www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi Pete
That looks like a fantastic piece of work and well worth all that immense time and effort. I can hardly wait

This looks to be a valuable contribution to the literature. I'm fascinated by the different strategies the various species use to get through the winter, with techniques based around each of the life stages.

I do hope that you have a smoother run to publication than the Borneo Butterflies book, which I've been awaiting for three years - it seems to be what the computer world calls 'vapourware'.

When you are knighted (probably along with Neil H), please, please ask the Queen if Minnie can come to the ceremony.

I think this will be the most important book on British butterflies to appear since Frohawk.

Guy

Those early stage images plus the intended cover for the book look positively mouthwatering, Pete.

There's certainly a niche in the market for this and you've homed in on it.

I shall look forward immensely to buying the finished product.

Thanks Wurzel, Bugboy, Paul, Mike, Guy and David! It’s all very exciting and writing the species descriptions is very time-consuming … I’m averaging out about one species per week given the amount of material that is available on most of them that I need to read, but I’m learning a heck of a lot in the process! The book also now has a website

http://www.butterflylifecycles.com

Cheers,

- Pete

This looks amazing Pete Just sponsored a species - early Christmas present to myself

Have a goodun

Wurzel

As Wurzel's already said, it looks absolutely fantastic! I'm also going to head straight over and bag myself a species. Might it be possible to include a very short dedication in the sponsorship slots (as per the upcoming Moth Atlas) or is the space too limited?

Wurzel wrote:Just sponsored a species - early Christmas present to myself

Looking at the species which have already gone, and remembering your comments on my PD this year, I think I can guess which one!

Wow. This really does look brilliant, Pete. I've also dived in and sponsored a species - many on here will be able to guess which one!

Don't work too hard - looking forward to seeing you at the Social in November.

Cheers,

Dave

Thanks all!

CallumMac wrote:Might it be possible to include a very short dedication in the sponsorship slots (as per the upcoming Moth Atlas)?

Yes, that’s fine.

Cheers,

- Pete

I reckon there's a new game in this - pin the species to the sponsor

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote:I reckon there's a new game in this - pin the species to the sponsor

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Yeah - I'm learning a lot about the UKB members as species get sponsored - some "matches" have surprised me!

Cheers,

- Pete

Had to be Brown Hairstreak for me as it's my #1 most loved species!

Good job it wasn't Purple Emperor as they'd already been bagged - I reckon I can predict who two of the sponsors were!

Really looking forward to this. Just sponsored a species, no prizes for guessing which one I have gone for

Cheers,

Neil.

Neil Freeman wrote:...no prizes for guessing which one I have gone for

I guess one that regularly appears in your garden, Neil?

This sounds like a good game for the Xmas social!

Anyway - I reared through a few Holly Blue larvae this year for one reason - to get a decent shot of the ichneumon wasp Listrodomus nycthemerus whose sole host is the Holly Blue. The wasp lays its eggs in early instar Holly Blue larvae, one egg per larva, with the adult wasp eventually emerging from the Holly Blue pupa, as shown here with the decapitated pupal case where it made its exit. I guess this is a male since it has no ovipositor - but a spectacular insect nonetheless!
Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks for this, Pete. We read a lot about these parasitic wasps but rarely do we actually see them.

I presume your book will go a long way to putting that right?

David M wrote:Thanks for this, Pete. We read a lot about these parasitic wasps but rarely do we actually see them.

I presume your book will go a long way to putting that right?

Thanks David. Due to space constraints, I'm having to limit a few things (e.g. no aberrations are included given the focus of the book) and parasitoids is one of those areas where we'll only be including those that are a significant element of the life cycle - such as those associated with the Holly Blue (Listrodomus nycthemerus), Large White (Apanteles glomeratus) and Marsh Fritillary (Cotesia bignelli).

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks for that, Pete. I'm looking forward to it immensely. It should fill many gaps in our collective understanding of the life cycle of butterflies and the threats they face.

Roll on publication.

Hi Pete,

When I saw your photo of the (Listrodomus nycthemerusis) wasp I did a double take because I'd seen an insect that looked very similar before. At first glance it could be easy to confuse the two so to avoid any misidentifications in the field I thought it might be worth showing it here. The green markings are more extensive and it's probably quite a bit larger. When I first saw one I thought it might be a type of ichneumon wasp but after a bit of research I discovered it was a predatory Sawfly (Rhogogaster viridis)

Best Wishes

James.

Thanks James - similar indeed! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

- Pete