www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Years ago, I used to collect Red Admiral larvae in Malta and bring them back here (wasn't illegal in those days). The favoured foodplant surprisingly was Mallow. Larvae were very easy to find in Malta but I have had much less success in Britain - obviously faulty technique on my part. So thanks Pete for you tips.

I used to find a very high percentage of Maltese larvae were parasitised. Presumably it is a very similar situation here. Can anyone throw light on this?

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote:I used to find a very high percentage of Maltese larvae were parasitised. Presumably it is a very similar situation here. Can anyone throw light on this?

My experience is that when Red Admirals are here in good numbers, only a very small percentage are parasitised. However, when they're not here in good numbers, it seems a much larger percentage are parasitised. May be just a numbers game, assuming the number of parasitic flies remains constant.

Cheers,

- Pete

Fantastic pictures Pete. You have got me quite excited about the coming year!

25th February

Managed to spend a good chunk of time looking for Purple Hairstreak ova on oaks close to my house. I managed to find 7 in total in about 45 minutes. I also found a well-disguised shield bug that possibly explains the holes found in 2 of these ova. I also found a couple of egg-remnants from last year. I'll be conducting another search sometime this coming week and will take some photos (and post them!).

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Social

A great turnout form the first social event of the year, and really pleasing to see several new members present (and presenting!). Many wonderful photos were shown and some really interesting stories of what members have been up to. I don't think that an interest in butterflies and moths has ever been so great. Roll on the 2011 season proper! Certainly a nice diversion from the winter months until spring really kicks into action, and nice to see several UKB members present too!

Pete Eeles wrote:Hampshire and Isle of Wight Social

Shirley and I really enjoyed the afternoon ... a great start to the 2011 Butterfly year ...

Clive

Marsh Fritillary larvae

With the sudden burst of Spring activity, and having seen my first butterfly of the year a few days ago (a Small Tortoiseshell, as it happens), I decided to pay a visit to a Marsh Fritillary site to see if I could find any post-hibernation larvae. Well, only a thousand or so! Following a tip off of an explosion in numbers this year, I found myself almost stumbling over the things as they wandered aimlessly over the footpath! I also managed to find abandoned larval webs, singletons and many dark clusters of larvae that were collectively warming up on any dark surface (such as a leaf or cow dung!) to help them digest their most-recent meal. All in all - a most wonderful couple of hours! Some photos below.

Cheers,

- Pete

Following a tip off of an explosion in numbers this year...

Pete. I realise that it is inappropriate to ask you to divulge your source, but why does your contact think that? Was it the bitterly cold early winter? Or early spring warmth? Or was it a good season in 2010? Or favourable phase in a parasitic cycle?

Can you offer any insights?

Good piccies. Reminds me of a visit to Hod Hill some 40 years ago.

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote:

Following a tip off of an explosion in numbers this year...

Pete. I realise that it is inappropriate to ask you to divulge your source, but why does your contact think that? Was it the bitterly cold early winter? Or early spring warmth? Or was it a good season in 2010? Or favourable phase in a parasitic cycle? Can you offer any insights?

Actually, it was Matthew Oates (who posted on the Purple Empire on Feb 21st - http://apaturairis.blogspot.com/). Although I spoke with him a couple of days ago I didn't ask him why he thought there was an increase in numbers and can only assume it's part of the lengthy cycle of "ups" and "downs" associated with Marsh Frits, the combination of a cold winter and good weather in early summer, together with first class habitat management. I'll ask him next time we talk.

Cheers,

- Pete

Pete Eeles wrote:Following a tip off of an explosion in numbers this year

I predicted this on UKB in my post of Feb 25th...
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4912&start=20

felix wrote:The signs are that this Spring could be amazing for certain species. Just wait until the Marsh Frits emerge, if the weather is favourable for swift larval development in the preceding months they are going to reach pest levels on some sites..!

You heard it here first chaps!

Not much happening around here, so I decided to get some photos to fill a gap in the UKB species pages - specifically, a couple of Chalkhill Blue ova that I'll be rearing through. It also gave me an excuse to get my head around my new camera

Canon 7D
With flash
3 extension tubes
150mm macro
1/50s at f/10
ISO 400
Tweaking in Lightroom (especially noise reduction, which is just superb!)

Cheers,

- Pete

Tweaking in Lightroom (especially noise reduction, which is just superb!)

I don't know about Lightroom, but Noiseware:
http://www.imagenomic.com/
is very good for dealing with noise. It can apparently be used with Lightroom but I use it as a stand-alone.

Brilliant close-ups Pete.

Jack

Pete Eeles wrote:Not much happening around here, so I decided to get some photos to fill a gap in the UKB species pages - specifically, a couple of Chalkhill Blue ova that I'll be rearing through.

Have yours not hatched yet Pete?

Felix wrote:

Pete Eeles wrote:Not much happening around here, so I decided to get some photos to fill a gap in the UKB species pages - specifically, a couple of Chalkhill Blue ova that I'll be rearing through.

Have yours not hatched yet Pete?

Nope. Although I'm sure they're imminent, which is why I scrambled to get the photos I did!

Cheers,

- Pete

In the Garden

I was hoping to get out to see some Orange-tips today, but the cooler temperature and occasional drizzle means that's unlikely. However, I had a new visitor to the garden this morning. Not the best piccy in the world, but evidence nonetheless! And THAT has definitely made my day!

Cheers,

- Pete

Pete
I am not an expert on birds (or anything else if the truth be told) but I am seeing many reports of Waxwings "hanging about" till the spring.
I seem to recall that they are a strict winter visitor, and rarely stayed beyond February.
Certainly not as far south as you are!!
Is something odd happening here?

Waxwings are still knocking about the Salisbury area too Mr H....

Felix.

Cracking pic, Pete, you must be chuffed to bits with seeing one of those. They are lovely.

Susie wrote:Cracking pic, Pete, you must be chuffed to bits with seeing one of those. They are lovely.

Very pleased Just wished I wasn't on a conference call at the time, otherwise I'd have gotten a decent pic Although a local "bully boy" Blackbird chased it off.

But certainly something I won't forget for a while!

Cheers,

- Pete

Iris on the Move

Today saw a mass movement of iris larvae from their overwintering sites to nearby buds, with a large amount of variance in terms of hardly-opened buds to those well on the way to putting forth foliage any day. Anyway - a comparison of various sites is shown below. T'will be interesting watching these critters develop.

Cheers,

- Pete