these are second, third and fourth instar stages.
We have two 2nd instar and two 4th instar cats windowledging at the moment, as the fennel was flattened by todays strong wind and heavy rain.
Re: Maximus
I thought your garden would become more productive!. What a thrill !.
Stay well,
Trevor.
Stay well,
Trevor.
Last edited by trevor on Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Maximus
Fabulous! Can you collect a few up and put them in the post to me please?
Re: Maximus
Brill images especially the final one with its stripey head Cheers for the Map info form last time
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
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- Posts: 2485
- Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 6:23 pm
Re: Maximus
Your images of the spring brood Map, simply fantastic. What a species to have breeding in your garden! Congratulations!
Re: Maximus
It must be so satisfying that you can follow the development of these Swallowtail larvae in your own garden, Mike. I noted that northern France has been wet and stormy lately. Hope it doesn't do too much damage to the lhps.
Re: Maximus
Thanks, Trevor, yes it has become much more productive
They are on their way, Pauline Not sure what the customs duty will be
Cheers, Wurzel
Thanks, Katrina, much appreciated
Thanks, essex, yes we are lucky to have the Maps breeding here
It's very satisfying, David, to have Swallowtails in our garden and to be able to watch their development. Yes we've had some rubbish weather of late, hopefully it won't impact on butterfly numbers
Thursday 24th June
Given that today would be the only decent day weatherwise for a while, we decided to make our first foray further afield and visit a nature reserve about an hours drive from us. This reserve appears on a French website, https://www.reserves-naturelles.org/carte-des-reserves and is described as a south facing limestone hillside. This sounded from the description that it could be a good site for butterflies, and it also looked good from the satellite view on Google Maps, a large site of 25 hectares.
After a little bit of a glitch with our sat-nav (and were saved by Google Maps on a mobile) we finally arrived at the site around 11am. First impressions were very favourable as a Marbled White flew past as we got out of the car, our first MW of the year. Hurriedly grabbing our gear we passed through the gate onto the reserve proper. In front of us appeared a lovely grassland full of wild flowers, which stretched downhill for some distance before ending at the boundary fence and the adjoining arable field. As we made our way down the hillside to get out of the worst of the breeze, we began to encounter more butterflies. Marbled Whites (we only saw males) appeared to be on every flower head, especially scabious, but they weren’t easy to photograph as the tall stems were waving around in even the slightest breeze.
The exciting thing about butterflying, is that you never know exactly what you are going to find.
Today, totally unexpectedly, we found about a dozen Clouded Yellows flying along the bottom of the slope. I am now pretty sure that these are Bergers Clouded Yellow, as we’ve seen before further south in France. As we watched they would occasionally stop to nectar, usually on a scabious flower, so we set about getting some shots.
Another pleasant surprise was to find a few Pearly Heaths, mainly nectaring on thyme low down in the grass, so only a couple of reasonable shots, we also didn’t expect to see these here, they were among the many Small heaths we also saw on this site. Once again we had only ever seen these further south too.
The final surprise was the discovery of many Violet (Weavers) Fritillaries here. Although most were fairly worn, perhaps our next visit will reveal some second brood individuals.
Also seen were, Meadow Brown, Dark Green Fritillary, Common Blue and Adonis Blue males and females, all worn. So, in all not many species seen, but good numbers of each and we intend to pay another visit to this in a couple of weeks and take a closer look, as we didn’t get to explore the whole of the reserve.
And the site, we saw no signs of any visitation from anybody, no paths through the grass apart from those from the grazers, the signs of which we saw, a lovely site.
They are on their way, Pauline Not sure what the customs duty will be
Cheers, Wurzel
Thanks, Katrina, much appreciated
Thanks, essex, yes we are lucky to have the Maps breeding here
It's very satisfying, David, to have Swallowtails in our garden and to be able to watch their development. Yes we've had some rubbish weather of late, hopefully it won't impact on butterfly numbers
Thursday 24th June
Given that today would be the only decent day weatherwise for a while, we decided to make our first foray further afield and visit a nature reserve about an hours drive from us. This reserve appears on a French website, https://www.reserves-naturelles.org/carte-des-reserves and is described as a south facing limestone hillside. This sounded from the description that it could be a good site for butterflies, and it also looked good from the satellite view on Google Maps, a large site of 25 hectares.
After a little bit of a glitch with our sat-nav (and were saved by Google Maps on a mobile) we finally arrived at the site around 11am. First impressions were very favourable as a Marbled White flew past as we got out of the car, our first MW of the year. Hurriedly grabbing our gear we passed through the gate onto the reserve proper. In front of us appeared a lovely grassland full of wild flowers, which stretched downhill for some distance before ending at the boundary fence and the adjoining arable field. As we made our way down the hillside to get out of the worst of the breeze, we began to encounter more butterflies. Marbled Whites (we only saw males) appeared to be on every flower head, especially scabious, but they weren’t easy to photograph as the tall stems were waving around in even the slightest breeze.
The exciting thing about butterflying, is that you never know exactly what you are going to find.
Today, totally unexpectedly, we found about a dozen Clouded Yellows flying along the bottom of the slope. I am now pretty sure that these are Bergers Clouded Yellow, as we’ve seen before further south in France. As we watched they would occasionally stop to nectar, usually on a scabious flower, so we set about getting some shots.
Another pleasant surprise was to find a few Pearly Heaths, mainly nectaring on thyme low down in the grass, so only a couple of reasonable shots, we also didn’t expect to see these here, they were among the many Small heaths we also saw on this site. Once again we had only ever seen these further south too.
The final surprise was the discovery of many Violet (Weavers) Fritillaries here. Although most were fairly worn, perhaps our next visit will reveal some second brood individuals.
Also seen were, Meadow Brown, Dark Green Fritillary, Common Blue and Adonis Blue males and females, all worn. So, in all not many species seen, but good numbers of each and we intend to pay another visit to this in a couple of weeks and take a closer look, as we didn’t get to explore the whole of the reserve.
And the site, we saw no signs of any visitation from anybody, no paths through the grass apart from those from the grazers, the signs of which we saw, a lovely site.
Re: Maximus
That deserves a few . Very nice, and definitely some species I have never seen.
Re: Maximus
Fantastic stuff Mike Pearly Heaths are lush and I'd quite forgotten that they existed having seen them for the first time a few years back I reckon you're right about the Berger's - they don't look quite the same as the normal Cloudy
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Maximus
Thanks for the Mr greens, Katrina, I hope that you get to see some of these species in the future
Cheers, Wurzel, Pearly Heaths are a delight, we first saw them in 2018 in the French Pyrenees
A couple of extra shots following my last posting.
Lizard Orchid, that's a first for us most were almost over, and this one was the best we saw
The wide field margin abutting the reserve.
Cheers, Wurzel, Pearly Heaths are a delight, we first saw them in 2018 in the French Pyrenees
A couple of extra shots following my last posting.
Lizard Orchid, that's a first for us most were almost over, and this one was the best we saw
The wide field margin abutting the reserve.
Re: Maximus
It's been a good three days butterfly wise here in our garden, between the thundery showers. Firstly we've seen some very fresh Painted Ladies..
Also some lovely Clouded Yellows, mainly nectaring on Knapweed..
And today a lovely (female)? Large Tortoiseshell visited our buddleia, she is a first ever for us She was very jittery and so not easy to photograph, flying off when disturbed by bees and Red Admirals, but wonderful to see
Also some lovely Clouded Yellows, mainly nectaring on Knapweed..
And today a lovely (female)? Large Tortoiseshell visited our buddleia, she is a first ever for us She was very jittery and so not easy to photograph, flying off when disturbed by bees and Red Admirals, but wonderful to see
Re: Maximus
I'm never sure what I'm going to see when I open your diary Mike. It just keeps getting better and better. D'you know how many miles some folk travel to see a LT?!
Re: Maximus
Fantastic shots Maximus of some "common or garden" butterflies The LT set in particular are cracking
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Maximus
Thanks, Pauline, yes I know folks travel at least to Portland to see LT.
Thanks, Wurzel, for your comments regarding ' common or garden' butterflies, LT in particular
This Large Tortoiseshell was so meaningful to us that she deserves to float to the top
There's more reports to follow, as soon as I can find time to sort through the photos
Thanks, Wurzel, for your comments regarding ' common or garden' butterflies, LT in particular
This Large Tortoiseshell was so meaningful to us that she deserves to float to the top
There's more reports to follow, as soon as I can find time to sort through the photos
Re: Maximus
Good morning all, quick question, trying to post a photo of a albino gatekeeper I saw on Saturday but not sure how to upload a photo, any ideas please? Cheers
EDIT - Mike, I am dealing with John's question and will move this post out of your Personal Diary when it has been resolved.
John - Please check your messages when you log in.
(Vince Massimo - Moderator)
EDIT - Mike, I am dealing with John's question and will move this post out of your Personal Diary when it has been resolved.
John - Please check your messages when you log in.
(Vince Massimo - Moderator)
Re: Maximus
Stunning stuff Mike!. You are starting to overstretch my envy meter!.
Fabulous Large Tortoiseshell and Lesser Purple Emperor, with shots to match.
France is full of surprises, from the familiar, to species unlikely to Channel hop.
Stay safe and well,
Trevor.
Fabulous Large Tortoiseshell and Lesser Purple Emperor, with shots to match.
France is full of surprises, from the familiar, to species unlikely to Channel hop.
Stay safe and well,
Trevor.
Re: Maximus
Cheers, Trevor, France is full of surprises
During the last week, six of the second brood Swallowtails that we have been 'looking after', emerged after a short pupal stage.
During the last week, six of the second brood Swallowtails that we have been 'looking after', emerged after a short pupal stage.
Re: Maximus
Nothing 'common or garden' about that Lesser Purple Emperor What a complete stunner and what an amazing shot
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
Re: Maximus
Beautiful stuff, Mike. I'm sure you're not regretting your move with beauties such as this gracing your property.
That gorganus underside is just sublime.
That gorganus underside is just sublime.