May 2022

[Wolfson]

Only been to two Grizzled Skipper sites so far this year, so can’t comment on what sort of season they are having. At least there is hope for next season.

[millerd]

A brand new Small Tortoiseshell seen flying late this afternoon on my local patch near Heathrow. I assume this is the vanguard of the next brood: mid-May seems quite early for them.

Also seen were numerous female Holly Blues laying on goats rue, and now also on birds-foot trefoil. When they are busying themselves around the former plant, male Common Blues take little notice of them, but it seems to be different with the BFT. I saw several Holly females harrassed by Common males while trying to lay on this latter plant. Maybe this is because the Common Blue males are expecting females of their own species to appear here as it is their main foodplant. In the end, eggs were laid.

Cheers,

Dave

[Charles Nicol]

i tried a new setting on the camera and was delighted with the results

Impressive. Need sunglasses for that one, Charles.

That is one stunning Green Hairstreak Charles ! ....................................Nice one !!
Allan.W.

thanks guys ! it turned out very well

[David M]

Saturday 14th - Rodborough Common, Glos:

Dingy Skipper 80-100
Small Heath 40-60
Duke of Burgundy 21
Adonis Blue 15
Brown Argus 10-15
Green Veined White 5-10
Green Hairstreak 6
Small Blue 3
Common Blue 2
Brimstone 2
Small White 1
Large White 1

[millerd]

In the absence of much sunshine this morning and the relative absence of butterflies, I looked for Orange Tip caterpillars on the garlic mustard. Next to some feeding damage on a leaf was what I took to be a Green-veined White caterpillar rather than an Orange Tip, as the books say that OT cats eat the pods and GVW cats eat the leaves.

I had seen eggs of both species on the plants in this area.

Dave

[zigzag_wanderer]

A few first 2022 sightings for me : Small Heath on 6th May, Brown Argus and Red Admiral on the 9th (all at work), Common Blue, Small Blue and Green Hairstreak yesterday on Wolstonbury.

Was certainly a lot of love in the ladybird world last week at work. I didn't realise the males like to wiggle about so much.

A parasitic wasp and what I thought initially was one of the mint moth family both came to visit my sandwich eating area at work. The latter was my first Small Yellow Underwing and I'm going to say the former was Ephialtes manifestator but very happy to be corrected.

[Allan.W.]

A few shots from yesterdays visit to a local Duke site near Wye Kent ,lots of variation ,mostly worn individuals ,having lost the white wing edges,
but one or two fresh individuals ,of the 20 seen only 3 were female .

one of two Common Blues seen

And a couple of slight oddities ,a terrible picture of an aberrant individual AB;Leucodes ,which turns up fairly regularly most seasons ,unfortunately seen off by another feisty male ...............so best shot i could manage ! plus a very worn quite pale male .................but he still had plenty of fight !!

Allan.W.

[Allan.W.]

And a few moths from the same trip ,saw several different species ,including Burnet Companion ,Mother Shipton ,Green Carpet .
Right beside the car ,and hovering about their foodplant ie; Garlic mustard were several Cauchas Rufimitrella .

At the actual Duke site ,and while i was watching 4 male Dukes basking (and scrapping ) along the path ,this little chap caught my eye ,something i see from time to time Small Yellow Underwing.

And lastly ,a moth that regularly turns up in my mothtrap ,and must admit it threw me at first Common Carpet moth ...............terrible name for a very attractive moth.

Allan.W.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Yes, there were lots of Common Carpets out and about on the slopes of Wolstonbury yesterday Allan. Also at least one Red Twin-spot Carpet. I agree -they are beautifully marked insects, hence the name I s'pose. Must admit I initially assumed this was because they were found eating carpets rather than looking like beautiful rugs !

There were masses and I mean MASSES of Scorpion flies about.

[Testudo Man]

Yesterdays nice weather (Saturday) meant a return visit to Darland Banks (Kent) but i didnt arrive there until 2.00pm. I expected greater numbers on the wing? maybe it was a little hot for em? Things did improve later on, but apart from good numbers of Small Blues, it was quiet. Sighted 2 lovely fresh blue type female Common Blues though. Several highlight images from the day, no images are cropped. Cheers Paul.

Lovely female Common Blue.

Small Blues...a double bonus perhaps! I should have zoomed out some for this shot, would have meant better composition, an overal focus on both the butterflies.

The male Common Blue was flirting with this female (early courtship) but she was having none of it...plus it was early evening (roosting time).

Mating pair of Common Blues.

Mating pair of Adonis Blues.

[Chris L]

Saturday 14th - Rodborough Common, Glos:

Ha, I was nearly there David. I had planned a 2 site day out but only got as far as Prestbury Hill which was so good that I stayed. I saw circa 300 butterflies - Duke of Burgundy, Marsh Fritillary, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Brimstone, Green Hairstreak, Small Heath, Small Blue, Dingy Skipper, Speckled Wood and Orange Tip.

Today I walked one of my transects in sunshine with virtually no breeze. I saw 13 butterflies.

[Deborah]

First European Swallowtail in the garden this week, plus two Painted Ladies yesterday. All enjoying the Hesperis flowers.

[jenks]

Selsley and Rodborough Commons, Stroud, Sat 14 May.

With an improvement in the weather I headed off to Stroud to look for Dukes. First stop Selsley and I made my way from the parking lay-byes across the common and down the steep slope the other side almost to the tree line which is the best place for Dukes. I encountered 25 - 26, plus 30+ Dingy Skipper, 20+ Small Heath, 4 Brimstone (all males), 3 Holly Blue around the hedge line, 3 Common Blue, 3 Small White, 1 Orange tip. I met a couple of other people looking for Dukes who told me they had seen at least 30. And for anyone interested in flora, I found 3 Common Twayblade whilst searching through the grass. Then off to Rodborough and the area Bear Hill across to The Bowl. Another 15-16 Duke of Burgundy including one pair in cop and being photographed by 2 guys from Swansea (sorry, although you told me your names I`ve forgotten them !) plus 5 Brown Argus,5 Green Hairstreak, 6 Adonis Blue and 8 or 9 Small Blue.
My first excursion for butterflies this year and an excellent one it turned out to be. These commons rarely disappoint but I`ve never seen so many Dukes as on this occasion. If you can its certainly worth visiting if the weather holds in the next day or so. But after 3 hours of walking up, down and across the steep slopes my knees and left calf were giving me hell ! So back to the car and back home in time for the second half of the FA cup final.
Jenks.

[OwenE]

Was at rodborough on Sunday morning. Overcast (followed by heavy showers) but good numbers of Dukes, dingy skipper and small Heath. Singles of small blue, green veined white and green hairstreak

[Charles Nicol]

i popped in to Woodwalton Marsh reserve at lunchtime. i saw this Grizzled Skipper waiting for the sun to come out

[zigzag_wanderer]

Another lunchtime visitor today - my first Wall of 2022. Poor record shot attached as it didn't wait around for me to finish my sandwich.

[Allan.W.]

Nice clear damselfly shot Zig-zag ...............and i,m not being picky ...................but i think they,re Azure Damsels.
Regards Allan.W.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Ah brilliant, thanks Allan !

I like to have a go at calling everything I see these days but am always really happy to be corrected, in fact I welcome it - particularly if it means opening a new folder (or even renaming an old one !).

[David M]

,,,Then off to Rodborough and the area Bear Hill across to The Bowl. Another 15-16 Duke of Burgundy including one pair in cop and being photographed by 2 guys from Swansea (sorry, although you told me your names I`ve forgotten them !)...

I was there that day, Gareth, but I wasn't one of those 2 guys. I know what you mean about the leg-ache, but if you want to get to the Adonis Blues you have to yomp up and down those steep slopes!!

[adrian riley]

Nice clear damselfly shot Zig-zag ...............and i,m not being picky ...................but i think they,re Azure Damsels.
Regards Allan.W.

Hi
Yep, I agree with Azure Damselfly.
Cheers, Ade