Botany Bay

[Padfield]

Surely it is a female-can someone confirm.I have some shots with it even browner than this!

To use a phrase that has echoed around the Kingdom tonight, 'It's a boy!'

Girls are a different shape (as the Palace spokesman might have added, but didn't).

Guy

[Neil Hulme]

Hi P.J.,
Any purple ... it's a male. But lack of purple, despite trying different angles, doesn't mean it's a female. The purple can be very hard to achieve under certain light conditions. This leads to a huge number of (male) butterflies being incorrectly sexed.
BWs, Neil

[P.J.Underwood]

To both of you thanks-a brilliant piece of information not really found in books.
P.J.U.

[P.J.Underwood]

"a white admiral sunning itself on my drive"
John,A further thought:
What was it doing there when it has a back garden like yours to enjoy? If anyone wants to create a butterfly area just look at this photo-John's field for butterflies,that I was lucky enough to visit this weekend.
P.J.U.

[Jack Harrison]

That naughty Guy:

Girls are a different shape (as the Palace spokesman might have added, but didn't).

Names for the young lad need not be traditional: Nigel, Wayne, Shane, Kevin spring to mind.

But I presume they will have to stick to the tried and tested approved list , eg Richard, later to become "King Dick" as in the famous brand of spanners, eg a "King Dick Open End Podger".

http://www.alanwadkinstoolstore.co.uk/h ... -17mm-p385

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

John's field for butterflies

You have been keeping very quiet about that John. Paul Kipling is another wildflower garden expert and we can all learn from combined experiences. So do tell us more.

Jack

[JohnR]

You have been keeping very quiet about that John. Paul Kipling is another wildflower garden expert and we can all learn from combined experiences. So do tell us more.
Jack

Botany Bay is like a theme park on a hot day, Oaken Wood has dog poo. I hope that I can tempt their butterflies over to my gourmet field and the woods behind. All I need is a Wood White and I shall die happy. Somehow the butterflies don't want to make the 2 km trip upwind but it's been the best July that I have known with Browns, Whites and those Little Skippers who appreciate an Essex girl. Even things like seeing just one Marbled White last year passing through to seeing seven today, all nectaring, gives me pleasure.
As to the increase in moths ..... I better not mention moffs in a butterfly forum

[P.J.Underwood]

This photo shows another reason why the Purple emperor is successful in Surrey.It is widespread-this was taken near Hydon's Ball,and it is versatile.This one is taking its mineral shot from the side of a swimming pool.We have many of the latter in Surrey.
P.J.U.

[Jack Harrison]

....swimming pool.We have many of the latter in Surrey.

That rather neatly adds to my earlier theme about dogs and PEs. Stockbrokers/bankers/lawyers who can afford a swimming pool AND a dog all help boost the Purple Emperor population.

Maybe The City should adopt the Purple Emperor as its logo.

Jack

[JohnR]

TThis one is taking its mineral shot from the side of a swimming pool.We have many of the latter in Surrey.
P.J.U.

And they are a real nuisance to pool owners as I have to go round the covered pool as least once a day with a butterfly net to chase them out, otherwise they are inconsiderate enough to die and litter the place. The pool and my greenhouse supply me with specimens to mount though I do often have to press them between the pages of the family bible to get them into any sort of decent shape, but that's easier than using drawing pins through the wings to get them flat.

[P.J.Underwood]

Are you saying you get Purple Emperors inside your covered pool? I get all the common ones inside my greenhouse and conservatory.
P.J.U.

[MikeOxon]

I have to go round the covered pool as least once a day with a butterfly net to chase them out

Surely, you get your man to do that

[JohnR]

Surely, you get your man to do that

SWMBO says it's my job as I like butterflies

[Jack Harrison]

MikeOxon made a sexist comment:

Surely, you get your man to do that

Didn't you mean a "member of your staff"? (non gender specific). I'm sure John's member would qualify for a tax break.

Jack

[MikeOxon]

If we are not allowed a Gentleman's Gentleman any more, it'll have to be a Gentleperson's Gentleperson, I suppose.

Mike

[Jack Harrison]

We aren’t being fair. For all we know, John might be an impecunious banker.

Jack

[P.J.Underwood]

He doesn't look like one to me.
P.J.U.

[JohnR]

MikeOxon made a sexist comment:

Surely, you get your man to do that

Didn't you mean a "member of your staff"? (non gender specific). I'm sure John's member would qualify for a tax break.
Jack

If you know a way for me to get tax back on it I'll apply. I rely on my banker neighbours to let me record lepidoptera on their land; their gamekeepers sow patches of nectar cover for me and think that I am a total fruit cake but I get reports of unusual birds in the area like black kites and eagle owls and slowly I persuade them that conservation helps us both.
Oh, you mean the field? Try marrying a successful business woman, she even let me buy a tractor to use in Oaken Wood.

[P.J.Underwood]

As well as being a stalwart of the winter working parties in Oaken Wood with his tractor,flail cutter and trailer,John is an expert with a chain saw.I don't think we should let this thread develop so he might feel inclined to use it on one of us!
P.J.U.

[Susie]

So, changing the subject, second brood wood white are out.