Orange-Tip behavoiur
- Dave McCormick
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Orange-Tip behavoiur
I was at the local river and watching the numerous butterflies (very sunny and warm) and I was watching a male orange-tip feeding on a cuckooflower and I noticed that as soon as a cloud covered the sun, the OT closed its wings and didin't move until the cloud cleared and sun came back, which it opened its wings for a few seconds to get the sun and then flew off.
I have seen this once before last year when it was sunny then suddenly a passing shower made the OT close its wings (also a male). Is this to do with conserving energy? Or to do with them no liking to fly in cloudy/dull conditions?
I have seen this once before last year when it was sunny then suddenly a passing shower made the OT close its wings (also a male). Is this to do with conserving energy? Or to do with them no liking to fly in cloudy/dull conditions?
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
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- Lee Hurrell
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
The latter I believe Dave. I've seen it a lot, as soon as the sun goes in they stop and roost. As it returns they become active again.
'No lighty, no likey' or something like that.
Cheers
Lee
'No lighty, no likey' or something like that.
Cheers
Lee
To butterfly meadows, chalk downlands and leafy glades; to summers eternal.
- Padfield
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
The cryptic colouration is on the underside. Like many other species, orange tips will fold their wings and 'blend in' during cooler spells, rather than expose themselves and try to carry on feeding.
Guy
Guy
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- Dave McCormick
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Thanks Lee and Guy, would explain why the OT was on the flower and didn't continue to feed, wouldn't think they would need to conserve energy especially as the flower was there and it just stopped feeding.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
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My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
I noticed the same behaviour today by a female. It arrived in my garden at about 12:00 and started feeding on cuckooflower. She remained on the same flower all afternoon moving underneath it during a thunderstorm at 15:00. I bet the neighbours wondered what i was up to outside on my hands and knees in my raincoat looking at the flower bed in the middle of a thunderstorm!! As I write this she is still in the same position showing no sign of movement.
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Olivia Orange Tip is still perching on the cuckooflower after 29 hours. We felt like we should name her as she's been here so long.
Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
A lot of butterfly species do this. It's one of my tricks to photographing them. I will often keep an eye on the sky and if I see a cloud coming I'll follow a butterfly as it will almost definitely settle once the cloud obscures the sun. Works with Dragonflies too.
In Provence last year during a long run of cold, damp and cloudy weather I could repeatedly visit butterflies settled on the same flowers for a couple of days.
In Provence last year during a long run of cold, damp and cloudy weather I could repeatedly visit butterflies settled on the same flowers for a couple of days.
- Dave McCormick
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
I have seen dragonflies do that in cloudy weather. Meadow browns still fly in dull weather, even seen them fluttering in rain before.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Olivia has laid 2 eggs! I'm so glad I made a butterfly garden last year it has brought me no end of joy.
Last edited by Butterfly Gardener on Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Last year we found a female Orange-tip sitting on top of a flowering dandelion in the middle of a largely flowerless patch of woodland. Very inactive, thanks to the cool, drab weather conditions - we took eye-level pics aplenty. That night Sam found a tick in her belly button...Butterfly Gardener wrote:Olivia Orange Tip is still perching on the cuckooflower after 29 hours. We felt like we should name her as she's been here so long.
The next afternoon the weather was still a bit drizzly and drab. Walking along the same track we were amazed to find the female Orange-tip still perched on top of her dandelion!
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Gibster and Sami.
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Just checked my belly button.........all is well.
Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Yeah some butterflies fly in quite cool temperatures still. Mostly brown ones actually. Wall, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, GateKeeper all spring to mind.Dave McCormick wrote:I have seen dragonflies do that in cloudy weather. Meadow browns still fly in dull weather, even seen them fluttering in rain before.
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Olivia is dead. I found 3 of her wings on the floor when I went to check on her this morning. What a rubbish start to the day!
- Rogerdodge
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Butterfly Gardener
I don't know how closely you looked at Olivia when she was settled, but it is my guess that she had been nabbed by a Crab Spider.
Fascinating little creatures that lie in wait, often camouflaged, for any insect that might chance to land on it's chosen flower head.
Very sad, but also fsacinating.
If you look closely at the flower head, there is a good chance it may still be there.
Resist the temptation for revenge please![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
I don't know how closely you looked at Olivia when she was settled, but it is my guess that she had been nabbed by a Crab Spider.
Fascinating little creatures that lie in wait, often camouflaged, for any insect that might chance to land on it's chosen flower head.
Very sad, but also fsacinating.
If you look closely at the flower head, there is a good chance it may still be there.
Resist the temptation for revenge please
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Cheers
Roger
Roger
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
I dont think there was a crab spider there as I studied the plant quite carefully in my hunt for eggs and caterpillars. Also she was moving a bit yesterday evening when the sun came out. I suspect something has crept up on her in the darkness.
I would never take revenge its all part of natures rich tapestry.
Jon
I would never take revenge its all part of natures rich tapestry.
Jon
- Pete Eeles
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
My only reason for posting in this thread, where he might see it, is to wish one of the longest-served members a Happy Birthday. So Happy Birthday, Dave!
Cheers,
- Pete
Cheers,
- Pete
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- Dave McCormick
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- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Thanks Pete
yeah I am not around much at moment but hopefully I'll be on more, the season is picking up here finally
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Hi Dave, Happy Birthday from Epsom!
I'm hoping to hop across to Ireland in a couple of weeks time with Sami, just for 2 or 3 days. I'm predominantly over for Real's Wood White and real Guinness, but was hoping to see the Irish form of Orange-tip whilst there. Can you tell me, are they still present in decent numbers, or are they tailing off now? Same for Brimstones.
Cheers mate,
Gibster.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I'm hoping to hop across to Ireland in a couple of weeks time with Sami, just for 2 or 3 days. I'm predominantly over for Real's Wood White and real Guinness, but was hoping to see the Irish form of Orange-tip whilst there. Can you tell me, are they still present in decent numbers, or are they tailing off now? Same for Brimstones.
Cheers mate,
Gibster.
Raising £10,000 for Butterfly Conservation by WALKING 1200 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats!!!
See http://www.justgiving.com/epicbutterflywalk or look up Epic Butterfly Walk on Facebook.
See http://www.justgiving.com/epicbutterflywalk or look up Epic Butterfly Walk on Facebook.
- Dave McCormick
- Posts: 2388
- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
- Location: Co Down, Northern Ireland
- Contact:
Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Thanks Gibster. I'll PM you
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
- Lee Hurrell
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Re: Orange-Tip behavoiur
Hope you had a good birthday Dave!
Lee
Lee
To butterfly meadows, chalk downlands and leafy glades; to summers eternal.