www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thanks to you all.

Appreciated

I'm certainly 21 in my head Susie (probably younger) ...

Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini)

The Blue Underwing or Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini) is an immigrant to Sussex and suspected resident since 2001 or 2005. It is generally only found singly and is attracted to sugar, usually at dusk, and occasionally to MV light. Immigrants appear in a wide range of habitats, chiefly in the south of the county; while residents prefer wooded landscapes in the far east. During the middle part of the 20th century it was resident in certain parts of Kent and Norfolk. C. fraxini is single-brooded; flying mainly from mid August to mid October. Larvae are not known to have been detected in Sussex but adults have been associated with aspen and poplar. The large greyish caterpillar, which can be as much as 75mm long, feeds mainly on aspen. It overwinters as an egg. Nowadays, only a handful are recorded per year, mainly from the south and south-east of England; September being the most likely month.

On 17th October 2011, my good friend Alec Harmer, took a gravid female at MV light in his garden on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire. Her forewings were in reasonable condition, but the hindwings were badly torn. She laid 21 eggs and sadly died within a few days of capture. One of her offspring has subsequently laid over 563 ova and it is from her successors that the following larvae were reared. I photographed them on 4th July 2012.

Long may her descendants live on ...

Interesting that its name suggests it feeds on ash...

I have always been struck by the apparent care and devotion with which female butterflies and moths lay their eggs, even though they get no maternal reward for their efforts - they just do what is right (there is a moral in there). It is wonderful that your dying female's selfless duty was completed by you and that her offspring's offspring live on.

Oh, and happy birthday for yesterday!

Hi Guy,

Many thanks for your message and birthday greetings.

padfield wrote:It is wonderful that your dying female's selfless duty was completed by you and that her offspring's offspring live on.

Just a correction, as maybe my post suggested otherwise. It is my good friend Alec Harmer who has been rearing her progeny not me; though I would loved to of had the opportunity to do so.

Thanks again.

Kind regards. Mark

Dear Guy,

Regarding you comment:

padfield wrote:Interesting that its name suggests it feeds on ash...

I hadn't noticed this but have just checked my copy of The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera - Their History and Meaning by Lt. Colonel A. Maitland Emmet, MBE (1991). Harley Books. On Page 224 he states, with reference to Catocala:

2451 fraxini (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fraxinus excelsior, the ash-tree: stated wrongly by Linnaeus to be the foodplant.

So there we have it ...

Kindest regards. Mark

Thanks Mark. A few other Linnaean species have curious names too - like Thecla betulae (brown hairstreak). Interestingly, the French name, la thécla du bouleau, repeats the mistake - though I believe birch can be a foodplant for this species so it might not be entirely in error.

Guy

Hi Mark,
Belated Happy Birthday. Catch up with you at a work party very soon.
I love those CN cats. I've seen a couple of faded, pre-caught adult specimens but would love to see a fresh one.
BWs, Neil

Heyshott Escarpment, 12 December 2012

Hoar frost over Heyshott ...

That first image is particularly good, Mark. Really austere looking.

Beautiful photos, Mark. I agree that first one in particular is something special.

You should make Christmas cards out of those shots Mark there really great Goldie

Dear David, Susie and Goldie,

Thank you for your very kind comments

Just for you Goldie ...

I'd definitely buy a dozen of those, Mark.

RRP 50p each?

Anything to declare?

A touch of exotica on a wet day ...

The Orthoptera is an order of charismatic and abundant insects, which includes the grasshoppers, crickets, weta and locusts. Many members of this order manufacture an audible noise by stridulation (the act of producing sound by rubbing certain body parts together). In the case of the Orthopterans this is typically the wings or legs; these body parts containing rows of corrugated bumps. Their ‘song’ is one of the many sounds of summer; a time when they can easily be found in meadows, trees or bushes.

The British Isles currently plays host to twenty-seven native species (grasshoppers and crickets) and a number of naturalised, non-native species. In addition to our native fauna, and those species deemed non-native though naturalised, the unexpected Orthopteran occasionally turns up; with modern air travel providing a suitable mechanism for the transportation of the occasional exotic arrival. The following three species, the largest of which, a species of Tropidacris, has a wingspan of approximately 20cm and is around 10cm in length, were captured from an international airport located in the south of England, as unexpected arrivals in baggage reclaim …

The first is Acanthacris ruficornis (Fabricius, 1787). It arrived on a flight from Africa on 15 June 2001. The second is Anacridium melanorhodon ssp. melanorhodon (Walker, 1870); an arrival on a flight from northern Africa (Palestine) on 2 February 2000. The third, the most impressive of the three, is probably Tropidacris cristata (Linnaeus, 1758); which arrived on a flight from South America (Costa Rica) on 18 August 2001. Members of the genus Tropidacris are the largest known grasshoppers. All three were alive upon arrival. The third, T. cristata, had to be handled very carefully as it is a grasshopper with impressive strength. Any attempt to handle it is likely to be repelled with a lightening quick reprisal; its spiny hind legs inflicting damage to the unsuspecting handler ...

My thanks go to Darren Mann (OUMNH) for confirmation of identification.
Images copyright OUMNH. Photographed by Katherine Child, Hope Department of Entomology.

Heyshott Escarpment, 9 January 2012

In need of therapy ...

It was with great relief that I finally got back to Heyshott today after the over indulgence that is the festive period. Having missed several work parties early on in the season due to my accident, and then breaking for three weeks over Christmas, I was in need of some serious therapy. The walk to our work area was difficult (am I really that unfit?) and was made worse by the slippery conditions underfoot; though I knew the rewards would be worthwhile - at least that's what I kept telling myself.

Today we were working on the eastern lower section of the main upper reserve. I am always amazed by just how much our small group of committed volunteers achieves - today being no exception. With Neil Hulme and Colin Knight successfully clearing the heavy scrub from the slopes of yet another overgrown pit, I concentrated on the upper bank along with several members of the Murray Downland Trust. With two large fires underway we soon cleared a sizeable area adjoining prime Duke territory. Roll on next week ...

It's good to be back ...

Heyshott, 18 January 2012

Narnia ...

With today's conservation work party at Rewell Wood cancelled, due to several inches of fresh snow already covering the frozen ground, and with a heavy downfall continuing, common sense said stay at home; but that would be boring and the responsible thing to do! So after a cautious and slightly elongated journey I arrived at the base of Heyshott Escarpment; it's beautiful snow covered slopes had a somewhat mystical aura about them as they engulfed me with both visual and mental pleasure; their summit hidden by the low grey cloud and driving snow. I was pleased that John Murray could join me.

Could this possibly be a Duke's Kingdom or did the Snow Queen still rule?

I just love this enchanting location ...

It does indeed look like Narnia

It looks absolutely prohibitive for butterflies right now, but in 6-8 weeks time they'll be flying their first sorties over this area (and many others).

Not long to wait.

RHS Wisley, 21 January 2013

Butterflies in the Glasshouse (12 January – 24 February 2013)

“Escape winter's chill and set hearts a-flutter with a visit to Butterflies in the Glasshouse. Enjoy the sight of exotic butterflies and the beauty of a world class tropical plant collection in this special experience, guaranteed to banish the winter blues. Wander underneath palms and watch the butterflies take part in courtship flights and feed from plant nectar and fruit. Butterflies in the Glasshouse is perfect for children of all ages. 'Awe-inspiring' and 'spectacular' are just some words used to describe the event by the hundreds of families who visit every year. For children, it's a chance to see these beautiful creatures in their 'natural' surroundings and understand where they come from.”

An Asian Swallowtail (Papilio memnon lowii) succumbs ...

Life and death in the glasshouse ...
Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides).

As I did go to see the butterflies ...

Looking forward to the upcoming shots Mark There are one of two species that I'm still struggling with from my visit to Bristol Zoo, what sources do you use to make your identifications of the Wisley butterflies - or do they sensibly have a guide available?

Have a goodun

Wurzel