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Earnley Butterflies, 12 April 2012 – Part 6

Continued …

The beautiful Zebra Mosaic (Colobura dirce).

Lord's Piece, 15 April 2012

Cricket season …

The Field Cricket (Gryllus campestris) is a large, glossy black cricket (in its adult form) with a distinctively large head, particularly in the male. The nymphs exhibit a beautiful golden pubescence. It is one of the rarest insects in the British Isles and is confined to a small area of the South Downs in West Sussex and Hampshire. Its habitat has been destroyed over much of its former range and it now exists in only one native site but has been introduced to a series of other suitable locations. It is now the subject of a Species Recovery Programme, having reached an estimated population low of just fifty pairs in 1991, all in one small area of West Sussex, the second known colony having gone extinct two years previously.

It can be difficult to see G. campestris without potentially damaging its habitat and this is not permitted because it is a protected species in the UK. Access to the release sites is very restricted because the populations are still extremely fragile and vulnerable to disturbance. However, their beautiful song can be heard from a distance of more than 100m on warm days during May and early June. If they are present, you will quickly know about them. A search of entomological literature suggests that G. campestris has long enjoyed a reputation far outweighing its proven presence in England. This is largely due to the writings of Gilbert White who described part of its life history, as well as that of the secret art of tickling them from their burrows (nymphs and adults will rapidly retreat down their burrows when disturbed but may be induced to come out again by the gentle insertion of a blade of grass).

Today, along with my son James, I joined good friend and fellow entomologist Mike Edwards, who has been leading the Gryllus recovery programme for over 20 years. Our task, to find, photograph and capture final instar nymphs for relocation at a nearby partner site.

Please note: Our activities were being carried out in line with current best practice and legislation. It is illegal to disturb or interfere with Field Crickets in any way unless doing so under the conditions of a licence issued by English Nature.

I hope they enjoy their new home ...

I'll be back when the adults are singing ...

Great story and pics Mark, thanks for sharing.

Tickling Crickets eh? That's not a piece of knowledge I expected to learn! I'm also surprised by how big they are, quite stocky looking really, cheers for some more natural history knowledge.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Colin,

Many thanks for your kind comments.

Colin Knight wrote:Great story and pics Mark, thanks for sharing.

I'm really glad you enjoyed the story and pictures from what was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Hi Wurzel,

Many thanks for your kind comments.

Wurzel wrote:cheers for some more natural history knowledge

I always try to please.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Rewell Wood, 16 April 2012

My first this year ...

The beautiful Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

Nice! Hopefully the weather will pick up in the next week or two and then I might be able to find them in Bentley Wood...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Lovely photo Mark. The background really compliments the butterfly.

All the best,

Nick.

Exciting times ahead (if ever we get a break from the cold, wet weather).

Hi Guys,

Many thanks for your messages.

Wurzel wrote:Nice!

hideandseek wrote:Lovely photo Mark. The background really compliments the butterfly.

And David ...

Thanks for mentioning cold wet weather as that's exactly what I've woken up to this morning ... please try to keep in South Wales!

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Earnley Butterflies, 17 April 2012 – Part 7

Emergence ...

The beautiful Asian Swallowtail (Papilio memnon lowii).

Earnley Butterflies, 17 April 2012 – Part 8

9 carat gold ...

The One-spotted Prepona (Archaeoprepona demophon).

The bright turquoise blue bands on the upperside rarely seen at rest.

Earnley Butterflies, 19 April 2012 – Part 9

9 carat gold (revisited) ...

The One-spotted Prepona (Archaeoprepona demophon).

Earnley Butterflies, 20 April 2012 – Part 10

Scarlet fever ...

To brighten up a very wet day ...

The luscious Scarlet Swallowtail
 (Papilio rumanzovia).

Earnley Butterflies, 24 April 2012 – Part 11

Butterfly of Death ...

The Lime Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus).

Sussex BC Annual Report

Issue 4 (Spring 2012) of The Sussex Butterfly Report, the annual review of the previous year (2011) by Sussex Butterfly Conservation, was published and distributed to members today. Running to 72 full colour pages, the publication is full of numerous interesting articles including a fascinating insight into the history of Butterfly Conservation’s Park Corner Heath and Rowland Wood reserve, located in East Sussex.

Available to non-members for a mere £2 plus postage and packing (no that’s not a typo it is ONLY £2), an early purchase is highly recommended. Please visit http://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk for details of how to obtain your copy.

All proceeds go to the conservation of butterflies in Sussex.

It won't be around for long ...

Earnley Butterflies, 25 April 2012 – Part 12

The antidote …

… to rather inclement weather …

Earnley Butterflies, 27 April 2012 – Part 13

Sheep in wolf’s clothing ...

The Common Mime (Papilio clytia) belongs to the Chilasa group or the Black-bodied Swallowtails. It appears in a number of different forms and is an excellent example of a Batesian mimic i.e. it shares indicators similar to the model (the insect being imitated) but does not possess the attribute(s) that makes it unbeneficial to predators e.g. unpalatability.

The form dissimilis mimics the Blue Tiger (Tirumala limniace).

Conserving the Duke of Burgundy, 28 April 2012

On the edge ...

Yesterday I attended a Duke of Burgundy workshop organised by Butterfly Conservation and held at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park near Petersfield in Hampshire.

The event was billed as “An opportunity to share experience of the ecology and conservation of one of Britain’s most threatened butterflies, looking at examples from around the country. An indoor session of talks will be followed by a site visit to Butser Hill, one of the largest Duke colonies in the country, to look at suitable habitat, management techniques and (weather permitting!) see the butterfly”.

Dr Dan Hoare opened the proceedings giving a detailed and very interesting and informative outline of the Dukes on the Edge Project (conserving the Duke of Burgundy in southeast England). Dan was followed by Neil Hulme, who gave a comprehensive and experienced talk covering the efforts being undertaken to conserve the Duke in Sussex, with particular reference to Heysott Escarpment. The most important message that came across, was that of long-term conservation being about the successful maintenance of numerous metapopulations existing over networks of suitable habitat on a landscape rather than localized scale. Tim Bernhard followed and presented the findings from his research project “A comparative study of the Duke of Burgundy in woodland and downland in Hampshire”. Dr Sam Ellis (Butterfly Conservation's Senior Regional Officer) finished the highly thought provoking indoor proceedings explaining the conservation activities being undertaken in northern England at the Duke's most northerly range.

Following a brief interlude for lunch, those of us hard enough (or maybe that should be foolhardy) and with climbing gear at the ready, headed for the beautiful Butser Hill National Nature Reserve in what can only be described as “not the best weather conditions”. The advice of “bring appropriate clothing and footwear – the field visit involves significant steep slopes and uneven ground” was well placed as the ground was often slippery under foot and the slopes were extremely steep. Though sheltered in the valley floor, the cold driving wind, rain and low cloud really wasn’t welcomed, particularly as we headed back to the car park.

A beautiful site and one I will definitely revisit …

When the weather improves ...