Hallo folks, I came across the forum whilst looking for info. I posted here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7127
Anyways I know next to nothing about butterflies, but just in the last 36 hours I have been paying a bit more attention, and have lots of questions. I shall put them here, and hope that a moderator or admin will direct them where they should go.
The common ones, Do they vary in size? ie whites and tortoiseshells, or are they different species?
Is there a dearth or shortage of Red Admirals this year? (I think I saw two of them today, but they were silhouetted against the sun, and may well have been summat else)
I think I have brimstones, could I be mixing them with another species? They are a buttery/buttermilk colour.
I saw a small one today, which I am almost certain I have not seen before. He politely sat for about 10 minutes, whilst I ran and got the camera, and sorted everything. I took about 10 good close-ups. Unfortunately I had the camera on a wrong setting, and there is nothing to see. He was small, grey/brown mottled. Big head and abdomen, hairy. I have tried on the ID site, and it comes up with this: http://www.britishbutterflies.co.uk/spe ... %20Skipper
Which somehow I doubt.
And..... What was that yellow one with orangey brown ?.... And are the little brown ones 'gatekeepers'? And the blue one? etc etc etc.
New to forum, and to butterflying (?)
Re: New to forum, and to butterflying (?)
They sure do vary in size between species and even within a single species, there can be a fair (certainly noticeable difference in size between male and female)wakou2 wrote:Do they vary in size? ie whites and tortoiseshells, or are they different species?
Yes. They were badly hit by the abnormally cold spring. I didn't see my first till almost July!!Is there a dearth or shortage of Red Admirals this year?
Male Brimstones are pale yellow. Females are a greenish tinged cream colour. It's easy to mistake females for Large Whites in flight.I think I have brimstones, could I be mixing them with another species? They are a buttery/buttermilk colour.
Re: New to forum, and to butterflying (?)
Welcome to the forum. Do look at the 'front pages' of this website as there's loads of information about butterflies there.
I think you should also get yourself a field guide, which will answer a lot of your questions. A good small guide is the "Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland" Written and illustrated by Richard Lewington, available from http://www.britishwildlife.com/bwpbooksview.asp for £8. A more comprehensive and very interesting book is "The Butterflies of Britain & Ireland (2nd Edition)" by Jeremy Thomas, illustrated by Richard Lewington - £25 from the same publisher. If you like to see photographs then I like "Photographic Guide to British Moths and Butterflies" by Chris Manley, A&C Black 2008.
Mike
I think you should also get yourself a field guide, which will answer a lot of your questions. A good small guide is the "Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland" Written and illustrated by Richard Lewington, available from http://www.britishwildlife.com/bwpbooksview.asp for £8. A more comprehensive and very interesting book is "The Butterflies of Britain & Ireland (2nd Edition)" by Jeremy Thomas, illustrated by Richard Lewington - £25 from the same publisher. If you like to see photographs then I like "Photographic Guide to British Moths and Butterflies" by Chris Manley, A&C Black 2008.
Mike
Re: New to forum, and to butterflying (?)
Thank you Mike