www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Great stuff Pete. Let's hope you can get such a detailed record all the way through to emergence.
BWs, Neil

Thanks for the advice, Guy!

Sussex Kipper wrote:Let's hope you can get such a detailed record all the way through to emergence.

Thanks Neil - I'll see what I can do! Given the postings by Vince and others on the site, there's a lot to live up to!

Cheers,

- Pete

Three in a Row

For the third day in a row I've visited the Wiltshire Wood - this time in the wonderful company of Matthew Oates. What a superb day - definitely one of my "top" butterflying days of the year, despite failing to see a single adult butterfly (immature stages are equally, if not more, fascinating)! Matthew is clearly very experienced in finding the immature stages of iris, and turned up quite a few larvae (and an egg) that I'd completely missed the previous two days - sometimes found based on feeding damage or, believe it or not, the remnants of the egg base! But the highlight was definitely picking up so many tips from Matthew - who explained the importance of tree species, tree position, shade, shelter, leaf size, leaf colour, leaf "thwackiness" (the sound a leaf makes when you flick it), the significance of mildew and so on. I feel a lot more knowledgeable than I did at the start of the day for sure!

After 3 hours of searching, the "stats" are that we found 22 larvae and 1 egg, with an incredible 11 larvae (and the egg) on the same tree. Aside from the egg, approximately half of the larvae found are in their 1st instar, and the others in their 2nd. Matthew also found a larva that had only just changed into its 2nd instar and had yet to devour its old skin (photo below). Given the number of larvae, I've stopped naming them after Blackadder characters with the intention of following them through to adulthood, and will stick with Egbert, Baldrick and Blackadder for the time being! And my thanks to Matthew for being so generous with his time and knowledge.
Cheers,

- Pete

The master at work.

With the Test Match being dead, at least his mind wasn't on other things.
For those not in the know, Matthew is not only a butterfly fanatic but also an avid cricket enthusiast.

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote: With the Test Match being dead, at least his mind wasn't on other things.

I'd switch your telly back on, Jack. At the moment it's gripping stuff!

Recent Doings

A selection of random items from the past week. First off, the 2nd Grayling emerged - a most beautiful female - and she is now back where she belongs.
Earlier in the week I popped into Calstone and Cherhill Downs in Wiltshire, where I managed to see some Wall (although most are past their best) as well as some newly-emerged Adonis Blue. But I was really uplifted to see so many Small Tortoiseshells out and about - just like the good old days I was also lucky enough to see a Meadow Brown ovipositing, and also found some Small Copper eggs.
Finally, I popped into the Wiltshire Wood to check up on Egbert, Blackadder and Baldrick. All are doing well, but only Baldrick was on the same leaf. And Baldrick's no longer "bald" (and technically "Rick") now that he's changed into his second instar and his horns have appeared. I also managed to find one of the other first instar larvae and watched it move off its seat pad to feed on the same leaf, before it returned back to base!
Cheers,

- Pete

Holiday Snaps

Just back from 2 weeks in Koh Samui, Thailand. My holiday photos can be found at:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/reports_kohsamui.php



Cheers,

- Pete

Absolutely brilliant photos, Pete! Many of the species were ones I have seen in India and I could really feel the tropical heat as I browsed through them. I'm so glad you posted such a complete set - very enjoyable.

Guy

Lovely set of images, Pete.

Is there REALLY a butterfly called Common Tit?

Have you any wider landscape shots to embellish what you've already posted?

Great report and photo's Pete just makes me jealous as when we were there a few years back now we were walking around with water up to our knees with the worst flooding in living memory

Ta

Andy

An excellent report Pete , which brings back some fond memories.
Hopefully there will now be a strong finish to the season which will cap off a memorable year.

Cheers,
Vince

Wow!

Jack

Thanks all!

Yes, the after-effects of the flooding are still there to be seen, Andy (e.g. great chunks of hillside that have slid away).

Cheers,

- Pete

Back to normal!

It's definitely nice to be back, and I'm really enjoying reading about the various sightings of Long-tailed Blue, I have to say! What a season! I can half imagine a "UKB Camp" being set up at Kingsdown Leas sometime soon

After a wonderful holiday in Thailand, I popped into a Wiltshire Wood on my way home from Bristol today to see how the Purple Emperor larvae are doing. I'm pleased to say that some are now in their 3rd instar and looking very healthy. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to do a thorough search and Egbert and Baldrick have gone walkabout. Blackadder was on his usual spray, though, and I also managed to relocate 4 other larvae. Some shots below.
Cheers,

- Pete

Recent Doings

Last week I made a return visit to Dublin and took the opportunity to complete one last survey of the Marsh Fritillary colony on North Bull Island, where 400 larval webs were recorded during a field trip of the Dublin Naturalist's Field Club. The last time I visited the site larval webs were quite visible, with larval damage and associated webbing clearly seen. This time, however, the webbing was nowhere to be seen and had, presumably, been eroded through the wind and rain that had been lashing the island. A good job, then, that I was in good company - joining Maryann Harris (Senior Executive Parks Superintendent of Dublin City Council) and Dr. Brian Nelson (National Parks and Wildlife Service) who each found more webs than myself! Maryann and her team do a wonderful job at monitoring all wildlife in the area and conducting appropriate surveys where relevant. One larval web was very compact, slightly larger than a tennis ball, and with brown larvae clearly visible through the webbing. Some shots below.
Today, after a business meeting in Cirencester, I decided to pop into the Wiltshire Wood where I've been following the fortunes of several Purple Emperor larvae. I'm pleased to say that most of those I've been monitoring are still there, although most have moved a little way from where I first found them. The changing colours of the leaves is starting to make them slightly more visible and so, as described so well in Matthew's article in British Wildife (Vol. 23. No. 5, June 2012): "Adventures with caterpillars: the larval stage of the Purple Emperor butterfly", I'm really looking forward to seeing the larvae change colour also as they move into position on a branch to overwinter.
Cheers,

- Pete

Colouring Up

A good morning spent in the company of Matthew Oates searching out the many Purple Emperor larvae that have been found in a wood in Wiltshire. Matthew kindly showed me an area of less than 10 square metres that is the home to over 25 larvae - and we found a couple of new residents today too. The larvae are in various states of "colouring up" ranging from almost "Lincoln green" through to a very dark grey/green. Many larvae have moved away from their original position and are quite difficult to find as a result. Matthew found one larva moving around at the end of a twig - a totally unsuitable position for a larva looking to overwinter! Earlier I'd found one larva next to a sallow bud. Some shots below.
Cheers,

- Pete

Lovely shots of lovely cats! I like the U-turn best. I've never visited that wood during the flight season, so it would be good to meet up there for a day next July.
BWs, Neil

Thanks Neil - yes, the "action shot" is definitely a little more interesting! Apparently the adults are quite difficult to entice down in this particular wood (they're not often seen on the track), but I'm sure you've got some secret concoctions that might change all that!

Cheers,

- Pete

Loving the ongoing cat story Pete Is this the same Wiltshire Wood that holds Marsh Frits or a different one?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote:Loving the ongoing cat story Pete Is this the same Wiltshire Wood that holds Marsh Frits or a different one?

A different one

Cheers,

- Pete