www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thank Wurzel I will try and keep everyone posted on the pupae, though I've found when I breed things I have an uncanny ability to miss the emergence!

Orange Tip Pupa

With every day that passes now, I'm getting closer to my first Orange Tip of the year, I give my home grown pupa three days...

Great sequence of shots William Are you hoping that your emerging OT's are going to be your first of the year? If so you must be doing the opposite of me - driving and walking places and purposefully NOT scanning the hedgerows and verges :lol:Currently I have a running tally of near misses - 3 head on, 12 clipping the verge and 6 drifting over cat's eyes and still no OT's - maybe this week some time?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel, I think we're quite far behind in West Somerset (due to altitude and general rubbish weather), so I fear that when Osmund emerges he will indeed be my first Orange Tip . I've managed to catch up with Green - Veined White now, so Orange Tips can't be too far away.

Nice sequence of Orange-tip pupa shots William have you had an emergence yet

I'm on tenterhooks here William, is there any news?

B'saurus

No news from you yet William so I'm thinking nothing yet Goldie

Thanks guys for all the kind words....I shall put you out of your misery

Osmund Emerges

After a long wait, I was lucky enough to look out of the Kitchen Door yesterday and spot 'Osmund' doing his thing, I felt truly privileged to witness something as beautiful as his emergence, which was surprisingly fast, about 20 seconds.
I'm always a sucker for close ups - I love the way the yellow and black scales blend to make green, so I took a couple whilst he was freshly - emerged and doddery.
His first flight was just over an hour after emergence, revealing suprisingly heavy black markings.
I saw my first Orange Tip 3 days before 'Osmund' emerged and they've been a constant presence in the garden since, I think they'll have quite a good year. I've also had my first Holly Blues (which seem to be doing well this year), Brimstones, Small Whites and Green - Veined Whites, so things are well underway.

Amazing photos of the emerging Osmund!

Well William, what can I say it was more than worth all of that suspense. Simply stunning

Osmund the Orange Tip on the wing at last.

B'saurus

The Osmund sequence is outstanding. I'm really impressed, by your pictures and accompanying observations (and I'm not just saying this because you have made kind comments in my own diary! ).

Guy

Fantastic series of shots William - the bit that stands out for me is the general wafting around of the proboscis, a bit like a human sticking their tongue out when concentrating

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Katrina and Butterflysaurus - it was a pleasure to watch it happen, I was amazed by how determined he seemed, and he very quickly wriggled free of his pupa.
Thank you Guy - your kind comments are much appreciated, there's a reason I always post on your diary, your pictures are fantastic (and I have a soft spot for big nymphalids and hairstreaks ).
Cheers Wurzel, he flicked his head (and his tongue) around a lot as he emerged, I think to provide some forward momentum - I was suprised to notice that his proboscis is actually divided into two parts as he emerged - the things we notice wen we have time to observe in detail

There's nothing left for me to say William - the others have said it all. Truly magical . I'd be interested to know how long the emergence took.

That's A* work, William - very well done,

Rob

Yep,that is a trully awesome sequence of shots,excellent.

Thanks everyone - your kind words are much appreciated

Pauline - I was suprised at just how quick the emergence was, I don't know how long it had been going for when I took the first photo, but from then to the last emergence picture is 19 seconds. He seemed very determined to be free, and after a bit of head wriggling he crawled straight out.

Thanks Rob and Buchan Boy - it was an incredible experience

Great work William

Vince

A wonderful report William - really good work.

Your close up images are phenomenal! I had never noticed scales all the way down a butterfly's legs before.

Outstanding.

Best wishes,

Lee