www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

When looking at some photographs I took last week, I noticed that a Grizzled Skipper has what appears to be a very hairy knee. Artefact or real, any ideas?

Looks like it's picked up a bit of debris on its travels, Wolfson. Maybe a tiny, newly unfurling piece of pine growth.

David M wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 2:47 pm Looks like it's picked up a bit of debris on its travels, Wolfson. Maybe a tiny, newly unfurling piece of pine growth.

Thanks David, a very impressive artefact then.

If it is an artefact Wolfson then this one from Martin Down has it as well...could they have very hairy knees but it's not been noticed before? Have a goodun

Wurzel

May and the Glanvilles are back in Wiltshire for another year - good numbers and very fresh! They've also cropped up at a couple of places over the nearby border in Dorset The Dukes are going well still at Fovant Badges too... Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 6:47 pm May and the Glanvilles are back in Wiltshire for another year - good numbers and very fresh!

Interesting news Wurzel. I didn't know that they were in Wiltshire. Are there any sites with guaranteed sightings? How long does this species fly for? I am suddenly thinking of making that long drive with this news. It sort of makes them seem a bit nearer.

Tuesday 17th - First Painted Ladies of the year seen on Fairwood Common, Gower:

First Meadow Brown of the year seen in East Hoathly near Rowland Wood/Park Corner Heath today

Was very sunny either side of lunch but a bit too drizzly during my 45 minute break to venture outside. Hate it when that happens.

Did spot this thing leaping out of a tray of litre calibrachoa callie. For a small thing it leapt a hell of a way.

I think it's a Slender Groundhopper, but that's no guarantee that's what it is.

If it is an artefact Wolfson then this one from Martin Down has it as well...could they have very hairy knees but it's not been noticed before?

Thanks Wurzel, hard to imagine what purpose they serve.

Otep wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 7:21 pm

Wurzel wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 6:47 pm May and the Glanvilles are back in Wiltshire for another year - good numbers and very fresh!

Interesting news Wurzel. I didn't know that they were in Wiltshire. Are there any sites with guaranteed sightings? How long does this species fly for? I am suddenly thinking of making that long drive with this news. It sort of makes them seem a bit nearer.

Otep, White Sheet Hill in west Wiltshire. A number released a few of years ago are now self sustained.

Brimstone Ovipositing
Near Lincoln, Lincolnshire, I saw this on Sunday 8th & Friday 13th May 2022 (Might have been the same female).
Brimstone larval Instar were now large enough to be seen on top of leaves, but possibly not quite big enough, to fully interest a hungry bird, in repetitive feeding behaviour.
I wasn’t quite sure whether to share this on my diary page, but because seasonal timing, related to location was quite specific, I have left it in May 2022
I thought that this was now the time, to protect garden habitat (bespoke for land owners) from predators, so that more Brimstone butterflies, might be released, later. .
Freshly emerged from pupa, Adult butterflies, I expected, (independently guesstimated today) to be approximately 10th -15th July, near Lincoln.
I saw a migrant Painted Lady, near Lincoln today (May 25th).

#Large Tortoiseshell (Was Governmental Permission required, for habitat cage to protect larvae from predation? I haven’t seen & identified a Large Tortoiseshell yet, in any part of it’s Life Cycle.
I was born in 1970,
Kind Regards

bugboy wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 8:11 pmFirst Meadow Brown of the year seen in East Hoathly near Rowland Wood/Park Corner Heath today

Wow. Didn't realise the season was so advanced!

David M wrote: ↑Wed May 25, 2022 7:21 am

bugboy wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 8:11 pmFirst Meadow Brown of the year seen in East Hoathly near Rowland Wood/Park Corner Heath today

Wow. Didn't realise the season was so advanced!

Yup, summer's here!

bugboy wrote: ↑Wed May 25, 2022 8:11 amYup, summer's here!

Not here it isn't!

Wurzel wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 6:45 pm If it is an artefact Wolfson then this one from Martin Down has it as well...could they have very hairy knees but it's not been noticed before?
DSC_0596 - Copy.JPG

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi, Gang
The 'hairy knees' in the genus Pyrgus are erectile pencils of scent scales found in the males and are used for chemical communication during courtship.
Cheers, Ade

The 'hairy knees' in the genus Pyrgus are erectile pencils of scent scales found in the males and are used for chemical communication during courtship.

Thank you for your explanation, fascinating.

adrian riley wrote: ↑Wed May 25, 2022 10:08 am Hi, Gang
The 'hairy knees' in the genus Pyrgus are erectile pencils of scent scales found in the males and are used for chemical communication during courtship.
Cheers, Ade

My learning of the day Ade and what a cracking factoid that is. Cheers ! As ever I shall say that casually in conversation as being my own knowledge.

David M wrote: ↑Wed May 25, 2022 9:16 am

bugboy wrote: ↑Wed May 25, 2022 8:11 amYup, summer's here!

Not here it isn't!

Yes, same here. I have taken up blanket grey cloud spotting and during May I have been particularly blessed with my new hobby.

Stevieb wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 8:35 pm

Otep wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 7:21 pm

Wurzel wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 6:47 pm May and the Glanvilles are back in Wiltshire for another year - good numbers and very fresh!

Interesting news Wurzel. I didn't know that they were in Wiltshire. Are there any sites with guaranteed sightings? How long does this species fly for? I am suddenly thinking of making that long drive with this news. It sort of makes them seem a bit nearer.

Otep, White Sheet Hill in west Wiltshire. A number released a few of years ago are now self sustained.

Thanks Stevie. I have looked at where that is precisely on the map and that looks like an agreeable drive to me. I suppose that now I need to get there during their window, with that window now being open.