New UKB Team Member

[Pete Eeles]

I'd like to announce a new UKB team member (see http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/contact.php). Piers Vigus (a.k.a. "Felix" on these forums) has a wealth of knowledge - and has a keen interest in forms, subspecies and aberrations that complements the knowledge of the existing team. Most of us will already be aware of his contribution to date in answering questions raised on the forums - so ... welcome aboard Piers!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Dave McCormick]

I'd like to welcome him aboard also, his kowledge will be helpful.

[Neil Hulme]

I would like to 'third' that - great 'signing' Pete and a very valuable addition to the excellent UKB team.
Neil

[Denise]

Congratulations Felix.
I'm sure that you will add to this already excellent website with your knowledge and expertise.
Good choice Pete.

Denise

[Zonda]

The best addition, i think Felix has extensive knowledge on his subject. , and he's a nice guy

[Gwenhwyfar]

I've obviously not been paying attention, as I thought this had already been done, as I'd seen your name in 'green' for a few weeks now.
Congrats any way, and nice write-up too.

[Gruditch]

Welcome team mate, no t shirt or badge I'm afraid, just tones of behind the scenes stuff.

Gruditch

What these btw.

[Lee Hurrell]

Good luck Felix!
Cheers
Lee

[Susie]

Congratulations, Felix.

They are bees, Gruditch. I assume you knew that and want to know which sort, but I thought I would stick my nose in anyway.

[geniculata]

hi gary,

your bee's look like lasioglossum calceatum, a mining bee.
check out bwars.com, superb little site for id of bee's and wasps

gary.

[Gruditch]

Cheers Gary, I've probably overlooked these little fellas before, it was only the swarming on the plant head that caught my attention.

Thanks for your input Susie, very enlightening

Gruditch

[Piers]

I agree with Gary, these are probably L. calceatum, although there are over 30 species of Lasioglossum in Britain many of which are very similar so without stuffing it under a microscope I wouldn't like to gamble on it.

It's bees from this genus that make the little holes in your lawn with the piles of fine soil around the entrance...

Felix.

[Piers]

Anyhoo, Thanks everyone for your kind words of support!

My first 'job' for the site shall be firmly in my comfort zone and will be around butterfly aberrations for the Species Pages: I would like to compose a short summary for each species in which I intend to include: a description of in what forms aberrations in each species usually occur (eg: "Aberration in this species is rare and is usually confined to the ground colour..." or "this is a very variable species especially in the number and size of eye spots..."), how many named aberrations have been described in the UK, what to look for when in the field, what aberrations to expect to see, whether these are hereditary or environmentally stimulated, and to describe in detail a handful of significant aberrations for each species.

Hopefully this would give people a brief overview of what to expect (or not) in each species, a greater understanding of aberration generally, as well as possibly encouraging people to go out and look for these spectacular oddities. I would also like to perhaps include where appropriate photographs of historic specimens illustrating certain specific examples until such time as photo's of living examples can be acquired. This would hopefully complement the BMNH Cockayne database, perhaps illustrating examples that people may well find on their travels that are not illustrated by the BHNH (eg. Ringlet ab. cuneate which was once a subject in the Daily Quiz).

I would also like to create a page on the website devoted to the breeding/rearing of butterflies and moths. I realise that this can be an emotive subject; rearing lepidoptera can be fascinating, rewarding, educational for the kids, etc. but at the end of the day any insect is always better left in the countryside

Having said that I think that the website would be missing something if no mention was made anywhere about breeding/rearing butterflies and moths. People do rear and breed lepidoptera and the site would arguably be incomplete if we ignored this, and clearly there is a need for guidance here, a point which has been raised on the forum more than once.

Well that's probably enough to keep me busy for a while so watch this space...

Piers.

[Zonda]

I have a question. May all aberrations be down to US (mankind)??? We do seem to have an inordinate knack of releasing black rabbits everywhere. So to speak, and looking at the wider subject of global warming etc. Many congrats Felix, i know you are extremely knowledgable.

[Denise]

Felix said
Quote [I would also like to create a page on the website devoted to the breeding/rearing of butterflies and moths. I realise that this can be an emotive subject; rearing lepidoptera can be fascinating, rewarding, educational for the kids, etc. but at the end of the day any insect is always better left in the countryside

Having said that I think that the website would be missing something if no mention was made anywhere about breeding/rearing butterflies and moths. People do rear and breed lepidoptera and the site would arguably be incomplete if we ignored this, and clearly there is a need for guidance here, a point which has been raised on the forum more than once.]

That's great! Looking forward to reading this.
I am currently rearing a Poplar Hawk-moth, and although it's been fascinating to observe, there have been a few tense moments where advice or others knowledge would have come in very handy. (Only a few days to go until it pupates, BTW)
I didn't go out intentionally looking for this opportunity, it was thrust upon me, but what a joy.

Denise

[Zonda]

All in favour of rearing, but only for conservation purposes. It's the old 'White Tigers' in Los Angeles' syndrome. Sorry.

Maybe we should be teaching our children that wild creatures need their space,,,in the wild.

[Dave McCormick]

I would also like to create a page on the website devoted to the breeding/rearing of butterflies and moths. I realise that this can be an emotive subject; rearing lepidoptera can be fascinating, rewarding, educational for the kids, etc. but at the end of the day any insect is always better left in the countryside

Having said that I think that the website would be missing something if no mention was made anywhere about breeding/rearing butterflies and moths. People do rear and breed lepidoptera and the site would arguably be incomplete if we ignored this, and clearly there is a need for guidance here, a point which has been raised on the forum more than once.

Yes, I'd second that. I am currently rearing Large White and Garden Tigers and Cabbage Moths and it would be useful for people to know how to rear species, not only this, but what should be done and should not be done (like illegal releases, taking stock from wild, acquiring stock and where it comes from etc... not releasing one form of a butterfly where only another exists or same for subspecies, say, not releasing Hibernica subspecies of Orange-Tip where only Britannica suspecies ocurs and "contaminating the species") So maybe this might stop a few of the releases we have seen, like Marbled Fritillaries and Black veined white butterflies being see in England in wild in past which I assume are releases.

I think it would be a good idea if people could post some of their breeding experiences on it as I know a few people like me are rearing Garden Tigers and have did it different ways and got different results, especially getting them to overwinter as young caterpillars sucessfully, some have found it more difficult than others.