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Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 5:41 pm
by badgerbob
Thanks Jason, James and David. It was certainly the highlight of my insect year so far!!
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:01 pm
by Wurzel
Just catching up with things after a weekend in the loft
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
and WOW
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
That has got to be the most stunning Moth I've seen/not seen!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:27 pm
by badgerbob
Yes Wurzel. It was a WOW moment for me!! Today I was hoping to find another one, preferably a male, but not unexpectedly I failed!! I also once again failed on the Wall pupa hunt. The good thing about spending time doing these hunts though is that you never know what else you will turn up. On Sunday of course, I wouldn't have found the Emperor Moth if I hadn't been pupa hunting. In doing this over the last couple of years I have found a few scarce moths that were not known from this small area. Today I found yet another Wall larva which was just about fully grown, this gives me hope that there are still plenty of larva to turn into my quarry. I also found today what I am almost sure is a green form Marbled White larva, at first I thought it was a Speckled Wood but on looking on this site and also in the books the Specklie has a green head. I hope that Pete or Vince will confirm the id!! To waste a bit of time today I also attempted photographing one of the local Robins that I think have some chicks in a nest nearby.
![DSC_9504 (1024x680).jpg (330.76 KiB) Viewed 804 times Green form Marbled White larva?](./files/thumb_10225_7cc3a8de9f23532bcfa6c9a1a64b1ee4)
- Green form Marbled White larva?
![DSC_9506 (1024x680).jpg (327.96 KiB) Viewed 804 times Robin](./files/thumb_10225_82035bf44f06cad5806fe3fb886f8a7b)
- Robin
http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 5:31 pm
by badgerbob
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:15 pm
by Butterflysaurus rex
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:22 pm
by Neil Freeman
Hi Bob,
Great photo of the threesome. I also like the male Orange tip, great combination of colours
Cheers,
Neil.
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:49 pm
by Wurzel
Fantastic shots of the OT's and egg laying Small Torts
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I saw a Comma showing the same posture the other day and now I know what it was up to.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:32 pm
by badgerbob
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:52 pm
by Butterflysaurus rex
Excellent stuff Bob, great to know the Green Hairstreaks have started. I had a look for some Speckled wood today but it seems they were hanging out with you instead
Best Wishes,
B'saurus
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 10:43 pm
by Pete Eeles
badgerbob wrote:This included one group of 3 butterflies all laying on the same nettle!!
Just catching up after a week away from home, and I have to say that's one of the most incredible things I've ever seen!!! Absolutely amazing!
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 10:46 pm
by Wurzel
Cheers Bob
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
But they're up there with my favourites now that I know of three definite sites to see them
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 4:09 pm
by badgerbob
I'm amazed at the response to the three Small Tortoiseshells laying on the same nettle. Today I met up with Downland Boy who was hoping to see a Marbled White larva. He arrived before I could get there and as I was rushing to catch up with him I saw my first Wall Brown adult of the year, a pristine male. Once looking for the larva a near fully grown Wall larva was seen before I stumbled across the first Marbled White larva, once again the green form. Shortly after the 'Boy' found a brown form. Following this another 6 green form were found in a pretty quick time. All the Marbled White larva were not much bigger than 1 cm in length.
![DSC_9593 (1024x662).jpg (296.67 KiB) Viewed 703 times Marbled White larva brown form.](./files/thumb_10225_1f8f4a1a23871603baab3acc9fb7f4b4)
- Marbled White larva brown form.
![DSC_9594 (1024x664).jpg (278.79 KiB) Viewed 703 times top view of green form.](./files/thumb_10225_1c090e64f7bbf8d8a94eeb5f860ee122)
- top view of green form.
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:01 pm
by Pauline
Well done finding those larva Bob - I have never seen Marbled White before and your shots have inspired me to look for some when opportunity permits.
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:36 pm
by badgerbob
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 4:37 pm
by badgerbob
I didn't have a lot of time this morning so it was just a quick dash around my little patch. I was very pleased however to see both male and female Wall Brown as well as the pupa and larva. I'm not quite sad enough to search for an egg to make up the full set!!! Well maybe when there are lots more females about! Yes I am actually quite sad.
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 5:20 pm
by robpartridge
Some might call it sad but that sort of dedication puts me to shame! Respect!
Rob
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 6:39 pm
by William
Superb stuff Badgerbob, that set of life stages is a testament to your hard work, and brilliant photos to boot
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 6:42 pm
by Pete Eeles
William wrote:Superb stuff Badgerbob, that set of life stages is a testament to your hard work, and brilliant photos to boot
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I completely agree with the posts above - incredible dedication and just rewards!
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:26 pm
by David M
That's a tremendous image of the Wall Brown pupa, Bob.
An A+ rating if ever I saw one.
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:24 pm
by badgerbob
Thanks to you all very much for the comments about the Wall immature stages. To think I was almost on the point of giving up on the pupa as there was so many other delights happening but that challenge of finding these immature stages in the wild is addictive. As I mentioned on an earlier post when looking for a particular target it is amazing what else turns up, like the Marbled White larvae and the Emperor Moth, totally unexpected and so rewarding. I now have the fun of following the pupa as it gradually changes and hopefully this one will complete the cycle unlike the one I found 2 years ago!!