The whole QoS story here is fascinating, especially given the previous query about the possibilty of an egg laying female being seen (or not).
Assuming the females here that have mated lay eggs, are they likely to sucessfully overwinter and may we see further insects in the spring?
After reading for years about the scarcity of immigrants such as the QoS, Long and Short Tailed Blue and then reading about sightings (and seeing photos!) from this season really is one of the best things. Now, Camberwell Beauty anyone?
How things have changed over the years, when I started my interest in butterflies and moths, well before the internet, things were much different! You wouldn't have heard about these sightings or know where to go to see them. I understand Neil's initial reticence in sharing the site but hats off to you, really, hats off.
For me, the more people that can get excited about all butterflies and moths, common and rare, the better. I'm already looking forward to spring!
Cheers
Lee
Last edited by Lee Hurrell on Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
To butterfly meadows, chalk downlands and leafy glades; to summers eternal.
Hi all,
The QoS will overwinter as either egg or immature caterpillar (preferably the former!). Survival depends upon both weather conditions this winter, and to a certain degree on what happens to the field. To an extent (irrespective of climatic issues), the butterfly will have to be able to look after itself, as the habitat in which field pansy flourishes will invariably be subject to everyday agricultural process. However, I will be attempting to liaise with the farmer, in order to assist them in getting 'a foot in the door'. This will of course depend on goodwill. Unless the eggs are all deeply buried (unlikely) some should hatch and the young caterpillars will seek out regenerating spring pansies. The severity of the winter is probably the key factor here.
Neil
Adult QoS can emerge very early in the year and they do need a nectar source too. In Switzerland they use the early flowering mats of speedwell, which are often the only thing flowering in their sites at that time of year:
(28th February this year)
Obviously, your insects are unlikely to be that early if they hibernate as eggs or young caterpillars, but I thought it worth mentioning (and given the nature of QoS generations it is I suppose possible that there are some more advanced caterpillars ready to go into hibernation). Here, the speedwell is in full flower while the pansies are still just leaves, so the adults can nectar on the former and lay on the latter.
Scrabbling around Buller's Cliff near Abbotsbury again today. Loads about, Painted Ladies and Red Admirals nectaring on the ivy covering the ruined castle. Clouded yellows (half a dozen),,,nearly died going after them. A fair few Large whites on cabbagey stuff. See my gallery for a shot of me resting.....
Two peacocks and loads of painted ladies in the garden today. It almost feels like May all over again except this time, instead of some being very worn they are all pristine. It's a beautiful sight to see them feeding on the vebena bonariensis, vebena rigida and wallflower bowles mauve.
A couple of red admiral and small white have just turned up too.
Hi all,
Red Admiral numbers are tailing off a wee bit up here in SE Scotland just 30 or so today. I did see 3 very fresh Comma though, and the chances are very high that these guys are autumn brood Commas following on from the July brood....timing would be about right. I just dont know if we have had a 2nd brood up here before. Small Tortoiseshell still skulking around saw one nectaring on Nasturtium.
went for a short mid day visit to southbourne undercliff today,
found well in exess of 35 clouded yellow still active on this end of the cliffs, including 3 helice but a considerable number of them had the tell tale signs of bird predation with large chunks of the bottom of the hind wings missing even on fresh specimens, know doubt from the ever present familys of stonechat's found here.
also seen good numbers of painted ladys, small and large white, several red admiral and 2 male common blue.
other than butterflies there were some nice brassica shield bugs and a couple of cool wall lizards!
gary.
Attachments
clouded yellow form helice
clouded yellow on southbourne undercliff
Last edited by geniculata on Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Still seeing Clouded yellows with 2 today in Point Clear Essex [ Nr Clacton ] also Large White and what i am almost certain was a Brown Argus, is it to late for a BA or is it more likely a Common Blue?. Steve
Common blue is more likely by the phenology but brown argus is not impossible. I've seen some in Switzerland in October. Did you see any of the critical features (lack of cell spot, 'Aricia colon', chequered fringe, upperside dark spot on forewing)?